Criminal defense: Adult and teen face murder charges
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence for those accused of crimes until — and only if — they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In Pennsylvania, two individuals are likely looking into their options for criminal defense as each now stands charged with murder, along with several other charges. The defendants are an adult man and teenage girl.
Earlier this year, a man was discovered dead in a home in Wilkes-Barre. He had been stabbed multiple times, and the autopsy indicated blunt force trauma as another contributing factor to his death. The accused had also purportedly poured gasoline on the man’s body and set it ablaze.
The suspects are a man, 31, and a girl, 14. The teen will reportedly be tried as an adult in the case. Apparently, the issue arose from an attempted robbery; however, there may be more of a domestic situation involved. The girl is the daughter of the victim’s ex-girlfriend, and she and her mother lived with the victim until he kicked them out of his home. According to reports, the teen and her adult accomplice went to the man’s home on Sept. 14, and when the victim answered the door, they forced themselves in.
The defendants face a variety of very serious charges, including criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, arson, theft and abusing a corpse. Considering the nature of the charges and their potential penalties, each of the accused will be best served by retaining the counsel of an experienced criminal defense attorney. An attorney can review all aspects of the case, help decide on the best course of action and advocate on behalf of the client’s rights and interests throughout any ensuing proceedings in Pennsylvania.
Source: WNEP.com, “Teen Charged with Murder in Wilkes-Barre Stabbing Death“, Jessica Albert and Dave Bohman, Nov. 9, 2018