PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It was just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday when word spread that the jury in the trial of Richard Poplawski had reached a verdict.

Pittsburgh Police in the downtown area rushed to the Allegheny County Courthouse, wanting to hear what the jury of five women and seven men had decided after about three hours and 15 minutes of deliberation.

Deputy Pittsburgh Police Chief Paul Donaldson told KDKA-TV: “It has taken two years for the process to get to this point, we are pleased with the verdict.”

The jury found Poplawski, on trial in the April 2009 shooting deaths of three Pittsburgh police officers in Stanton Heights, guilty on all counts.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Michael Huss said he was glad the jury came back the way it did, adding “we have to see this thing all the way through.”

The penalty phase of the Poplawski trial begins Monday morning in the courtroom of Judge Jeffrey Manning. Jurors will have two options – the death penalty or life in prison.

Chief Donaldson said, “We look forward to the next phase, and we hope the end result will be what we expect.”

RELATED LINKS:
Pittsburgh Police
Poplawski Convicted In Deaths Of 3 Officers
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