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Armstrong Co. Escaped Inmate Convicted Of Murder Appeals Conviction

KITTANNING, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania inmate convicted of escaping from jail and killing an acquaintance while on the run is appealing his life sentence and murder conviction.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says 39-year-old Robert Crissman Jr. has raised six general issues in appealing his convictions in the death of 55-year-old Tammy Long.

An Armstrong County judge on Tuesday urged defense attorney Preston Younkins to be more specific when spelling out his claims in writing by Oct. 14. Among other things, Younkins claims pretrial publicity denied Crissman a fair trial and that the evidence didn't support the verdict.

Crissman was jailed on a drug-related parole violation when he escaped from the county jail in July 2015.

Prosecutors say he strangled Long with his shoelace and left behind his clothing.

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