Death Penalty For 'Greensburg 6' Member
GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- It took a Westmoreland County jury just two hours to condemn Melvin Knight to death.
He now becomes the 203rd inmate on Pennsylvania's death row.
Knight showed no emotion as he left the courthouse just minutes after learning that he will be put to death for the February 2010 murder of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to kidnapping Daugherty and stabbing her seven times inside of a Pennsylvania Avenue apartment.
Defense attorneys argued that the guilty plea combined with Knight's age and history of mental health problems should be enough to spare his life.
The jury didn't agree.
Melvin Knight is the second of the so-called 'Greensburg 6' to have his day in court. Co-defendant Angela Marinucci was found guilty in May of last year and sentenced to life in prison. She was not eligible for the death penalty because of her age.
This is the first time a Westmoreland County jury has condemned a defendant to death since cop killer Michael Travaglia was re-sentenced in 2005.
The Knight jury declined to speak as they left the courthouse, but District Attorney John Peck thanked them for their service.
Defense attorneys left the courthouse Thursday night without comment. Melvin Knight will be back in court Friday for his formal sentencing.
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