Legal Advice For Witness Holds Up Penn Hills Murder Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The case of a teenager accused of shooting another teen and setting her Penn Hills home on fire, hit a snag Thursday afternoon when a judge determined a witness needed legal advice.
The witness, 22-year-old Joseph King, is expected to testify that he gave the gun to the defendant, Akeem Page-Jones.
Jones, who was 16 at the time, faces homicide and arson charges in the death of 17-year-old Teesa Williams.
Once King got on the stand and testified that he obtained that gun illegally, Allegheny County Judge Jill Rangos interrupted the proceeding, setting off a scramble to find legal representation for King.
It took a good part of the afternoon to resolve the issue, so the jury was sent home.
By day's end, King agreed to testify under a grant of immunity for the potential gun charge - providing a firearm to a person who is not legally permitted to possess one - and he agreed to not invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
Earlier, the jury saw pictures of the trajectory of the gunshot through the victim's home.
She sustained a shot to the head, but died of smoke inhalation as a result of the fire which prosecutors say was set by the defendant.
The defense argues prosecutors have charged the wrong person.
RELATED LINKS:
Teen To Stand Trial In Murder Of Penn Hills Girl (4/8/11)
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