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Carrick Man Charged In 2009 Fatal Home Invasion Acquitted

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man who spent five years in prison is now free after a jury acquitted him of charges related to a murder in McKeesport.

Robert Pace, of Carrick, was accused of homicide and other charges in a 2009 Easter Sunday home invasion that turned deadly.

It happened at a house in the 1600-block of Abraham Street in McKeesport.

The victim, 34-year-old Cecil Potter – who is also known as Paco, was killed during the robbery attempt.

Pace was 20 at the time of the time of the slaying.

"Mr. Pace had an unfortunate series of events that led this case five years to get to trial," said Ralph Karsh, Pace's attorney. "A lot of information didn't become available until 2013 for a 2009 homicide."

In October of 2013, a jury found Pace not guilty of first- and third-degree murder, but was hung on six other charges including second-degree murder.

In the retrial, Pace was acquitted of all the charges against him.

"There were many reasons why the jury found reasonable doubt, all of them valid," said Karsh. "I know they made the right decision in this case."

Another man, Bryan Gilbert of McKeesport, pleaded guilty in October 2011 to third-degree murder and other charges in the case.

Gilbert is serving 30 to 60 years in prison. He was just 15 at the time of the slaying.

The state Supreme Court granted his motion for an appeal back in November.

Pace was released from the Allegheny County Jail on Wednesday night.

RELATED LINKS:
More McKeesport News
More Reports by Kimberly Gill

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