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Juror Dismissed As Deliberations Continue In Sisters' Murder Trial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The jury spent Thursday in deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering two sisters from East Liberty.

Allen Wade allegedly killed Susan and Sarah Wolfe in their home in February 2014.

On Thursday morning, one of the jurors was dismissed from the jury and replaced with an alternate.

That juror overheard some evidence that was not presented in court and took that information into account during deliberations.

Jurors were each interviewed privately by the judge. After that, juror No. 14 was sent home.

In open court, Judge Ed Borkowski sternly told the jury to consider "only the evidence presented in the courtroom." He also warned the panel: "Don't jeopardize the oath you have taken and the commitment you have made to yourselves and our criminal justice system."

There were further delays to the deliberations process when a thumb drive containing pictures of evidence failed. It was eventually fixed.

The six-man, six-woman Allegheny County jury spent Wednesday listening to closing arguments.

Wade is accused of shooting Susan and Sarah Wolfe after they returned from work on Feb. 6, 2014, apparently to steal a bank card. Prosecutors say Wade withdrew $600 with the card and needed the money for back rent because he was facing eviction.

Wade's public defender has said police rushed to judgment and wrongly accuse him because they were in a hurry to charge someone because of the victims' prominent sister, Democratic Iowa state Rep. Mary Wolfe.

Around 5 p.m., the jury was sent home for the night.

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