DA To Seek Death Penalty For Man Accused Of Killing New Kensington Police Officer

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GREENSBURG (KDKA) – The Westmoreland County district attorney will seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing a New Kensington police officer.

Rahmael Sal Holt is accused of killing New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw following a traffic stop last year.

Today, District Attorney John Peck announced he would be seeking the death penalty in the case.

Westmoreland County DA seeking Death Pen against accused cop killer Rahmael Holt.

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— Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) January 22, 2018

In December, Holt faced a preliminary hearing where he did not say a word and stared forward during proceedings.

Afterward, his attorney, Justin Ketchel, told KDKA, “My client didn’t do this. They don’t have any information at all whatsoever except from a convicted felon who admitted on the stand that he is a liar.”

Thirteen people, including Holt, have been accused of killing a police officer in our region since 2000. Only one — Richard Poplawski, convicted of murdering three Pittsburgh police officers — received the death penalty. Three others received life in prison.

Governor Tom Wolf has issued a moratorium on the death penalty. The last execution in Pennsylvania was carried out in 1999.