Feb. 24--An Allegheny County judge will decide by March 10 whether he can and will set bail for an East Hills man who has spent 19 years in prison for an arson that killed three Pittsburgh firefighters.
Common Pleas Judge Joseph K. Williams last week granted Gregory Brown, 36, a new trial, based on evidence that prosecutors and a federal agent never told jurors and the defense that two key witnesses were promised cash rewards for their testimony.
A 15-minute hearing on Monday centered on whether Williams has jurisdiction in the case, since prosecutors immediately appealed when he overturned Brown's murder conviction.
If Williams determines he has jurisdiction, lawyers will argue whether Williams can set bail for a man facing three counts of homicide and a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
"I want to proceed as accurately as possible," Williams said.
Brown, who maintains his innocence, is serving three consecutive life terms for second-degree murder for starting the fire on Feb. 14, 1995, in his East Hills home to help his mother collect insurance money. Firefighters Patricia Conroy, 43, Marc Kolenda, 27, and Capt. Thomas Brooks, 42, died when an interior stairwell collapsed.
U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton and Sam Rabadi, special agent-in-charge at the Philadelphia field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have said they stand behind their employees and disagree with Williams' decision.
Adam Brandolph is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach him at 412-391-0927 or [email protected].
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