Case in 1995 firefighter deaths may move to federal court
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The case against a man accused of having started a Pittsburgh blaze that killed three firefighters two decades ago may be moving to federal court.
Federal prosecutors obtained an indictment against 39-year-old Gregory Brown Jr. on a charge of malicious destruction of property resulting in death.
The Allegheny County district attorney’s office has moved to withdraw the state charges. A hearing is expected Tuesday.
Defense attorney Dave Fawcett called the move “gamesmanship.”
Brown was convicted in 1997 of three second-degree murder counts. Prosecutors said he set the 1996 blaze in order to collect a $20,000 renter’s insurance policy.
The conviction was thrown out after the defense said prosecutors and a federal agent failed to turn over evidence that witnesses were offered money in exchange for their testimony.