Jury selection got underway yesterday for a resentencing hearing for a Swissvale man accused of being a part of a group of people who tortured and killed a mentally disabled woman.
The Tribune-Review reports that eight jurors were selected for the penalty phase of Melvin Knight’s sentencing hearing and jury selection will continue today. County prosecutors say he was one of six people involved in the killing of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty. Knight’s attorney, Tim Dawson, said his client will not withdraw a guilty plea in this case that was made several years ago. Knight had been sentenced to the death penalty, but an appeals court in 2016 vacated Knight’s death sentence and ordered another punishment hearing to be performed.
Defense attorneys said they plan on presenting evidence that Knight is mentally handicapped and not eligible for the death penalty.
