EXPERT COULD NOT CONCLUDE THAT 1993 FIRE WAS ARSON

Westmoreland county prosecutors told a judge on Monday that an expert hired by the county to investigate the fatal 1993 fire could not conclude that the fire was arson.  The Trib reports that back in 1995, James Young was convicted of setting the fire at his family home in Jeannette that killed his wife, son and stepson.  Young, with the help of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, says the conviction should be thrown out because the science that proved the fire was an arson back then was debunked and the same evidence now would not result in a conviction against him.  Assistant DA’s Leo Ciaramitaro and Elizabeth Ranger said that while the new investigation could not determine the fire was intentionally set, they will continue to oppose any attempt for Young to receive a new trial.