WESTMORELAND COUNTY JUDGE CONSIDERING NEW TRIAL FOR CONVICTED MURDERER

A Westmoreland County judge is considering a new trial for a convicted murderer of three people due to perceived juror misconduct and possible failures by the defense.  The Trib reports that Andrew Fellowes of New Kensington, who was a juror in the trial of Kevin Murphy, testified in court yesterday that heard a fellow juror comment on why the suspect did not join the judge, attorneys and jurors when they toured the murder scene during the trial 12 years ago.    Murphy’s attorney is trying to persuade a judge to order a retrial where he was charged with killing his mother Doris Murphy, his sister Kris Murphy, and his aunt Edith Tietge.  Judge Meghan Bilik Defazio is giving defense attorneys until Jan. 30 to file their legal briefs in the case, and the prosecutors will have until March 1.