Log In


Reset Password

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.