The four young men accused in the armed robbery and death of a convenience store clerk last month near New Kingstown will go to trial early next year in Cumberland County court.
Three of the defendants appeared at a preliminary hearing this morning where four police investigators and the Coroner testified. Enough evidence was presented to have the case move forward. The fourth defendant, a juvenile, waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday.
Jamie Keating of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office says they went to the Hess store with a purpose. "They weren’t going in there with a stolen loaded handgun and masks and a bag to buy gum. They were in there to do a robbery and that’s what it was ultimately, then they committed criminal homicide.".
Keating responded to a defense attorney’s request to dismiss the robbery charges because nothing was taken that night. Keating said something was taken - the life of the clerk, Linda Ness of Carlisle.
According to testimony, 9-year-old Shante Rice of Mechanicsburg entered the Hess Express around 10:30 the night of Sunday, November 18 apparently scoping out the store. He is also the man who brought along the stolen handgun.
Christian Conway, 20, of Mechanicsburg drove the car while planning the robbery, then dropped them off near the store and picked them up afterwards. Tyler Bradshaw, 19, of Mechanicsburg told police he entered the store, demanded money, pointed to the cash register with his right hand and aimed the gun in his left hand at clerk and then it went off.
Brandon Mathna, 17, of Carlisle was in the store with Bradshaw when he shot the clerk. Mathna waived his hearing yesterday and was not in the courtroom this morning.
District Attorney Dave Freed, who noted how young the four defendants are, said he didn’t want to hear sad stories about their troubled problem lives and promised a hard line prosecution.
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said the most important thing is justice. "Nobody forced them to engage in this behavior. Nobody forced them to do what they did and that’s why we’re going to continue to take a hard line on this case and make sure we get justice for the person who is important and that is the victim."
Family and friends of the victim were in the courtroom as well as the family of one of the defendants. The judge returned the three defendants to Cumberland County Prison, refusing to set bail.
Three of the defendants appeared at a preliminary hearing this morning where four police investigators and the Coroner testified. Enough evidence was presented to have the case move forward. The fourth defendant, a juvenile, waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday.
Jamie Keating of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office says they went to the Hess store with a purpose. "They weren’t going in there with a stolen loaded handgun and masks and a bag to buy gum. They were in there to do a robbery and that’s what it was ultimately, then they committed criminal homicide.".
Keating responded to a defense attorney’s request to dismiss the robbery charges because nothing was taken that night. Keating said something was taken - the life of the clerk, Linda Ness of Carlisle.
According to testimony, 9-year-old Shante Rice of Mechanicsburg entered the Hess Express around 10:30 the night of Sunday, November 18 apparently scoping out the store. He is also the man who brought along the stolen handgun.
Christian Conway, 20, of Mechanicsburg drove the car while planning the robbery, then dropped them off near the store and picked them up afterwards. Tyler Bradshaw, 19, of Mechanicsburg told police he entered the store, demanded money, pointed to the cash register with his right hand and aimed the gun in his left hand at clerk and then it went off.
Brandon Mathna, 17, of Carlisle was in the store with Bradshaw when he shot the clerk. Mathna waived his hearing yesterday and was not in the courtroom this morning.
District Attorney Dave Freed, who noted how young the four defendants are, said he didn’t want to hear sad stories about their troubled problem lives and promised a hard line prosecution.
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said the most important thing is justice. "Nobody forced them to engage in this behavior. Nobody forced them to do what they did and that’s why we’re going to continue to take a hard line on this case and make sure we get justice for the person who is important and that is the victim."
Family and friends of the victim were in the courtroom as well as the family of one of the defendants. The judge returned the three defendants to Cumberland County Prison, refusing to set bail.