Governor Tom Corbett has signed execution warrants for two men convicted of killing police officers in separate shooting incidents in Philadelphia and Westmoreland Counties.
Borgela Philistin, now 39, was convicted of first-degree murder for the June 16, 1993 murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Hayes. Philistin was also convicted of aggravated assault for shooting Officer John Marynowitz during the same incident, causing injuries that left the second Philadelphia policeman permanently paralyzed. Philistin was sentenced to death in February 1995 in Philadelphia County Court.
Michael J. Travaglia, now 54, was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy for killing Apollo Police Officer Leonard Clifford Miller on Jan. 3, 1980 in Westmoreland County. Travaglia was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death in 1981, but following a federal appeal, Travaglia was given a new sentencing hearing in 2005 and was again sentenced to death.
Both men are being held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
Philistin’s execution has been scheduled for April 23, 2013 and Travaglia’s execution has been scheduled for April 25, 2013.
These execution warrants were Governor Corbett’s 25th and 26th warrants since taking office.
Executions in Pennsylvania are carried out by lethal injection. For more information, visit the Department of Corrections online at www.cor.state.pa.us and select “Death Penalty’’ from the left-side navigation bar.
Borgela Philistin, now 39, was convicted of first-degree murder for the June 16, 1993 murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Hayes. Philistin was also convicted of aggravated assault for shooting Officer John Marynowitz during the same incident, causing injuries that left the second Philadelphia policeman permanently paralyzed. Philistin was sentenced to death in February 1995 in Philadelphia County Court.
Michael J. Travaglia, now 54, was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy for killing Apollo Police Officer Leonard Clifford Miller on Jan. 3, 1980 in Westmoreland County. Travaglia was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death in 1981, but following a federal appeal, Travaglia was given a new sentencing hearing in 2005 and was again sentenced to death.
Both men are being held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
Philistin’s execution has been scheduled for April 23, 2013 and Travaglia’s execution has been scheduled for April 25, 2013.
These execution warrants were Governor Corbett’s 25th and 26th warrants since taking office.
Executions in Pennsylvania are carried out by lethal injection. For more information, visit the Department of Corrections online at www.cor.state.pa.us and select “Death Penalty’’ from the left-side navigation bar.