PENNSYLVANIA DA'S OFFICE NO LONGER SEEKING DEATH PENALTY FOR ALLEGED COP KILLER: REPORTS

Family members told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Hall was visiting cousins but decided to leave because a party across the street was getting rowdy. He then returned to make sure everyone was safe after his cousin was threatened by someone with a gun. Hall was shot three times and died three days later. He had joined the Pittsburgh police force two years earlier after previously serving as an officer in Braddock and at Point Park University.

Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Ramaley told jurors in her opening statement Tuesday that DNA on the murder weapon matched that of the defendant, the Tribune-Review reported. She urged them to focus on the evidence against the defendant and said the slain officer "is not on trial in this case."

'PERSON OF INTEREST' IN FATAL SHOOTING OF OFF-DUTY PITTSBURGH COP TURNS SELF IN: POLICE

Defense attorney Carmen Robinson said prosecutors hadn't given jurors the whole picture about the fighting and arguing on the street that night. She said the case was about "a rush to judgment and a biased investigation."

Allegheny County prosecutors last month notified the court that they no longer intended to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted of first-degree murder.

Judge Kevin Sasinoski last week denied a defense motion to keep uniformed police officers from attending the trial, or at least limit the number allowed in the courtroom. He also denied other motions to suppress evidence in the case, including data from Bey’s cellphone and Facebook account and his statements to investigators.