Miller
MARTINSBURG Paul Aaron Ross’ plea to third-degree murder gave Pamela Sunderland satisfaction that she hasn’t had since her daughter’s death in 2004.
Ross charged with killing and sexually assaulting 26-year-old Tina S. Miller of Hollidaysburg entered no contest pleas on Tuesday in Blair County Court.
“I know (Ross) said ‘no contest’ in court, but that’s just a legal term,” Sunderland said at her Martinsburg home on Friday.
“To me, he can never again say that he is innocent,” she said.
While some defendants render no contest pleas to avoid admitting guilt in court, Pennsylvania law treats no contest pleas as convictions, with no distinction in sentencing procedures.
Ross Retrial Update 11:12 pm
Today’s result left both the defense and prosecution satisfied, but special prosecutor Rich Consiglio says more evidence should have been allowed in.
“If all the stuff that would’ve, could’ve come in, would’ve come in, they’d have hung that guy in the courtroom. Its that simple.”
Former district attorney and special prosecutor Rich Consiglio was not happy that certain evidence offered by the commonwealth was deemed inadmissible. He said that it would’ve sped up the trial big time.
“There would be a conviction within minutes. The amount of stuff that we are not allowed to put before a jury is unbelievable and this case is just a perfect example of it.
Aaron Ross Trial Update abc23.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abc23.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tina Miller Investigation Update
The jury was charged this afternoon after closing arguments concluded. Now Paul Ross awaits the verdict.
Ross, who was sentenced to life in prison sixteen years ago for the murder of Tina Miller, was granted a retrial by a superior court a decade ago after they ruled he was not given a fair trial.
Today featured closing arguments from both sides of the aisle.
Defense attorney Thomas Dickey went first, repeatedly emphasizing that Miller’s apartment keys were missing, how her apartment was trashed to hide connections between her and killer, and how it made no sense for Ross to take them because he had no idea where she lived.
As jury mulls case, man pleads in 2004 slaying of woman sfgate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sfgate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.