Defense asks to take fatal arson case to state’s high court

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Lawyers for a man accused in the arson deaths of three Pittsburgh firefighters two decades ago are seeking to have the state’s highest court handle the case.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports attorneys for Gregory Brown Jr. filed a request on Thursday asking the state Supreme Court to take over the case and go to trial.
Defense attorneys say prosecutors have been delaying by appealing a judge’s decision not to recuse himself.
Prosecutors have said the judge was biased against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a prospective witness.
An Allegheny County District Attorney spokesman had no comment on the request.
Brown was sentenced to three life terms in the 1995 fire. He won a new trial by saying prosecutors didn’t disclose that two witnesses had been promised reward money.