Frein attorneys appeal verdict and sentencing

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — The attorneys in the Eric Frein shooting case are appealing their client's guilty verdict and death sentence in Pennsylvania Supreme Court on May 17 in Harrisburg, citing what they describe as errors in the case.
Defense attorneys William Ruzzo and Michael Weinstein say Judge Gregory Chelak denied the motion to suppress statements by Frein to the police, and that he allowed victim impact statements in excess when the penalty was imposed.
Frein was convicted of fatally shooting and killing Corporal Bryon Dickson and seriously wounding Trooper Alex Douglass during a sniper attract at Blooming Grove State Police barracks in 2014 mid-September.
He was found guilty of first-degree murder as well as other charges, and sentenced to death.
The jury that was brought in from outside the area in an effort to avoid bias found him guilty.
Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin commented in an email, “I filed a comprehensive legal brief addressing the claims of the defendant on appeal. I feel confident that justice will prevail and the death sentence will be upheld.”
The defense attorneys didn’t return a phone message left by press time.