Motion For Acquittal Or New Trial By Lawyer Representing Contractor Convicted In Thrift Store Collapse Denied
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia judge is denying a motion for acquittal or a new trial by the defense lawyer representing the demolition contractor convicted in the 2013 Salvation Army thrift store collapse. The focus of his argument centered on a senior prosecutor caught up in the so-called Porngate scandal.
Defense lawyer William Hobson contended the verdict against Griffin Campbell should be overturned because of what he calls "selective racial prosecution." He wanted his January 8th sentence delayed so the judge could look into whether the process that led to charges was fair.
Judge Glenn Bronson told Hobson he could not, by law, conduct such a probe, and any notion about a racially tainted grand jury investigation should have been raised pre-trial, or filed post sentence. Hobson says "will do" - he'll pursue it after Griffin Campbell is sentenced.
"I shall renew the motion that the grand jury process was race selective and tainted."
Hobson argued two African-American men were the only two charged, Campbell and his excavator, Sean Benschop, and in Hobson's words, "all the rich white guys walked." He's referring to the building owner and property manager, who were not charged. The architect received immunity from prosecution.
Jennifer Selber, the Chief of the DA's Homicide Unit says they went where the evidence took them.
"We tried, and attempted in all good faith to go further, and potentially prosecute other people, those higher up the chain, but we can only arrest where there's evidence."
Hobson claims the grand jury process could have been tainted by the person supervising it, Senior Deputy District Attorney Frank Fina. He was said to be involved in a chain of racially offensive emails sent among law enforcement officials.
