Defense Asks To Take Fatal 1995 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 that killed 42-year-old Capt. Thomas Brooks, 27-year-old Marc Kolenda and 43-year-old Patricia Conroy.

He won a new trial by saying prosecutors didn't disclose that two witnesses had been promised reward money.

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