BREAKING NEWS

DEFENSE ASKS FOR MISTRIAL IN RHOADES CRASH CASE

BY MICHAEL RUBINKAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - A DEFENSE ATTORNEY HAS ASKED FOR A MISTRIAL IN THE CASE OF A MAN CHARGED IN A 2008 CRASH THAT KILLED A PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER. DEFENSE LAWYER WES NIEMOCZYNSKI WAS CLEARLY OVERHEARD MAKING THE REQUEST DURING A SIDEBAR CONFERENCE WITH THE PROSECUTOR AND JUDGE, WITH THE JURY OUT OF THE ROOM. MONROE COUNTY PRESIDENT JUDGE RONALD VICAN DENIED THE REQUEST. NIEMOCZYNSKI DECLINED TO EXPLAIN TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE COURT WHY HE ASKED FOR A MISTRIAL. FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD THOMAS SENAVITIS IS CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE, DRUNKEN DRIVING AND RELATED OFFENSES IN THE 2008 CRASH DEATH OF STATE SEN. JAMES RHOADES. PROSECUTORS ALLEGE SENAVITIS' PICKUP TRUCK CROSSED THE CENTER LINE OF STATE ROUTE 209 IN THE POCONOS AND SLAMMED INTO A CADILLAC DRIVEN BY THE SEVEN-TERM LAWMAKER.