A CAMBRIA COUNTY WOMAN FACING CHARGES IN A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IS ASKING FOR A SEPERATE TRIAL.
THE ALTOONA MIRROR REPORTS TODAY THAT ONYA LEWIS OF GALLITZIN HAS ASKED A JUDGE TO SEPARATE HER TRIAL FROM THAT OF ISIAH PAYNE OF PHILADELPHIA. THE COUPLE IS FACING MURDER CHARGES FOR THE 2020 SHOOTING DEATHS OF NATALIE WASHINGTON AND MIKAL JACKSON-STEVENSON OF ALTOONA. POLICE SAY THE KILLINGS WERE DRUG RELATED. LEWIS’ ATTORNEY SAYS THAT HIS CLIENT SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME JURY THAT COULD SENTENCE STEVENSON TO DEATH IF CONVICTED. D.A. PETE WEEKS SAYS THAT HE FAVORS A JOINT TRIAL BECAUSE THE SAME JURY WOULD HEAR THE SAME EVICENCE AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF GUILT FOR LEWIS IF SHE IS CONVICTED. STEVENSON IS FACING 1st DEGREE MURDER, WHILE LEWIS IS FACING 2nd DEGREE MURDER CHARGES. JUDGE TIM SULLIVAN WILL MAKE THE RULING AT A LATER DATE.
