A report in the Altoona Mirror indicates that Judge Elizabeth Doyle ruled that a portion of a statement, that suspect Christopher Aikens made to police after the killing of corrections officer Rhonda Russell can be used at his upcoming trial. Aikens’ attorney tried to get the statement dismissed, but Judge Doyle ruled that Aikens was fully aware of his statement to police during an interview. His defense was that he was suffering from drug withdrawl at the time, but the officers present said that he showed no signs of any withdrawl. Aikens is charged with taking Russell hostage at the central court building in November of 2021, where she was shot and killed by an Altoona police officer.
