Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — A judge has denied a request to extend a gag order in the case of a man accused of killing three Pittsburgh police officers.
Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning says in Friday’s order that he can’t restrict what people not involved in the case can say.
The order was mean to keep Gov. Ed Rendell and other officials from commenting on the case.
Public defender Lisa Middleman had argued that Rendell prejudiced potential jurors by saying he would quickly sign an execution order for her client, 22-year-old Richard Poplawski.
Poplawski is accused of lying in wait and killing three officers summoned by his mother during an argument this month.
County prosecutors haven’t confirmed they will seek the death penalty.