Judge denies motion to dismiss homicide case
A county judge on Monday denied a motion to dismiss the homicide case against a former Cranberry Township woman charged in the February 2023 shooting death of her boyfriend.
Common Pleas Judge Joseph Kubit’s ruling cleared the way for jury selection to begin Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the trial of Amanda Hughes, 28, who now lives in Pittsburgh, for the death of Anthony D. Smith, 30. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
Defense attorney Kenneth Haber filed the motion and argued for dismissal at a hearing Friday claiming a violation of Hughes’ right to a speedy trial. He said the district attorney’s office postponed the trial several times. According to him the delays add up to at least 393 days.
Assistant district attorney Laura Pitchford said 232 days are attributable to her office.
Rule 600 of the Pennsylvania Code’s Rules of Criminal Procedure requires the commonwealth to try a person within 365 days from the date the criminal complaint was filed.
Cranberry Township police filed the criminal complaint Feb. 13, 2023.
Hughes is accused of shooting Smith five times in her former home on Brandywine Drive. She told police Smith attacked her and was punching her in the face and head, but she managed to get her gun and shoot him.
She called 911, went to a neighbor’s home and directed police to the gun.
