The 1989 murders of two Philadelphia women were "cold cases" until 2013, when Philadelphia police say they matched DNA from a federal database to a New Jersey man. Prosecutors contend that the man, now 54, left his DNA on the sneaker of one of the victims, a...
Violent Crimes: Robbery
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | May 8, 2016 | Violent Crimes
Robbery is one of the most serious violent crimes that you can be charged with in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Depend among the facts of the case, the violent crime of robbery can be graded as a felony of the first degree, a felony of the second degree and/or a...
Violent Crimes: Possessing an Offensive Weapon
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Apr 21, 2016 | Violent Crimes
One particular type of Violent crimes that an individual can be charged with in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the charge of Possessing an Offensive Weapon. Under this statute an Offensive weapon is defined as a firearm as well as a litany of other types of...
Violent Crimes: Possession of a firearm by a felon
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Mar 30, 2016 | Violent Crimes
One of the more serious violent crimes that an individual can be charged with is the crime of Possessing or transferring a firearm by a convicted felon. This crime can be found under Title 18 section 6105 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. The statute specifically...
Violent Crimes: Possessing instruments of Crime
On Behalf of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Mar 16, 2016 | Violent Crimes
One fairly serious Violent crime which you can be charged with in the state of Pennsylvania is the charge of Possessing an Instrument of Crime. You can be charged with this crime if the government believes that you possessed an instrument of crime with the intent to...
State senator wants to remove felony murder rule
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Feb 26, 2016 | Violent Crimes
Daylin Leach, a Pennsylvania state senator, hopes to get legislation passed that will get rid of the felony murder rule for second-degree murder. Currently, a mandatory life sentence awaits those who are convicted of second-degree murder in the state. The Democratic...
Violent Crimes: Threatening someone with a firearm
On Behalf of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Feb 6, 2016 | Violent Crimes
One of the more frequent types of violent crimes that arises in criminal cases occurs when an accused threatens someone with a firearm. Threatening someone with a firearm can range anywhere from pointing a firearm at someone, cocking a gun, or even motioning to a...
Stalking, Violent Crimes
On Behalf of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Jan 9, 2016 | Violent Crimes
There are various types of Violent Crimes that you can be charged with in PA. One such crimes is the violent crime of Stalking. Read about Violent Crimes Attorneys here. The Violent Crime of Stalking is a fairly serious charge...
Violent Crimes Defense: Justification under Pennsylvania Law
On Behalf of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Dec 20, 2015 | Violent Crimes
If you are charged criminally with committing violent crimes, one of several possible defenses you might have is the Defense of Justification under Pennsylvania Law. The Justification defense essentially permits a person accused of committing violent crimes to...
Pennsylvania law’s limitation on the use of deadly force
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Jun 25, 2014 | Violent Crimes
Pennsylvania law allows a defense to homicide for the use of deadly force under very specific circumstances: The use of deadly force is not justifiable unless the actor believes that such force is necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury,...
Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine
On Behalf of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Jan 28, 2014 | Violent Crimes
Pennsylvania currently has a law known as the "Castle Doctrine." The "Castle Doctrine" is a legal defense for those who have been charged with the various forms of assault and homicide. The "Castle Doctrine" is a type of the "Stand Your Ground" defenses...
Recent Pennsylvania Case Dealing with License to Carry Concealed Weapons
by Bellwoar Kelly, LLP | Jan 17, 2014 | Violent Crimes
In a recent Pennsylvania Superior Court case, the Court ruled that a person could be convicted of firearms not to be carried without a license 18 Pa.C.S.A. 6106 if that person does not possess a Pennsylvania concealed carry permit. If a person is found guilty of...