News

June 25, 2007

Selenski prosecutors to eye records

Phone records of late father of murder victim Michael J. Kerkowski to be examined.

DAVID WEISS dweiss@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Prosecutors on Monday got permission to review telephone records of a deceased man to see if they have information relevant to a homicide.

A Luzerne County judge on Monday ordered Verizon Wireless to give investigators all communications from two accounts belonging to the late Michael S. Kerkowski. He is the father of slain pharmacist Michael J. Kerkowski.

The younger Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett went missing in May 2002 before the pharmacist was to be sentenced in Wyoming County Court on charges including illegal distribution of drugs and fraud.

Police found their bodies buried behind Hugo Selenski’s Mount Olivet Road residence in Kingston Township when they executed a search warrant on the house in June 2003.

Selenski and Paul Weakley were charged with homicide, robbery and other offenses in the slayings.

The elder Kerkowski testified against the men at a preliminary hearing. He testified Selenski bilked him out of tens of thousands of dollars, saying it was to aid the younger Kerkowski with his legal problems. Selenski once fired a bullet past the elder Kerkowski’s head, too, he said.

Selenski and Weakley are now awaiting trial on the charges. The elder Kerkowski was expected to testify. But he died in September.

Attorneys for both suspects are asking a judge to prevent prosecutors from using a transcript of the man’s preliminary hearing testimony at the trial. They say using a transcript will prevent them from having a full opportunity to cross-examine the witness.

A hearing on the issue is set for Friday.

On Monday, Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas and Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino filed court papers seeking the phone records of the elder Kerkowski for the entire year of 2002.

They said the phone records could contain information relevant to the homicide investigation.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Chester Muroski granted the request.

Also on Monday, Muroski approved a request by Selenski’s attorneys to be able to meet with him, in person and with a laptop computer, at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility to review certain CDs, DVDs and pictures.

David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7397.

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