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By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@leader.net
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – A city man will stand trial on two counts of homicide in the
deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and her fetus, District Justice William
Amesbury ruled Monday.
Matthew Bullock, 26, is accused of strangling Lisa Hargrave on Jan. 1
inside the Sheridan Manor apartment they shared, then hiding her body in a
closet for five days before turning himself in. He was initially charged with
one count of homicide, but Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas later
added a second count for the death of Hargrave’s fetus, which was at 22 weeks
gestation.
The homicide charge for the fetus was filed under the state’s Crimes
Against the Unborn Act. Al Flora Jr., one of Bullock’s attorneys, said he
expects to challenge the constitutionality of that law, but that would be
filed in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas because a district justice does
not have the authority to rule on constitutional issues.
Bullock had appeared before Amesbury in February for a preliminary hearing,
but it was continued until Monday so he could be evaluated to determine if he
is competent to stand trial.
John Donovan, co-defense counsel, said Tuesday the evaluation showed
Bullock is competent at this time. “It’s an easy threshold to meet. He has to
understand what’s going on around him and be able to assist in his defense.”
Flora previously said Bullock has a “fairly extensive” mental health
history. He and Donovan are still considering seeking an insanity defense.
They’re also considering a diminished capacity defense based on Bullock’s
alleged use of alcohol and drugs the night Hargrave was killed.
Police said Bullock admitted he strangled Hargrave after they argued about
her alleged use of cocaine and alcohol at a New Year’s Eve party.
Lupas has not yet determined if he will seek the death penalty. That
decision will be made when Bullock is arraigned in county court. The date for
that arraignment has not been set. Bullock remains lodged without bail in the
Luzerne County Correctional Facility pending trial.