The complicated case against Ronald Weiss inched forward yesterday with the filing of a brief by the state Attorney General’s office on double jeopardy issues. Weiss, who is formerly from Shelocta, was convicted of first degree murder in 1997 for the killing of 16-year-old Barbara Bruzda in October of 1978, but a federal judge reversed the conviction because of prosecutorial misconduct.
In January, Judge Thomas Bianco held a hearing in which former state Deputy Attorney General John Robinette tried to explain his conduct during the trial. Federal Judge Mark Hornak last spring said Robinette and a state trooper lied during the trial when they testified that two fellow inmates who testified against Weiss were not given preferential treatment in prison when clearly they were. But Robinette claimed at the hearing that the two inmates were only told that the state would take steps to ensure their safety in prison and the nature of their cooperation would be reported to the prison officials if they asked.
Deputy Attorney General Gregory Simatic is asking Judge Bianco to rule against a defense motion to dismiss the case based on double jeopardy. Simatic contends that Hornak’s decision is separate and not related to the double jeopardy issue, despite Hornak’s opinion that double jeopardy would be invoked by the defense should a retrial be ordered.
Bianco said he would rule on the case within thirty days of receiving the briefs.
