It’s the end of the line for Richard McAnulty in his quest to vacate his conviction and life sentence for the murder of a South Greensburg man in 2010. The State Superior Court has turned down his petition for post-conviction relief.
The 62-year-old McAnulty was found guilty of first degree murder and burglary in 2011 for shooting to death 39-year-old Harry Mears III. McAnulty discovered emails between his wife and Mears on a family computer, prompting him to drive from his home outside of Homer City to Mears’ home in Southwest Greensburg. He shot and wounded Mears, then chased him through the house and out of a second-floor window, where Mears fell from a porch roof to the ground below. McAnulty then fatally shot him as he begged for his life. McAnulty then drove back to his home and was waiting to surrender, sitting on his front porch when police arrived to arrest him.
In his appeal, McAnulty claims his attorney erred and that Judge Debra Pezze should not have allowed Diane McAnulty to testify about the emails, which were related to an affair she’d had with Mears.
The Superior Court ruling rejects McAnulty’s contention, saying his wife’s testimony “in no way contradicts” her husband’s own expert’s testimony, and that the court “can discern no statement that was prejudicial” to McAnulty. “In fact,” they write, “her testimony bolstered his defense…”
McAnulty is serving life in prison without parole.
