EBENSBURG, Pa. – Brian Bradley Giles appeared in Cambria County Court on Monday for a status conference related to the homicide case against him. Giles is facing trial for the alleged murder of his wife, Nancy Giles, who went missing from their Franklin Street apartment in Johnstown in October 2018 and was later found dead on a nearby hillside.
The purpose of the proceedings was for Giles’ court-appointed lawyer, Timothy Burns, to formally present his client’s requests. During the conference, Burns stated that Giles is seeking access to transcripts of all court proceedings that occurred before Burns and his co-counsel, David Weaver, took over the case.
Additionally, Giles requested that the discovery materials for his case be provided to him again, despite his refusal to accept mail from his attorneys at the Cambria County Prison, where he is currently being held.
Judge Tamara Bernstein took the opportunity to inform Giles of his rights regarding the letters he has been writing. She explained that anything contained in those letters could potentially be used as evidence in the case. While the judge emphasized that she cannot dictate Giles’ actions, she wanted to ensure that he fully understood the implications of his correspondence, to which he affirmed his understanding.
Originally scheduled for a jury trial in March, Giles’ trial had to be postponed due to an incomplete report that was necessary prior to the proceedings.
In summary, Brian Bradley Giles attended a status conference in Cambria County Court regarding the homicide case against him. His defense lawyer presented Giles’ requests for transcripts and discovery materials, while Judge Tamara Bernstein informed Giles of his rights concerning his written correspondence. The trial, initially set for March, was delayed due to an incomplete report.