Jury Selection Begins in Self-Defense Murder Trial of Pittsburgh Woman

Cranberry, PA — Jury selection commenced this week in Butler County for the trial of Amanda Hughes, a 28-year-old Pittsburgh resident charged with the murder of her boyfriend, Anthony Smith, who was 30 at the time of his death. The incident, which occurred in February 2023, has stirred local attention as court proceedings get underway, with the trial scheduled to begin early next week. Authorities allege that the tragic event ensued following a heated argument between Hughes and Smith, which culminated in Hughes fatally shooting Smith. The case has captured the community’s interest not only … Read more

$18.75 Million Awarded to Family of Teen Shot by St. Louis Police, Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim

ST. LOUIS — A jury has awarded a substantial sum of nearly $20 million to the family of an 18-year-old St. Louis man, Mansur Ball-Bey, who was fatally shot by police during a search operation at his home in 2015. The legal proceedings concluded without criminal charges against the two officers involved, yet they were held civilly liable for the wrongful death. The lawsuit, which began in 2020, was initiated by Ball-Bey’s father, Dennis Ball-Bey. It targeted not only the officers but also the former police chief and the city of St. Louis. Reflecting on … Read more

$18.75 Million Awarded to Family in St. Louis Police Shooting Case, Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim

St. Louis, MO — A St. Louis federal court jury has awarded nearly $20 million to the family of Mansur Ball-Bey, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot in the back by police officers during a 2015 raid. The officers involved in the shooting were not criminally charged, but they have been held civilly liable for the young man’s death. The incident, which has drawn attention to issues of police conduct and accountability, occurred when two St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Ball-Bey’s home in the Fountain Park neighborhood on August … Read more

Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim, Convicts Man of First-Degree Murder in Anniversary Trip Shooting

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A New Hampshire man was found guilty of first-degree murder on Friday following a tense trial that captivated the community, focusing on the tragic death of his young wife during what was supposed to be a celebratory trip. Joseph Ferlazzo, 44, was convicted by a Chittenden County jury for the brutal killing of 22-year-old Emily Ferlazzo in October 2021. The couple had embarked on a journey to Vermont to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. They met with relatives in Bolton, but the trip took a fatal turn when an argument escalated inside … Read more