Contributed
After roughly a week of jury selection, the trial for a Bristol Township man accused of killing a a pregnant woman, her unborn child and her 4-year-old daughter in 2013 began Wednesday.
Opening arguments were presented before a judge in the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. Assistant District Attorney Matt Weintraub is the lead prosecutor and attorney in the case, while Craig Penglase is heading the defense for 22-year-old Marcel Emanuel Johnson.
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Johnson is facing trial on two counts of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, two counts of arson and a single charge of possession. Officials said last year that the death penalty was pursued for the two criminal homicide counts but the law dictates that the death penalty can not be pursued for criminal homicide of an unborn child.
The prosecution is making the case that Johnson killed five-months pregnant Ebony Talley, 22, and her daughter, R’mani Rankins, 4, on November 25, 2013 inside a subletted unit at the Avalon Court Apartments in Levittown. Their bodies were discovered by first responders after Johnson alleged set fire to the apartment where he is suspected of attacking them.
An autopsy report revealed Talley suffered several stab wounds from her knees up. Talley’s womb, which was carrying a young boy, was punctured and the baby died from his mother’s injuries. R’mani died from a large stab wound on her upper chest and suffered third-degree burns on her stomach, according to testimony at Johnson’s preliminary hearing.
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“Weintraub opened the trial by describing Talley’s daughter. Jurors later saw a photo of the young girl, wearing a blue tutu and a ‘Dora the Explorer’ hat,” Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Laura McCrystal wrote in an article.
Penglase said Johnson’s DNA was not found at the crime scene, the newspaper reported.
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A portion of the case is expected to be centered around the drug trade that both Talley and Johnson were allegedly involved in. LevittownNow.com reported in 2013 that sources said Talley was a part of the local drug market.
Weintraub said Johnson committed crimes because he wanted drugs Talley had in the apartment, according to Calkins Media.
Several first responders along with friends and family of Talley testified during the first day of the trial.
Click here to read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer
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Previous:
- Man to Face Death Penalty at Trial
- Heavy Security for Hearing of Suspect in Killing of Pregnant Mother, Daughter
- Man Charged for ‘Brutal’ Murders of Pregnant Mother, Daughter
- Vigil Held for Murdered Pregnant Mother, Daughter
- Father Starts Memorial Fund & Foundation for Murdered Daughter in Time of Grief
- Mother, Daughter Killed in Bristol Twp.
- Search Warrant: ‘Person of Interest’ in Double Murder, Arson Case at Scene Minutes Before Fire
- PHOTOS: Double Murder Investigation in Bristol Twp.
- Vigil Held for Murdered Pregnant Mother, Daughter
- Investigation Into Murder of Pregnant Mother, Young Daughter Continuing
- ‘Person of Interest’ in Killings Arrested for Drugs, Cops Say
