Greene man to appeal conviction
WAYNESBURG – Twice-convicted murderer George Cameron will appeal his most recent first-degree murder conviction for the 1999 stabbing death of a Waynesburg man, claiming errors were made during his trial earlier this month that impacted his right to a fair trial. Greene County Public Defender Harry Cancelmi said Cameron will appeal the July 2 verdict, which was the second time a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the Aug. 4, 1999, death of David Cumberledge.
Cameron, in his latest appeal, contends that the evidence at trial was not sufficient to convict him and that a juror remained impaneled even after he disclosed that he knew a witness in the case and was familiar with the site where Cameron fled following the stabbing.
Also, another juror possibly saw Cameron in shackles while the sheriff and borough police rushed to shield him from her.
Cancelmi said the most important part of the appeal is the introduction by the prosecution of Cameron’s first reaction upon arrest and being advised of his rights, which was him refraining from asking questions and remaining quiet.
“For the prosecutor to use his lack of response in face of an accusation against Cameron – being the advisable course of an accused person to take – as some admission of guilt flies in the face of the 5th Amendment constitutional protection against self-incrimination,” Cancelmi said in a statement. “This ill-advised tactic will probably result in a third trial of this tragic incident.”
Cameron’s first conviction, in March 2000, was reversed earlier this year when the state Superior Court ruled that an audiotaped confession from Cameron should have been played at his trial.
Cancelmi wanted to present the tape at the first trial to show that Cameron was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time the tape was made. He cited Greene County President Judge H. Terry Grimes’ refusal to allow the tape into evidence in his first appeal to the Superior Court, and the court ordered Grimes to examine the issue by making a second tape to compare Cameron’s voice on both.
When the issue was brought back to Greene County, Grimes followed the court’s order and maintained he believed Cameron voluntarily confessed, and the tape could only have been admitted had Cameron taken the stand. Grimes also refused to hold an evidentiary hearing, at which Cameron would have presented testimony from his family and an expert witness that he was not coherent in his initial confession. Cancelmi again appealed Grimes’ decision to the Superior Court, which ruled that the tape should have been played for jurors and granted Cameron a new trial.
Cameron was accused of stabbing Cumberledge 16 times just after midnight Aug. 5, 1999, following a dispute at the 291 E. High St. apartment Cameron and his wife Lisa shared.
At trial, Cancelmi said Cameron was upset because his marriage was ending, and Lisa and Cumberledge had been seen around Waynesburg spending time together. A first-degree murder conviction means Cameron will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Pending the outcome of his appeal, Cameron was returned to SCI-Houtzdale in Clearfield County following his conviction.
Grimes has scheduled Cameron’s latest appeal for argument on Sept. 8. Linda Chambers, Greene County first assistant district attorney, who was the prosecutor on both of Cameron’s trials, is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.