Judge issues stay of execution for convicted murderer
A Fayette County judge has granted a motion to stay the execution of a Uniontown man on death row for murdering three people and an unborn child in 2002.
On Nov. 21, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a death warrant for Mark Duane Edwards, 32, who was convicted of killing Joanna and Larry Bobish Sr., as well as their pregnant daughter Krystal, in their North Union Township home before burning down.
Edwards was also convicted of attempted murder for shooting and stabbing Larry Bobish Jr., then 12 years old.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Mehalov said President Judge John F. Wagner Jr. granted the motion on Wednesday and indicated he would be issuing an order on the matter in the upcoming days.
Federal community defender James Moreno, the attorney representing Edwards, contended in the motion that the execution should be halted because Edwards has an unresolved post-conviction relief act (PCRA) appeal pending in county court.
Mehalov said Wagner gave the prosecution until the end of January to file an answer to the PCRA.