Judge Declines Request To Move Former Philadelphia Police Officer Mark Dial's Trial Out Of The City

CBS Philadelphia

July 29, 2024

PHILADELPHIA -- A judge has turned down a request to move the trial of a former Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a motorist as he sat in his car, saying there's insufficient evidence that the defendant would be unable to get a fair trial in the city.

Attorneys for former officer Mark Dial sought the change of venue last spring, citing not only what they called an "avalanche" of press coverage about the shooting death of Eddie Irizarry but also street protests and public comments by elected officials.

Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott, however, ruled last week that despite the public and media attention, the coverage had been "largely factual" and there had been "a substantial cooling-off period since the latest reports," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

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