Eric Frein's defense attorneys argue against death penalty

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — Defense attorneys for accused trooper killer Eric Frein argued at a pre-trial hearing April 19 that the death penalty sought by Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin should be dropped if Frein is convicted.
Judge Gregory Chelak made no ruling that day, after he decided to hold a portion of the hearing “in camera," meaning that members of the public and media were asked to leave while a video was shown in testimony.
One reporter objected to the judge about the decision, Tonkin explained in a phone call, resulting in a new hearing being scheduled for Thursday, April 21, as this paper goes to press. The judge will rule whether to hold the hearing “in camera."
Another hearing is scheduled for Friday morning to continue the first, interrupted hearing. Tonkin said both sides will present arguments in front of the judge on Thursday, after which the judge decide whether the case warrants capital punishment.
Frein is accused of fatally shooting Corporal Bryon Dickson and of also shooting trooper Alex Douglass, who suffered very serious injuries that required long hospitalization.
The shooting at the Blooming Grove police barracks in fall of 2014 resulted in a huge manhunt lasting for weeks, after which Frein was eventually captured near an unused airport hangar in nearby Pocono woods — but not before he appeared on FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.