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Man accused of killing Penn Hills cop wants trial moved

PITTSBURGH — The man accused of killing a suburban Pittsburgh police officer says prosecutors tainted the jury pool by announcing they wouldn't accept an offer to plead guilty.

Ronald Robinson's attorney says his client's murder trial should be moved out of Allegheny County because prosecutors there released a statement saying the officer's family had rejected a plea agreement.

The district attorney's office said last week that Robinson had offered to plead guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Penn Hills police Officer Michael Crawshaw and another man.

Authorities say Robinson killed Danyal Morton over a drug debt then shot Crawshaw as he pulled up in front of Morton's house in December 2009.

Prosecutors declined comment on the motion filed Friday.

Robinson's trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 3.