Defense attorneys for suspect in Uber driver murder argue to block use of dashcam video

PITTSBURGH — In Calvin Crew’s first court appearance since his preliminary hearing in March 2022, he wore a red jumpsuit and handcuffs and was surrounded by his team of public defenders.

Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca was the only TV News reporter in the courtroom and heard arguments from the defense that could pose as significant challenges for the DA’s office during Crew’s eventual trial.

Crew’s defense team argued that the incriminating, and disturbing, dashcam video that police say shows Calvin Crew killing Uber driver Christina Spicuzza, be inadmissible during his trial.

Defense attorneys argued that the video violates the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act, and said the person in the back of the car didn’t know they were being recorded.

The video shows who police say is Calvin Crew, sitting in the backseat of Spicuzza’s car. At one point, you see the man put a gun to her head, go through her phone, then disconnect the camera.

After these last moments in Spicuzza’s car, police say Crew pulled her out of the car, shot and killed her, then dumped her body in the woods in Monroeville.

Prosecutors say, the moment Crew disconnected the dashcam proved that he knew he was being recorded, and he wanted it to stop.

The other big issue in court was the death penalty, and whether it should be thrown out as a possible sentence.

Crew’s defense team argued that the death penalty shouldn’t even be considered because of comments from Gov. Josh Shapiro, where he said he would sign a reprieve each time a death penalty case crosses his desk.

The District Attorney’s office told Channel 11 Monday that they have six current death penalty cases, and District Attorney Steven Zappala told us in the spring that he doesn’t enforce the law based on political decisions.

There were several other motions the defense wants thrown out, including an interview Crew gave with detectives, and his cell phone records.

The judge in this case hasn’t made a decision on these motions yet, and it’s unclear when he will. Crew’s trial is scheduled for January 2024.

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