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Attorney: Death penalty 'excessive' in killing of Pittsburgh police officer

PITTSBURGH — The man charged with killing a Pittsburgh police officer may not face the death penalty after all.

Carmen Robinson, the attorney for Christian Bey, filed a motion saying there's not enough evidence to support a death penalty case.

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Officer Calvin Hall was off-duty while he was at a party in Homewood. He left that party and returned when a family member called for help with an escalating situation.

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He was shot in the back and died a few days later.

Bey's defense attorney, Carmen Robinson, said Hall didn't have any identifiable clothing and he didn't say he was an officer.

The motion goes on to say: "The Commonwealth seems to be asserting that Hall was acting under the color of the law. Just because someone is a police officer doesn't mean they are acting under the color of the law."

Bey appeared in court on Friday for a formal arraignment and Robinson said she's still waiting to see what evidence prosecutors have.

After Friday's court hearing, Robinson expressed frustration.

"I still don't have much. I just got on Monday or Tuesday the criminal complaint and I have nothing from the grand jury in which they're holding my client on. I still don't have any of those facts and I still have more questions than I do answers," Robinson said.

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