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Woman who police say helped hide accused cop-killer sentenced

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A judge today handed down a tough sentence for a woman who police said helped hide a man accused of killing an officer.

In a very rare move, the presiding judge sentenced the woman well beyond the sentencing guidelines for her role in the capital murder case against Rahmael Holt.

Lakita Cain pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension of Holt. She lied to investigators about his whereabouts and where the murder weapon was possibly stashed the night Officer Brian Shaw was killed last November.

RELATED HEADLINE: What we know about Rahmael Sal Holt, the suspected killer of police Officer Brian Shaw

The judge sentenced Cain to serve three to seven years in state prison. Her attorney was hoping she'd be released with credit for the 11 months she's already served.

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“The judge went on to say that the gun that was allegedly put in the residence was never found and I believe that’s needed for the other big case and I think that’s why she went outside the guidelines," said Cain's attorney Valerie Veltri.

When the judge asked Cain if she had anything to say before sentencing, she turned around and told the Shaw family, “I’m sorry for your loss and I hope you find closure in this case, and I’m very sorry.”

Cain’s daughter, Taylor Mitchell, was also charged with the same crime. She was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months.

In Friday's hearing, the commonwealth brought up Holt's impending nuptials and continued to ask a judge to honor its petition to not allow a marriage between Holt and his girlfriend, Vanessa Portis.

"Rahmael Holt at this time is going to marry anybody. In fact, Vanessa Portis who is the subject of their petition, is actually going to be a defense witness," said Tim Dawson, a court-appointed defense attorney.

The defense is still hoping to track down a third person they say could be the shooter who was in the car that officer Shaw stopped, moments before he was killed. They're hoping to find him, before the get to trial.

In November 2017, investigators said Holt shot at Shaw when he tried to pull over a vehicle in which he was riding – killing him.  Holt was arrested in Pittsburgh after a massive manhunt.

At a status and discovery hearing in May, attorneys for Holt said he was not the shooter.

Holt’s lawyers told the judge the shooter could have been the driver of the vehicle or a third person who was also in the car.

The district attorney is seeking the death penalty in the case.

 

Cox Media Group

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