Some Hazleton cop hires not done by rankings

Pittston Twp. citizens state concerns about juvie riot

<b>First Posted:</b> 12/20/2007<br><br>Times Leader staff 

WILKES-BARRE &amp;ndash; Convicted murderer Jeff Dennis says it was wrong for a jury to hear about statements his wife made before her death.

The issue is one of several Dennis will argue in appealing his first-degree murder conviction in the death of his wife.
Dennis said the issues he raises call for him to receive a new trial.
Police said Dennis, a Dallas Township police officer, shot his wife, 30-year-old Carli, once in the head inside the couple&amp;rsquo;s Wyoming home in February 2006.
Dennis, Luzerne County prosecutors said, was angry Carli was having an affair with a co-worker at the Luzerne County 911 Center.
Dennis claimed Carli Dennis shot herself as he lunged at her.
A jury in October found him guilty. He is serving a sentence of life in prison.
Dennis is appealing the conviction to the state Superior Court.
Prosecutors, at trial, relied on friends and co-workers of Carli to testify about statements Carli had made to them. The statements related to how Dennis beat and abused Carli.
In court papers filed Tuesday, Dennis&amp;rsquo; attorney, William Ruzzo, said those statements are hearsay and Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Conahan should not have allowed prosecutors to use them at trial.
Ruzzo said Conahan erred by not allowing Dennis to use a computer animation re-enacting how defense experts believed the death occurred; allowing prosecutors to have witnesses testify about Dennis&amp;rsquo; prior bad acts; and allowing prosecutors to strike a certain jury pool member.

Ex-cop Dennis appeals murder conviction over statements