Urban-James team announced

Shooter gets up to 27 years

<b>First Posted:</b> 8/7/2007<br><br>WILKES-BARRE &amp;ndash; A Luzerne County judge&amp;rsquo;s refusal to postpone a hearing today in a manslaughter case could have lasting ramifications on the case, an attorney said.
A pre-trial hearing is set for today in the case of Edward Longfoot, who is facing charges in the Oct. 18 death of his father.
But Longfoot&amp;rsquo;s attorney, First Assistant Public Defender Al Flora Jr., asked Court of Common Pleas Judge Ann Lokuta on Friday to postpone the hearing because he had a scheduled vacation and would not be able to attend the hearing.
Lokuta, later on Friday, denied the request, though, keeping the hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Her court order did not explain her decision.
Flora, in a letter filed after the judge issued her order, said his absence at the hearing could lead to problems because another public defender &amp;ndash; not as familiar with the complexity of the case &amp;ndash; would have to cover for Flora.
And that, he said, could lead to Longfoot making a legal claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Flora said. That claim could affect the case on an appeal.
Flora said he did not request the postponement earlier because he only received notice of the hearing on Wednesday and was out of town most of Thursday.
Longfoot, 36, is awaiting trial on involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of his 75-year-old father, Edward Albert.
Investigators said the two got into an argument inside their Blackman Street home in Wilkes-Barre before they began striking each other. Albert later died of cardiac arrest caused by a physical assault, court papers say.
Chief Public Defender Basil Russin on Monday said attorney William Ruzzo will cover for Flora at today&amp;rsquo;s hearing. Ruzzo, Russin said, has not been involved with the case but has been &amp;ldquo;brought up to snuff&amp;rdquo; on the matters.
&amp;ldquo;We got it covered,&amp;rdquo; Russin said.
The hearing was set to resolve several pre-trial issues.
Flora previously filed motions saying Longfoot&amp;rsquo;s charges should be tossed because prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence at his preliminary hearing. He also wants statements Longfoot allegedly made to police after he was in custody to be kept out of trial.
Prosecutors are seeking permission to use evidence of prior bad acts committed by Longfoot against his father.

    

David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7397.

Hearing for Longfoot will go on today