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Pink extensions benefit Forty Fort’s A Center for Cancer Wellness, Candy’s Place, during October

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The NEPA Red Hat Queen’s Council is hosting a 50’s Sock Hop

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Whether a judge will allow prosecutors to introduce evidence at trial of threats James Edward Roche allegedly made against one of the men he is accused of killing remains uncertain.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III deferred a decision in the matter after hearing arguments from prosecutors and Roche&#8217;s defense attorney Tuesday, saying he will issue a ruling at an unspecified later date.</p><p>Roche, 33, of Sweet Valley, is set to be tried beginning Nov. 2 in the fatal shootings of Ronald &#8220;Barney&#8221; Evans and his adult son Jeffrey Evans. Roche faces two counts each of criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy to commit criminal homicide.</p><p>Prosecutors allege Roche shot and killed Ronald Evans, 73, and Jeffrey Evans, 43, on April 21, 2014, at the Hunlock Creek residence the father and son shared.</p><p>A jury late last month convicted Roche&#8217;s girlfriend and co-defendant Holly Ann Crawford of two counts of first degree murder in the killings. Crawford, 40, was also convicted of the conspiracy charges. She is expected to be formally sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 25.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Mamie Phillips said prosecutors intend to introduce testimony from Crawford&#8217;s younger daughter, Alexa Balma, who has said she heard Roche threaten to kill 73-year-old Ronald Evans some 30 to 50 times between March 1, 2014, and April 21, 2014.</p><p>Phillips said she also intends to introduce testimony from Crawford&#8217;s mother Moya Linde and a state trooper in reference to an incident in which Roche was cited for public drunkenness after police found him wandering in a field armed with a rifle. Linde will testify a drunk Roche left her home with the weapon saying he was going to kill Evans, Phillips said.</p><p>Prosecutors also want Balma, Linde and state police to testify to another incident in which Roche allegedly shot at Evans&#8217; vehicle as the man was leaving Linde&#8217;s home, Phillips said.</p><p>Balma and Linde testified to each of the matters at Crawford&#8217;s trial.</p><p>Phillips said the testimony she intends to introduce establishes pattern, motive, intent, planning and the absence of an accident.</p><p>Defense attorney Paul Galante argued the evidence is prejudicial to Roche. Galante also said because the evidence may rely on the prior statements of Evans, it is unfair to his client. Phillips said she does not intend to introduce Evans&#8217;s statements.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Roche </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL022715crawford1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Roche </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Judge to decide on testimony of alleged threats in James Roche double-homicide trial