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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; An attorney contracted through Luzerne County&#8217;s Department of Conflict Counsel to defend homicide suspect Anthony Spudis had a conflict himself.</p><p>Attorney David Lampman, of Wilkes-Barre, was permitted to withdraw from representing Spudis, 35, who stands accused in the 2013 Thanksgiving Day stabbing death of 97-year-old Gertrude Price in Nanticoke.</p><p>County President Judge Richard M. Hughes III on Tuesday granted Lampman&#8217;s request to withdraw from Spudis&#8217; case.</p><p>After reviewing police reports, interview recordings and witness statements in preparation for Spudis&#8217; preliminary hearing, Lampman noticed he previously represented a prosecution witness, creating a conflict of interest. </p><p>&#8220;(Lampman&#8217;s) continued representation of Mr. Spudis creates a substantial risk that privileged information counsel obtained in previously representing the commonwealth&#8217;s witness might be relevant to cross-examine and impeach that witness,&#8221; Lampman wrote in his request.</p><p>Hughes ordered the conflict office to appoint another lawyer to represent Spudis by Thursday.</p><p>Spudis is accused of killing Price inside the woman&#8217;s home on West Grand Street on Nov. 28, 2013. Investigators allege Spudis entered the residence through a basement window intending to ransack the house.</p><p>When Spudis was confronted by Price, however, he allegedly stabbed her in the face multiple times with a screwdriver.</p><p>Spudis continued to ransack Price&#8217;s home before leaving, authorities say.</p><p>Spudis qualifies for the death penalty as he allegedly killed Price during the commission of a felony &#8212; in this case, robbery and burglary &#8212; which is an aggravating circumstance.</p><p>There are 18 separate aggravating circumstances in Pennsylvania for prosecutors to seek the death penalty if there is a conviction of first-degree murder.</p><p>District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said Wednesday she has not decided if her office will seek the death penalty for Spudis. If a district judge finds there is sufficient evidence to forward Spudis&#8217; charges to county court, Salavantis&#8217; office has until or at the formal arraignment to notify the court if they intend to seek the death penalty.</p><p>Spudis&#8217; preliminary hearing has been continued indefinitely.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Spudis.cmyk-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Spudis </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Spudis.cmyk-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Spudis </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Attorney permitted to withdraw from defending homicide suspect