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Kenny Chesney’s May show fastest sellout in arena history

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Jeff Banko Memorial Scholarship established at Luzerne County Community College

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Statements made by Preston Bonnett to investigators about a fatal fire that killed three boys in Laflin should be excluded from his upcoming homicide and arson trial, an attorney believes.</p><p>Attorney Bernard Brown filed paperwork Friday in Luzerne County Court claiming investigators continued to interrogate Bonnett, 28, after he demanded a lawyer. Brown also claimed Bonnett was not read his Miranda rights when he was initially questioned.</p><p>Bonnett, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested Oct. 26, 2017, several hours after a blaze at 60 Oakwood Drive. Two boys, Erik Dupree, 16, and Devon Major, 12, died at the fire scene.</p><p>A third boy, Ezekiel Major, 7, died at a hospital in Philadelphia on Oct. 28, 2017.</p><p>Bonnett was charged with two counts of criminal homicide and three counts of arson on Oct. 30, 2017. Following the death of Ezekiel Major, Bonnett was charged with a third homicide count.</p><p>The home was owned by Susan M. Major, who allowed Bonnett to stay at her residence before kicking him out a few months before the fire.</p><p>Bonnett was initially charged with devices used for manufacturing counterfeit credit cards. He was questioned by investigators Oct. 25, Oct. 26 and Oct. 31.</p><p>It was during the Oct. 26, 2017, interrogation at the county lockup when Bonnett requested his right to a lawyer, Brown stated.</p><p>Brown claims investigators recorded the session. About seven to eight minutes after it began, Bonnett &#8220;is heard clearly invoking his right to counsel &#8230;,&#8221; the defense lawyer argues.</p><p>Brown also alleges the Oct. 31, 2017, interrogation should not have happened as Bonnett requested a lawyer five days before on Oct. 26. Despite Bonnett&#8217;s request for a lawyer, the interrogation continued with no indication Bonnett waived his right to speak to investigators without a lawyer, Brown asserts.</p><p>Brown is also trying to have Bonnett&#8217;s statements to investigators on Oct. 25, 2017, excluded. He claims Bonnett was &#8220;not clothed&#8221; in a room with an open window, was &#8220;visibly drowsy and lethargic,&#8221; and had not been read his Miranda rights.</p><p>District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said Friday she could not respond due to a court-imposed gag order on the case.</p><p>Judge Michael Vough has scheduled Bonnett&#8217;s trial to begin Jan. 28.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Bonnett-2c-Preston-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bonnett </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Bonnett-2c-Preston-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bonnett </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_LaflinFire2.cmyk_-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">In this file photo, a woman walks past a house that burned on Oakwood Drive in Laflin in October 2017. Two boys died in the fire, and a third died a few days later at a hospital. Preston Bonnett, of Wilkes-Barre, is accused of starting the fire, and his lawyer is now hoping to exclude from trial some statements the suspect made to police. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_LaflinFire2.cmyk_-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>In this file photo, a woman walks past a house that burned on Oakwood Drive in Laflin in October 2017. Two boys died in the fire, and a third died a few days later at a hospital. Preston Bonnett, of Wilkes-Barre, is accused of starting the fire, and his lawyer is now hoping to exclude from trial some statements the suspect made to police. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Attorney: Triple-fatal fire suspect’s statements should be thrown out