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Luzerne County posts solicitation seeking new coroner

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Pittston man charged with sexual assault in Lehigh County

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; An attorney for a woman who was 17 years old when she was charged with criminal homicide in the death of her grandfather is seeking to limit and have certain photographs tossed.</p><p>Attorney John Pike is also seeking to have his client, Gabriella Elizabeth Long, 18, released from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility arguing the evidence does not support her incarceration.</p><p>Long, along with Mercedes Hall, 16, Christopher Cortez, 19, and Devin Cunningham, 20, were charged by state police with killing Joseph Monka, 71, inside his Edwardsville residence on April 15.</p><p>Court records and testimony during previous court proceedings allege Long and Hall were inside a bedroom while Cortez and Cunningham stabbed Monka to death in another bedroom of the house.</p><p>Forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross testified during a June 7 hearing Monka was stabbed 43 times and was severely beaten.</p><p>Afterwards, investigators allege the foursome stole nearly $30,000 from a safe in Monka&#8217;s house and went on a spending spree at Wyoming Valley Mall.</p><p>Long, Hall and Cortez were arrested April 17 when they were leaving the Red Roof Inn in Plains Township, several hours after the body of Monka was found by an Edwardsville police officer. Cunningham was arrested at his mother&#8217;s residence in Virginia on April 24.</p><p>Pike filed a pre-trial motion earlier this month on behalf of Long arguing the evidence against her does not support her incarceration. Pike is also seeking to limit the use of certain photographs and prohibit prosecutors from using a picture of Monka before his death.</p><p>&#8220;The pre-death photographs of the alleged victim are not admissible as they are offered by (prosecutors) for the purpose of engendering sympathy for the alleged victim with the intent of creating an atmosphere of prejudice against (Long),&#8221; Pike wrote in the motion.</p><p>If the presiding judge, William Amesbury, determines a picture of Monka before his death can be used, Pike is requesting the use of Monka&#8217;s driver&#8217;s license photograph or a police mugshot.</p><p>In another request, Pike wants prosecutors to be prohibited from using Long&#8217;s alleged prior bad acts as he believes it would be prejudicial against her.</p><p>Pike and attorneys Lawrence Kansky and Joanna B. Smith, who also represent Hall, have filed separate motions to decertify the adult charges against their clients and move the cases to juvenile court.</p><p>Amesbury has not yet ruled on the decertification motions.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_Gabriella-Long-TL.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Long </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_Gabriella-Long-TL.cmyk_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Long </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Attorney questions use of photographs in homicide case