125714246_web1_Devin-Cunningham-05142019

Judge denies motion to suppress confession in Monka homicide; case set to go to trial

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A state appellate court upheld the conviction and life sentence for Preston Bonnett, who challenged the jury&rsquo;s verdict claiming a state police deputy fire marshal was permitted to testify as an expert witness during his trial at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
				A jury convicted Bonnett, 29, with intentionally setting a fire at 60 Oakwood Dr., Laflin, which killed Erik Dupree, 16, Devon Major, 12, and Ezekial Major, 7, on Oct. 25, 2017.
				President Judge Michael T. Vough, who presided over the trial in May and June 2019, sentenced Bonnett to three life terms imprisonment.
				In his appeal to the state Superior Court, Bonnett questioned:<ul><li>Whether the court erred in denying his motion for a Frye hearing challenging the admissibility of Trooper Karri Dodson&rsquo;s testimony as an expert witness?</li><li>Whether there was insufficient evidence to sustain a verdict of guilty of each charge in each case?</li></ul>
				A Frye hearing is held to determine if a witness is an expert in a specific field of study.
				After a pre-trial hearing, Vough determined a Frye hearing was not warranted as he ruled Bonnett and his defense attorneys will be presented to cross examine Dodson and her findings from her investigation.
				When Dodson was called to testify, Bonnett and his lawyers did not object to Dodson testifying as an expert in fire investigation, a three member panel of the Superior Court ruled in a 16-page opinion issued Tuesday.
				Dodson testified she investigated all possible causes of the fire and immediately ruled out accidental. When presented with other witnesses and evidence including Bonnett at the house, Dodson testified the fire originated by an open flame introduced by a human hand to curtains in the back of the house.
				The Superior Court ruled Vough properly rejected Bonnett&rsquo;s request for a Frye hearing to determine if Dodson is an expert on fire investigations.
				In Bonnett&rsquo;s second challenge in his appeal, the appellate court called it &ldquo;a blanket statement&rdquo; and failed to specify which evidence was insufficient that resulted in the jury&rsquo;s verdict convicting him of first degree murder, second degree murder and arson.

Superior Court upholds conviction, three life sentences for Bonnett