The lawyer for a Hempfield woman accused in the October shooting death of her husband said he’s ready for a fast-tracked trial to begin in March.
Leeann Steel, 51, has been in jail without bond since her arrest following what prosecutors said was the murder of her husband.
William Steel, 54, was found shot to death in the bedroom of the couple’s Merlin Lane home last Oct. 18.
“We want to the jury to decide this case as soon a possible,” attorney Tim Andrews said following a pretrial hearing on Thursday. “Our hope is the jury sees it as we see it, and she’s not guilty.”
Steel, according to police, shot and killed her husband of 29 years during an argument. William Steel was shot twice in the torso, police claimed.
In testimony presented during a preliminary hearing last year, police said Leeann Steel called 911 to alert authorities about the shooting and was found at a neighbor’s home where she confessed and was taken into custody without incident.
Andrews previously said Steel will claim she acted in self-defense.
Andrews on Thursday withdrew a request that asked a judge set a bond in the case that would allow for Steel’s pretrial release. Andrews said the decision to drop the bail request was over concerns that it could lead to prolonged pretrial litigation. Appeal courts have previously ruled that defendants who face potential life sentences are ineligible for bond.
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani set Steel’s case for trial in March.
Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said prosecutors continue to await a ballistics analysis on the suspected murder weapon.
Andrews said he will continue to push for the trial to begin as soon as possible.
“If someone threatens you in your own home, regardless if it is a stranger or not, they have the right to defend themselves,” Andrews said.
