Attorney: Baumhammers Can Get Fair Trial

No Plans To Ask For Change Of Venue

PITTSBURGH, Updated 7:06 p.m. EST November 17, 2000 -- The attorney for the suspect in a killing spree in Allegheny and Beaver counties confirmed Friday that he will raise a defense of mental illness.

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"Allegheny County is where I have always selected my juries," Difenderfer said. "I think that, statewide, there will be a lot of publicity surrounding the case. The mere fact that a prospective juror has heard about it does not disqualify them."

A trial date of April 9, 2001, was set during a conference on the status of the case Friday morning at the Allegheny County Courthouse. Motions -- including one for Difenderfer's mental infirmity defense -- must be filed by Jan. 8.

Judge Jeffrey Manning said that he will examine next year whether there are enough potential people in Allegheny County who have not already formed strong opinions about the case. Testing of prospective jurors is set to begin on Feb. 20, 2001.

WTAE-TV's Sam Merrill reports that Baumhammers stared at a courtroom wall for the majority of the conference, barely blinked and never looked at or made contact with Difenderfer.

Baumhammers is an immigration lawyer from Mount Lebanon who had an inactive practice. He is accused of shooting and killing four people in the Pittsburgh area and one in Beaver County on April 28.

Baumhammers is also accused of Pennsylvania's version of a hate crime. The five shooting victims were black, Jewish, Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese.

After four months of treatment in a mental hospital south of Pittsburgh, Baumhammers in September was deemed competent to stand trial by Judge Lawrence O'Toole.

In May, one psychiatrist who interviewed Baumhammers said that he had a "psychotic thought disorder" and another said that he suffered from delusions and emotional detachment. Psychiatrists say that anti-psychotic drugs and individual counseling have improved Baumhammers' condition.

Previous Stories:

• November 2, 2000: Baumhammers Arraigned In Shooting Spree
• October 31, 2000: Insurer: Baumhammers' Parents Not Covered In Deaths
• October 20, 2000: Prosecutor To Seek Death For Baumhammers
• September 30, 2000: Baumhammers Lawyer Plans Insanity Defense
• September 27, 2000: Victim's Husband Sues Baumhammers And His Parents
• September 16, 2000: Baumhammers Ruled Competent To Stand Trial
• August 29, 2000: Lone Shooting Spree Survivor Goes Home
• May 31, 2000: Woman Says She's Haunted By Baumhammers
• May 3, 2000: Allegheny To Try Baumhammers
• May 3, 2000: Company Reposts Baumhammers' Site
• May 1, 2000: Manifesto Found In Home Of Suspect
• April 30, 2000: D.A. Says Note Could Reveal Hate Motive
• April 29, 2000: Who Is Richard Baumhammers?
• April 29, 2000: Suspect Arraigned In Shooting Spree

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