The judge overseeing East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld’s case has recused himself.
Judge Anthony Mariani will no longer preside over the case. Judge Alexander Bicket has been reassigned the case, confirmed staffers in both judges' offices.
Rosfeld is charged with shooting and killing 17-year-old Antwon Rose in June.
At a pre-trial conference earlier this month, Rosfeld’s attorney Patrick Thomassey requested Mariani recuse himself from the case. Thomassey pointed out that Mariani had commented on the case on the local cable news show “Night Talk,” and questioned the judge's ability to remain impartial.
Mariani appeared on the show just days after the shooting, and before being assigned to Rosfeld’s case. According to Thomassey, Mariani said Rosfeld may have shot Rose out of frustration and that maybe the officer didn’t receive adequate training.
On Monday, prosecutors in the case said they were seeking a gag order requesting to bar lawyers, potential witnesses and others from talking about the case publicly.
