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Gag Order Issued In East Pittsburgh Police Officer's Homicide Case

Allegheny County District Attorney
/
AP

A gag order barring anyone involved with the case against East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld from talking about it has been issued.

According to multiple reports, judge Alexander Bicket issued the gag order late Wednesday.

Bicket replaced judge Anthony Mariani who recused himself from the case Wednesday. Rosfeld’s attorney Patrick Thomassey requested the recusal based on comments Mariani made on the local cable news show “Night Talk” before he was assigned to the case.

Rosfeld is charged with fatally shooting 17-year-old Antwon Rose in June.

Prosecutors sought the gag order earlier this week, requesting to bar lawyers, potential witnesses and others from talking about the case.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel Fitzsimmons said Thomassey had accused prosecutors of "trying to hide something." He said the comments came shortly after Thomassey told the judge he expects to seek a jury from another county due to pretrial publicity.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.