Court appoints public defender to represent Thornhill

October 20, 2011

Christopher Thornhill

BROOKVILLE — A preliminary hearing for a Pittsburgh man that was continued Oct. 13 by District Judge Douglas Chambers will now be able to proceed following the appointment of the public defender by Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge John H. Foradora at Wednesday’s Plea & Sentence Court.

Christopher L. Thornhill, 24, faces two counts each of attempted criminal homicide; aggravated assault; recklessly endangering another person; and weapons violations stemming from the Sept. 22 shooting incident near a residence along Cranberry Alley.

Public Defender John Ingros asked Thornhill, who was under oath, about incomplete financial information on his initial application for representation to his office, specifically, if he had any income or holdings from which he could derive income.

Thornhill said that he did not.

Ingros said he didn’t have any objection to his office representing Thornhill in his legal proceedings.

Foradora then issued an order appointing the public defender to represent Thornhill.

During the initial statements for Thorhill’s preliminary hearing, District Attorney Jeff Burkett said the commonwealth agreed to Chambers’ order of a continuance in the case until Thornhill received some sort of legal representation.

Sept. 29, U.S. Marshals and members of the Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Task Force took Thornhill into custody at a residence in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, a week after he allegedly shot Richard White, 21, and Shane Glatt, 18, both of Punxsy, near a residence along Cranberry Alley Sept. 22.

The preliminary hearing Oct. 13 had already been postponed from Oct. 6. The exact date and time for Thornhill’s preliminary hearing in front of Chambers has yet to be determined.