An attorney for Richard Poplawski, the 22-year-old man accused of killing three Pittsburgh police officers, again has asked a judge to order police and prosecutors to not discuss the case with the media.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning will hold a hearing on the issue at 10 a.m. today.

Last week, Judge Manning declined a similar request from Lisa G. Middleman, Mr. Poplawski's public defender, because he did not want to interfere with memorial services for Officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Eric G. Kelly and Stephen J. Mayhle.

A spokesman for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.'s office also said Mr. Zappala had instructed police not to talk to reporters.

The district attorney's office wouldn't comment further about the case, saying in a news release, "The rules of professional responsibility prevent our office from commenting on cases beyond what is written in the affidavit. Because of the high level of emotion involved with this particular case, there have been statements made and information disseminated from individuals outside this office that have pushed the boundaries of those rules.

"The district attorney has made it clear to everyone in this case that when the time comes to determine the guilt or innocence of this defendant and the subsequent penalties, it is extremely important that the families of the victims in this case only have to go through that ordeal one time. As such, he has once again communicated to all involved their responsibilities as custodians of the information dealing with this case and that comments about that information should be restricted to discussions in the courtroom and in any pleadings that are filed." In her court filing yesterday, Ms. Middleman pointed out that several media organizations, including Newsweek, have continued to cite anonymous police sources in stories about the April 4 incident in Stanton Heights.

Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper also sat down for an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, with the chief "stating as fact, investigator's hypothesis or opinion of how the shooting may have occurred," the motion says.

"The very harm which counsel sought to avoid ... has occurred -- additional public statements have been made by police which deprive the defendant of his state and federal constitutional rights to a trial with all of the protections afforded him by law," the motion says.

Mr. Poplawski is charged with three counts of homicide and faces a preliminary hearing Friday. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail.