A judge today granted a former day laborer permission to represent himself in the 2003 slaying of an elderly Upper St. Clair woman.
Patrick Jason Stollar, 29, of Washington County, faces the death penalty if a jury convicts him of killing 78-year-old Jean Heck, whose yard he was hired to tend. Attorney James DePasquale is prepared to represent him during the penalty phase.
Mr. Stollar was also charged with burglary, robbery, theft and two counts of forgery. The trial had two false starts, when the defendant said he intended to plead guilty and officials reported that the defendant had attempted suicide on three occasions. He was hospitalized twice at Mayview Hospital before being returned to the Allegheny County Jail in July with doctor's approval.
Mr. Stollar said Assistant Public Defendant Robert Foreman had not provided him with all of the discovery material. Mr. Stollar said he did not want Mr. Foreman as his lawyer during the guilt phase.
Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman warned Mr. Stollar he could not continue to delay his trial.
"I understand your impatience," said Mr. Stollar, who never finished high school, but obtained a general equivalency diploma. "This isn't a surprise, self-benefitting diversion."
The judge explained a final time that the defendant had a right to a lawyer and asked Mr. Foreman to sit through the trial as "second chair." The trial is scheduled for Jan. 21.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First Published: November 5, 2007, 9:45 p.m.