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Slavik sentence upheldPHILADELPHIA (UPI)-The state Supreme Court upheld Friday the life sentence of Thomas Slavik, 33, Pricedale, convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of a young man and attempted abduction of the victim’s girlfriend,Slavik was convicted in Washington County Court in the fatal wounding of John Morgo. 21, in Morgo’s auto outside a drivc-in restaurant in Centerville on the night of July 27, 1968, and abduction of Joanne Pctroff, 18.Slavik’s attorney contended there was no physical evidence to support a charge of attempted rape and that his guilty pica was made only after an assistant district attorney, a personal friend, urged him to sign a written confession.He also argued that the fcl-ony-murder doctrine was not applicable because a purse takenfrom the girl occurred after Morgo had been shot.The court, in upholding the conviction, said the doctrine applied because the homicide occurred during a robbery attempt regardless of when the design to rob was conceived.”The high court's opinion said Morgo and the g:rl were sittingWindows shot at Matway garageA shooting incident look place at the Matway Chevrolet Inc., garage on Route 51 in Rostravcr Twp. this morning at A o'clock.State Police said a plate glass window in the showroom and the windshields of 12 parked vehicles were shot out by persons in a vehicle that fled north on Route 51 following the incident. Total damage was reported ,»s $2,000.in their car and that Slavik and Floyd Kokoska, 35, Mones* sen were in another auto.It said Slavik went to Morgo’s car and pointed a gun and when Morgo pushed it aside, Slavik struck him on the head.’•As Morgo started to get out of the car, Kokoska approached and shot Morgo in the stomach” the opinion said. Then, according to the opinion, Kokoska took Joanne's purse and left the scene while Slavik started Morgo’s car and took the young couple to a wooded area where the girl was forced to remove some of her clothing.Morgo managed to walk o f f for help to a nearby house, Joanne broke loose and followed him. Slavik drove away m the auto.Morgo died 10 days after an emergency operation lor resection of his bowel.
Newspaper Details
Monessen Valley Independent
Monessen, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Jan 31, 1970
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
John C.
PA, USA 25 Oct 2016
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