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Girl Accused Of Killing Dad Will Leave Jail, Go To Western Psych

POSTED: 2:23 pm EDT August 2, 2007
UPDATED: 6:13 pm EDT August 2, 2007

A judge ruled on Thursday that a 13-year-old girl charged with killing her father needs to be moved out of the Allegheny County Jail.

WTAE Channel 4 Action News is not identifying the suspect by name because there have been allegations of abuse connected to her case.

The girl is accused of shooting her father, Matthew Booth, at their Elizabeth Township home on Monday.

Both the prosecutor and the girl's attorney agreed their top priority was getting the child out of jail, so, after a short hearing, Judge Jeffrey Manning ordered her moved from the jail to the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

Court psychiatrist Christine Martone said right now, what the girl really needs is treatment and therapy.

Martone told the judge the girl is suffering from a mood disorder and an adjustment disorder. During her interview, Martone said the girl was angry and verbally abusive.

"You have to remember this is a 13-year-old child who is sitting in the Allegheny County Jail as a result of a very traumatic act," said defense attorney Patrick Nightingale.

The girl told an Elizabeth Township neighbor she shot and killed her father after he sexually abused her for six years.

"The district attorney felt very strongly this was an exceptional case and we should take exceptional measures to make sure this young lady is getting the care she needs," said deputy district attorney Mark Tranquilli. "She is a victim in this case. There are no winners in this case. There are only losers."

The girl's neighbors appeared at the hearing to support her, and her lawyer said many others have volunteered to help.

"There are folks who want to set up a trust fund for her," said Nightingale. "I've received requests for pro-bono legal assistance, pro-bono psychiatric care, so it seems this is a case that is really resonating in the community."

The girl will move to the psychiatric clinic after a preliminary hearing Friday morning. She will be there for at least 20 days.

After Friday's hearing, the girl's lawyer will attempt to have her case moved to juvenile court. The deputy district attorney said he would probably not object to that, but it's too early to tell.


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