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No insanity defense for accused shooter

PITTSBURGH — A man charged with gunning down three Pittsburgh police officers called to a domestic disturbance call at his mother’s home will not pursue an insanity defense.

WPXI-TV reports lawyers for 24-year-old Richard Poplawski filed a motion Monday in Allegheny County Court dropping a bid for an insanity defense but said mental health issues will still be raised at trial.

Authorities say Poplawski killed officers Paul Sciullo II, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly in April 2009, prompting a three-hour standoff in which he fired at nine other officers, wounding one.

A jury is scheduled to be selected in Dauphin County in June and bused to Allegheny County for the trial.

Poplawski could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.

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