[naviga:h3]High court asked to hear arson case[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Lawyers for a man accused in the arson deaths of three firefighters two decades ago are seeking to have the state’s highest court handle the case.

Attorneys for Gregory Brown Jr. filed a request on Thursday asking the state Supreme Court to take over the case and go to trial.

Defense attorneys say prosecutors have been delaying by appealing a judge’s decision not to recuse himself.

Prosecutors have said the judge was biased against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a prospective witness.

Brown was sentenced to three life terms in the 1995 fire. He won a new trial by saying prosecutors didn’t disclose that two witnesses had been promised reward money.

[naviga:h3]Police: Toys for Tots were not stolen[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police on Friday charged 49-year-old Carmen Randall with falsely reporting the break-in and theft of Toys for Tots at the center run by the East Hills Community Council four days before Christmas.

Police aren’t saying why they believe Randall made up the thefts, and Randall couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

[naviga:h3]2nd victim in fatal shooting identified[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the second man gunned down last week at an industrial park as Divine Barrett, 24, of Paterson, N.J.

A spokesman for Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety says the double shooting happened just before midnight Wednesday in Windgap Industrial Park.

Officers found one man lying in the street and another in a vehicle. Both had been shot at least once. Paramedics pronounced them dead at the scene.

Authorities say Dante Dawkins, 29, of Clairton was also killed.