An Arnold woman’s trial on charges she helped a friend avoid apprehension after the fatal shooting of a police officer was delayed until at least April.
The case against Lisa Harrington, 33, was postponed Thursday to allow for a new defense attorney to represent her. She faces charges that she lied to police during the four-day search for the man suspected in the November 2017 shooting death of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw.
Police contend Harrington and two other women concealed evidence about the whereabouts of Rahmael Sol Holt as police searched for him following the fatal shooting. Authorities have also suggested Harrington may have removed the suspected murder weapon from one of the homes where Holt briefly visited while he avoided capture.
In court on Thursday, court-appointed defense attorney Victor Myers said he had recently taken a new job in eastern Pennsylvania and would withdraw from the case. Westmoreland County Court Judge Rita Hathaway said a new lawyer would be appointed to represent Harrington.
Her trial had been scheduled to begin in February. It will now be delayed until at least April, the judge said.
Two other women, Lakita Caine, 40, and her daughter, Taylor Mitchell, 19, pleaded guilty last year to hindering the apprehension of a fugitive. Caine was sentenced to serve three to seven years in prison. Mitchell served an 11 1/2-to-23 month jail sentence.
Holt, 3o, of Harrison, is awaiting trial for the first-degree murder of Shaw. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against Holt, whose trial is slated to begin in April before Hathaway.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.
