Jeannette woman's appeal of murder conviction rejected

A three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected the appeal of a Jeannette woman sentenced last year to serve up to 30 years in prison for the third-degree murder of her 19-year-old boyfriend.

Crystal Belle, 41, was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury for the June 2016 beating death of Khalil Parker in the home they shared on South Seventh Street in Jeannette.

Belle maintained her innocence during a six-day trial in late 2019 as prosecutors presented evidence that Parker sustained more than 100 injuries over his body, including a head wound and smaller cuts and bruises on his neck, chest, arms, legs and genitals. An autopsy revealed he died from blood loss because of an accumulation of injuries and not one specific wound.

Belle argued that evidence presented against her during the trial did not support the conviction. In a nine-page opinion, the appeals court rejected the defense argument on technical grounds saying Belle did not specify what elements of the charged crimes that prosecutors failed to meet at trial.

The judges, though, said based on evidence, it would have affirmed a lower court ruling issued last year by Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani.

“Although the trial court was not apprised of the specific bases [sic] for appellant’s challenge, the trial court aptly addressed the evidence and concluded that it was sufficient to prove the elements of third-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence beyond a reasonable doubt and sustain the jury’s guilty verdict,” according to the Superior Court ruling.

At trial, the prosecution suggested Belle used a snow shovel and a wooden plank to bludgeon Parker in the head as he was tied to the bed, then attempted to clean and sanitize her home before she dragged Parker down the stairs and called for an ambulance.

Belle contended Parker’s injuries were a result of rough sex and that she became enraged when he attempted to use the shovel as part of a sex act. She also claimed that Parker later left their home and returned with an unexplained head wound.