Woman Pleads Guilty In Double Murder In Northern Liberties
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A woman, who played a small but crucial role in the brutal ambush murders of two people inside the upscale Piazza at Schmidts in Northern Liberties last year, has pleaded guilty.
Several other defendants, the alleged mastermind and shooters, are awaiting trial scheduled for later next year.
Defense attorney Robert Mozenter says 26-year-old Katoya Jones got involved with the wrong people and agreed to help them enter the apartment building, for what she thought would be a burglary and a big cut of the stolen money. But targeted victims Rian Thal and Timothy Gilmore were ambushed and murdered, "She was remorseful from the very beginning. It was a tragedy and as soon as she came in to the police she confessed to the entire situation."
Mozenter says Jones is an army veteran with no criminal record, "In the 40 some years that I have been practicing law, this is a situation I just can't explain. I just don't understand how this woman got involved in this."
Mozenter, who says Jones has been cooperating with authorities, will be sentenced later.
Reported By Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio
