A jury has been seated in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for the resentencing of Seifullah Abdul-Salaam, who was convicted of killing New Cumberland Police Officer Willis Cole over 30 years ago. The jury selection concluded on Wednesday (March 19), and the panel consists of seven women and five men. Abdul-Salaam, now 54, was originally sentenced to death in 1994 for the fatal shooting of Officer Cole during a robbery at a coin shop. However, in 2018, a federal appeals court ordered a resentencing, leading to the current proceedings.
The jury will decide whether Abdul-Salaam should return to death row or serve life in prison without parole. The trial is expected to begin soon and continue into early April. According to Local21News, Abdul-Salaam is currently held at the Cumberland County Courthouse.
Pennsylvania has not carried out any executions in the 21st century, making this case significant in the state's legal landscape. The outcome of the resentencing could set a precedent for future cases involving the death penalty in Pennsylvania. The case continues to draw attention as the community awaits the jury's decision on Abdul-Salaam's fate.
Links
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/jury-selection-begins-for-death-sentence-re-trial-of-convicted-cumberland-county-police-shooter-cumberland-county/521-0eacb580-624f-4f90-ac3e-d2e73ba0252dhttps://local21news.com/news/local/jury-selection-underway-for-death-penalty-resentencing-of-man-convicted-of-killing-officer?photo=3