A Pittsburgh-area district attorney has said that five people charged in
a mentally challenged woman's killing should say why they don't deserve
the death penalty.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck told the Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review, "We're seeking input from the defendants themselves, if
they can offer any information about mitigating factors."

Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty against
Greensburg, Pa., roommates Melvin Knight, 20; Ricky Smyrnes, 23; Robert
Masters, 36; Peggy Miller, 26; and Amber Meidinger, 20.

Peck further said that a sixth defendant, Angela Marinucci, 17, a senior
at Greensburg Salem High School, is charged as an adult in the case but
cannot receive the death penalty under state law due to her age.

All six are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Feb.
10 killing of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty, who had a developmental
disability.

Police had alleged at the time of the arrests that Daugherty was
tortured in a Greensburg apartment for nearly two days before being
strangled, stabbed to death and shoved into a trash can left in a middle
school parking lot.

Peck told the newspaper that later investigation produced additional
evidence against the defendants. (With Inputs from Agencies)