Philadelphia

Jury to Decide Fate of Contractor Facing Murder Charges in Philadelphia Market Street Building Collapse

A Philadelphia jury began considering the fate of a demolition contractor facing murder charges in a Center city collapse that left six people dead and 13 others injured.

The jury began deliberating the fate of Griffin Campbell Friday afternoon.

Campbell is charged with third-degree murder in the deaths that happened when debris collapsed onto an adjacent Salvation Army store at 22nd and Market streets.

For more than two weeks, the jury has heard testimony in the case. Campbell's lawyer insists that his client is being made a scapegoat in the 2013 collapse that also buried 13 survivors in rubble.

Investigators accused Campbell of leaving a towering wall brick wall unsupported before it collapsed on the adjacent one-story thrift store.

Subcontractor Sean Benschop pleaded guilty in the case and testified against Campbell.

Benschop said he should have "walked away" from the site when Campbell refused to take the wall down by hand. But he said he needed to feed his family.

The building owner who took his cut-rate bid for the job has not been charged.

The jury isn't didn't reach a verdict before being dismissed Friday afternoon and will return Monday morning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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