Authorities will seek a first-degree murder conviction in connection with a fatal shooting last year in Jeannette, a Westmoreland County prosecutor said.
Stuart Ali, 47, was charged with a general count of criminal homicide for the April 15, 2021 killing of 43-year-old Marcus Davis in Jeannette. Davis’ body was found in the intersection at North Seventh Avenue and Gaskill Street with multiple bullet wounds, according to court records.
In court on Monday, Assistant Public Defender James Spriestersbach asked that Ali, who has been in jail since his arrest, be released on bail. Because prosecutors did not specifically charge Ali with first-degree murder, he was eligible for bail, Spriestersbach said.
State law prohibits bail in cases where a defendant could receive a life prison sentence, which is the mandatory penalty for a conviction to first-degree murder.
“Until the commonwealth goes for the whole enchilada, he is eligible for bond,” Spriestersbach said.
Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said first-degree murder is an offense that is included in the general criminal homicide count.
“It is a first-degree prosecution. Nothing in this case excludes first-degree murder,” Lazar said.
According to court records, police say Ali and Davis, along with three other men, drove together from a Greensburg bar to Jeannette to complete a drug deal. Ali and Davis argued during the drive and witnesses claimed their disagreement spilled out of the vehicle.
Police said Ali fired multiple shots at Davis during the altercation.
Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani denied Ali’s request for bond, saying that because a life sentence was a potential outcome in the case, he was not eligible for a pretrial release.
Ali’s trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 19.
