Judge to rule Monday on degree of guilt in slaying case

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania judge is to issue his ruling Monday on whether a man who acknowledged killing his cousin and shooting his cousin's wife and their family dog planned his actions or committed them in the heat of passion.

Authorities say John Hann, 62, killed Joseph Mullner and shot Melinda Mullner multiple times in October 2017. She survived by playing dead. Hann surrendered the following day after a police standoff that lasted several hours.

The degree-of-guilt trial follows an April plea bargain that allowed the Bushkill Township resident to avoid a potential death sentence. A third-degree rather than first-degree murder conviction might allow his release someday.