10/25/12 - An evidentiary hearing was continued today for the man charged in the 2008 double-homicide of his brother and sister-in-law in Oceola Township. 66-year-old Jerome Kowalski is charged with two counts of open murder and felony firearms in the shooting deaths of Richard and Brenda Kowalski on May 1st, 2008. Authorities say Kowalski admitted he killed the couple but his attorney insists the statements were only made after a lengthy interrogation. An evidentiary hearing that began last month continued today, with decisions about exhibits and jury instruction made behind closed doors. The evidentiary hearing was ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court, which directed Judge Theresa Brennan to reconsider her decision to exclude expert testimony pertaining to Kowalskiâs psychological condition. All of the parties reached an agreement to allow testimony pertaining to Kowalskiâs susceptibility to influence from authority, so long as it did not make claims about whether it actually influenced his confession. A final status conference will be held on November 20th to finalize the decisions reached at todayâs hearing. The trial is still scheduled for December 3rd. (TD)
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