A Lancaster Township man charged with stabbing his wife to death last year has opted for a non-jury trial - in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty.
Carrington Joseph, 28, is to be tried next month for killing Melissa Joseph, with the couple's children present, inside their Sterling Place home on May 2, 2014.
On Thursday in Lancaster County Court, Joseph opted to have his case heard by President Judge Dennis Reinaker instead of a local jury.
First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen, who is prosecuting with Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson, agreed to drop pursuit of a death-penalty verdict.
Trial is scheduled to open Nov. 2.
Prosecutors had filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, because Joseph placed others (the couple's infant twins) in grave danger during the attack.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us