HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. - A Philadelphia man charged in a double murder in central Pennsylvania two years ago is asking a judge to bar prosecutors from using statements he said he made to police while dealing with drug withdrawal symptoms.Isiah Payne, 34, is charged in the deaths of 28-year-old Mikal Jackson-Stevenson and 52-year-old Natalie Washington in Altoona in May 2020.
Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty if he is convicted of first-degree murder.PREVIOUS: DA seeks death penalty against Philly suspect in western Pa.
murder casePayne told a Blair County judge Tuesday that he regularly took pain medication and failure to do so left him irritable and unable to concentrate, The (Altoona) Mirror reported.
He said he took a tablet while in police custody but it was wearing off as he was questioned by police.Altoona police officers, however, told the judge that they saw no evidence of the alleged withdrawal symptoms, saying Payne was calm and coherent and answered every question.Prosecutors allege that Payne killed the victims during a dispute over drug sales.