A Carbondale man charged in the September stabbing of Dennis Doherty will head to trial, a judge decided at a preliminary hearing Friday morning.
Magisterial District Judge Theodore Giglio said Joseph Cedeno, 37, will go to trial on a homicide charge that he stabbed Mr. Doherty, also of Carbondale, multiple times during a fight in a vacant lot.
Jonathan Sandoval, Mr. Cedeno's brother, testified at the hearing that his brother came into his room between 7 and 7:30 p.m. the night of the homicide, pulled a knife from his pants and asked if he should do it, according to Lackawanna County Deputy District Attorney Shane Scanlon.
Mr. Sandoval testified Mr. Cedeno said he was going to kill Mr. Doherty, according to Mr. Scanlon.
Louise Lambides, Mr. Cedeno's mother, testified her son was supposed to walk Mr. Doherty home the night of the stabbing, but returned to her house earlier than expected, locking the door behind him and telling her if anyone asked he had been at her house all night, Mr. Scanlon said.
Ms. Lambides testified Mr. Cedeno then pulled out a bloody knife, told her he killed Mr. Doherty and washed the knife off in the sink, Mr. Scanlon said.
Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland testified as to cause and manner of death, saying Mr. Doherty suffered four stab wounds to the chest, four to the back and one to his arm, and died from those wounds, Mr. Scanlon said.
Mr. Cedeno's formal arraignment is slated for Nov. 30, but no trial date has been set. He is not eligible for bail because he is charged with criminal homicide.
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