Hearings have been set for today and Thursday in McKean County Court in two separate motions in the criminal case against Paul D. Morrisroe in the June 2, 2015, fatal hit-and-run accident in Cyclone.
The cases are against Morrisroe, 40, of Sunny Lane, Marshburg. He is facing charges including homicide by motor vehicle while driving under the influence for the June 2, 2015, hit-and-run crash on Route 646 in Cyclone which claimed the life of Dakota Heinaman, 20.
Police had followed a groove in the pavement from the scene of the crash to Morrisroe’s garage in Marshburg, right up to the garage door. An officer saw a truck matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle inside the garage and contacted state police.
Today’s hearing will be the third day in a suppression motion in the case — beginning March 9 and continuing March 17 — in which defense attorney Jim Miller is arguing for the suppression of search warrants granted in the case.
The last hearing ended with testimony from Cpl. Kurtis Rummel, accident reconstruction specialist with Punxsutawney-based state police, headquarters of Troop C.
Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, district attorney, indicated today’s hearing may begin with testimony from the case’s chief investigator, Trooper Mary Gausman of the crime unit of Kane-based state police.
The prosecution may rest its case today regarding the legality of the search warrants. Miller has indicated he plans to call witnesses to testify in the matter as well. It was unclear if the hearing would wrap up today, or if a fourth day would be necessary.
The suppression hearings have been held before Senior Judge William Morgan.
Motions regarding discovery in the case have been heard before President Judge John Pavlock, as will Thursday’s hearing on a discovery motion filed by the prosecutor’s office. Shaffer is looking for reports filed by any experts who the defense plans to call to testify in pretrial hearings or at trial.
According to a motion filed by Shaffer, as of a hearing in early March, Miller “asserted that the defendant had not identified what, if any, experts would be called and that no reports were available as this time. The Commonwealth indicated a concern about said reports and/or results of testing if no reports were available, being provided at the last minute.”
She called for a report from any experts, or a report “stating the subject matter on which the expert is expected to testify; the substance of the facts to which the expert is expected to testify” and a summary of the expert’s opinion, as well as the grounds for the opinion, according to her motion in the case.
She asked that Pavlock either compel the defense to hand over reports, or to preclude the defendant from calling an expert witness.
That hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday in McKean County Court.


