Hearing held for double murder suspect

BRISTOL, Pa. - September 17, 2008 32-year-old Robert Diamond faces two counts of first degree murder.

The shootings happened last month at the Simon & Schuster Book Warehouse in Bristol Borough. Investigators believe Diamond was upset about losing his job at the warehouse back in April.

Action News has obtained documents detailing what police found when they searched Diamond's home and his car. They say that in his car they found a book that was titled 'Black Power'. The documents also say that Diamond, who is white, told them that he only purchased the book to better understand the people at work who he believed were trying to persecute him.

The district attorney's lone witness was Vanessa Gonzales, a worker at the warehouse.

Gonzales told the court she witnessed Diamond pull a gun and fire at two of her coworkers on the afternoon of August 1st.

46-year-old Angel Guadalupe, who had just been employed there, and 52-year-old Reginald Woodson were both killed in the gunfire.

Authorities say Diamond intended to kill, and didn't seem worried about getting caught.

Michelle Henry, Bucks County District Attorney told reporters, "He went there in broad daylight at 3:30 in the afternoon, when the shift was ended. He had previously worked that shift, and so he was aware of what time the employees would be leaving that company, and he waited for them."

In a statement Diamond told police he felt persecuted at work for a run-in with another employee. The D.A. believes Woodson, a shop steward, was specifically targeted, and that Guadalupe just happened to be there when the gunfire began.

In a police statement, Diamond is quoted as saying he continued shooting at Guadalupe until he "stopped moving."

Several relatives of the two victims held a prayer vigil before piling into the small courtroom. At least one person became so emotional he had to leave even before the hearing started, and considered skipping it all together.

The judge held Diamond over for trial on first degree murder, and the family members left without saying much.

One person said the hearing was rough. Another said, "I just want to see justice is served. It was a heinous act."

Diamond, you may recall, was wearing a T-shirt when he was arrested that read "Stupidity is not a crime." His lawyer, Barnaby Wittels, would not comment on his client's mental state, only making this cryptic statement: "This is a case that never should have happened. As the evidence will emerge over time, you will see why."

Wittels would not elaborate on what he was talking about. Perhaps we'll find out more when this case goes to trial, which could start by the end of this year and could end up being a capital case.


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