• Font Size    

Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com

Local Highway To Be Renamed I-376
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Witness Refutes Defense Claims About Acne Drug

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Jun 26, 2009 6:57 pm US/Eastern

Witness Refutes Defense Claims About Acne Drug

The defense rested its case without the testimony of John Mullarkey

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A witness for the prosecution in the trial of a Monroeville man who's accused of killing his 16-year-old girlfriend says ending the use of the acne drug Accutane cold turkey is not harmful, in fact it's the norm.

Prosecutors have argued that John Mullarkey killed Demi Cuccia in 2007 because he was a disgruntled boyfriend whom she planned to dump.

Defense attorneys, however, claimed that drug made Mullarkey depressed and suicidal. They say he stopped taking Accutane just days before he allegedly stabbed Cuccia 16 times.

Yesterday a defense expert testified that John Mullarkey's decision to abruptly stop using the drug was a key factor in his actions which led to the murder.

A rebuttal witness for the prosecution, however, disagrees.

In court today, a dermatologist testified that the defense opinion is not based on scientific fact.

During today's testimony, a dermatology assistant who treated Mullarkey also testified that he complained of having a migraine, so they cut his dosage of the drug in half.

According to the witness, Mullarkey never complained of any other side effects again.

The defense rested its case today without putting Mullarkey on the stand to testify on his own behalf.

Testimony has now ended in the trial. 

Jurors are expected to begin deliberations on Monday.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Larry On The Job

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.