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Sabina Rose O'Donnell Murder Trial Begins Today

The Sabina Rose Gardens
The Sabina Rose Gardens
Photo: The Sabina Rose Gardens

The trial for the brutal murder of PYT waitress Sabina Rose O'Donnell begins this morning in Philly. Donte Johnson, the accused killer in the case, has changed his plea to "not guilty" after partially confessing to police that he was responsible in July of 2010, a little more than a month after the attack occurred. The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty. The defense is saying that Johnson's mentality is "childlike" and is asking for the 5-page admission of guilt to be suppressed.

O'Donnell was 20 years old at the time of her death, and a big part of the PYT team with a lot of friends in the industry. PYT Owner Tommy Up was very involved with the search for O'Donnell's killer, offering a personal reward for information leading to their capture. The lot where the tragedy occurred on North Orianna Street has been cleaned up and painted with a mural and portrait of O'Donnell, and has been renamed The Sabina Rose Gardens.

· Trial Set to Begin in Murder Case of Sabina Rose O'Donnell [Philly.com]
· PYT [Facebook]