Robert Briestensky, suspect in 2012 Arnold double murder, will wait longer for long-awaited trial

The trial of a Brackenridge man accused of murdering a mother and son in Arnold five years ago will not happen this year.

During a pretrial conference Thursday, Westmoreland County Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. said he will ask that another judge be assigned to hear the case.

Robert Briestensky, 43, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the October 2012 deaths of Bonnie Broadwater, 46, and her son, Lance Holt, 24. Both victims were found beaten to death with what investigators suspect was a baseball bat.

McCormick is expected to retire at the end of the year — before the case will be ready for trial.

The case against Briestensky has languished for five years as attorneys argued over pretrial issues. Scheduling conflicts prompted further delays because of a judge's death and later a health issue for a county prosecutor.

Assistant Public Defender Greg Cecchetti said Briestensky has not expressed any concerns about the lengthy delay in getting to trial.

“Most of the continuances have been at the defense's request,” Cecchetti said.

The most recent delay involved the defense's effort to find the identity of another potential suspect.

The defense has suggested that DNA found at the murder scene from a fourth person might indicate that someone else could have committed the murders.

That person has since been identified, but county prosecutors said there is no evidence that person, who now lives in North Carolina, was involved in the killings.

Testing determined that DNA linked to Briestensky and the victims was found on the bat, a cap and clothes left at the murder scene, according to the prosecution.

Cecchetti, though, said the defense is seeking to have that fourth person, whose fingerprints were also found in Broadwater and Holt's home, testify at trial.

“It's just a matter of reaching out to him to obtain potential evidence,” Cecchetti said. “What that information we hope to obtain we hope is significant.”

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.