By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It was 30 years ago this Friday that Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner was murdered, gunned down in center city.

The convicted killer is Mumia Abu Jamal.

Now, KYW Newsradio has learned from multiple sources that the Philadelphia District Attorney will hold a news conference Wednesday morning to announce a decision on the future of the case.


Mumia Abu Jamal was sentenced to death, but ultimately, after decades of appeals, which turned Jamal into an international cause celebrity, the sentence was overturned.

Late Tuesday a federal judge ordered the state to take action, either conduct a new sentencing hearing and seek the death penalty, again, or sentence Abu Jamal to life in prison, and do it within 180 days.

But, DA Seth Williams will answer immediately, with Officer Faulkner’s widow, Maureen, expected to be by his side.

If the prosecution seeks the death penalty, again the case could continue for years, with possible appeals.

But if the decision is life in prison, one of the highest profile and longest running criminal cases in Philadelphia history will finally, effectively, end.