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Grand Jury To Investigate Death Of Prominent Attorney's Girlfriend

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia district attorney's office has confirmed that a grand jury will investigate the death of Julia Law, the young woman, paralegal, and girlfriend of prominent Philadelphia attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr.

Law was found dead in the tub in Peruto's apartment nearly two weeks ago (see related story).

Investigators reported no signs of foul play at the scene, and Peruto was at the Jersey shore at the time the body was found.

Now, following the return of toxicology reports (another related story), which sources say show a blood-alcohol level of what would be several times the legal limit for driving, the case will go to a grand jury.

"I don't think you should draw any conclusions from the fact a grand jury is being convened," notes defense attorney Mark Gottlieb, a former chief of the DA's homicide unit who is not involved in the case.

"In particular I think it would be unfair to everyone involved to assume there is a subject or target of the investigation."

He says the fairest thing to say, based on what's public, is that prosecutors have determined it is in their best interest to use tools of the grand jury to try to answer any unanswered questions.  Because Peruto is so well known, a grand jury could help ensure confidence in the outcome of the investigation.

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