Death Penalty Not Pursued Against Accused Lansdale Murderer

A Lansdale man accused of a February murder will not face the death penalty if convicted, according to a report by The Times Herald.

Peter Jok Atem, 32, is accused of stabbing a co-worker, 25-year-old Danny Vazquez, to death at the MOPAC Rendering Plant in Franconia, the report states.

According to the Times Herald:

In order to seek the death penalty, prosecutors must show that aggravating factors, things that make a killing more heinous, outweigh any mitigating factors, things in favor of a defendant. There are about 18 aggravating factors available under state law that prosecutors can use to seek the death penalty.

Reports stated that Vazquez and Atem had been having issues with each other for six months leading up to the incident.

Atem will face life imprisonment if found guilty, the reports state.