Gang Member Held for Trial in PA Officer's Killing
Ken [NY
Upper Darby, PA - 3/14/2002
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Steve Esack
Thomas James "Tom Thumb" Campbell, a longtime member of the Pagans
motorcycle gang, was held for trial yesterday on charges that he
killed an Upper Darby police officer two months ago.
Campbell, 52, of Hatfield, who reportedly had vowed he would "kill a
cop" before he would go back to prison, will await trial at Graterford
Prison in Montgomery County. His trial in Delaware County Court was
scheduled for April 15. He is charged with first-degree murder in the
shooting death of Officer Dennis McNamara, 43, on Jan. 30 while
McNamara investigated a parked car outside a house in the 6700 block
of Perry Avenue.
Roseanne Cardone, 28, whose house Campbell was visiting at the time of
the 9:34 p.m. shooting, testified at the preliminary hearing that
Campbell shot McNamara in the head while McNamara talked into his
radio. Cardone said she had been sitting in the parked car, honking
the horn, because she was afraid of Campbell, who was smoking crack
and drinking vodka inside the house.
"Mr. McNamara went to Tom and asked him what his name was, but I don't
know what name he gave him," Cardone said. "Then Officer McNamara
flashed his flashlight on my face . . . said, 'Wait a second,' and
touched his microphone," Cardone continued. ". . . Tom pulled out a
gun out of his right front pocket and he shot him."
Cardone said Campbell then pointed the gun at her and told her to
flee.
Under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Daniel McDevitt,
Cardone said Campbell arrived at her house at about 5:30 p.m. to
discuss her boyfriend's federal court case.
She said she never saw a gun in the house, even though State Trooper
Eugene Fleming later testified that police found four loaded guns on
Campbell when they arrested him after a car chase and crash in Bucks
County.
Her boyfriend, Joseph Nicolella, 47, an alleged Pagan associate of
Campbell's, is in federal prison in Philadelphia, awaiting extradition
to Delaware on methamphetamine conspiracy charges, federal authorities
said.
Cardone faces a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Darby Township on
charges that include aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and
eluding police in connection with a Jan. 14 incident, according to
court documents.
Cardone said she is not getting help from prosecutors on the Darby
Township charges in exchange for her testimony against Campbell.
"It was very difficult for her to testify," McDevitt said after the
hearing. "I thought she made an effective witness at the preliminary
hearing, and I think she'll make an effective witness at the trial."
District Justice T.F. Quinn held Campbell on all charges except one, a
minor motor vehicle violation.
McDevitt would not comment on whether he plans to seek the death
penalty.
Defense attorney Robert D'Agostino said he was not going to discuss
his strategy, but acknowledged that he had a tough case to defend.
Ken (NY)
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