'Greensburg 6' killer wants to appeal her sentence

Oct. 29--One of the people convicted in the 2010 torture and killing of a mentally disabled woman in Greensburg was today granted a hearing to appeal her sentence.

Amber Meidinger, who is representing herself, is claiming ineffective legal representation and a conflict of interest, according to paperwork she filed earlier this month with Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court.

Her court filing for reconsideration provided no other details.

Meidinger, 24, who originally faced the death penalty in the slaying of Jennifer Daugherty, testified for the prosecution.

She pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, criminal conspiracy and kidnapping and was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison.

Trial Judge Rita Hathaway ruled that the hearing would occur during the next available criminal motions court.

Meidinger was one of the so-called "Greensburg Six," six roommates who prosecutors say held Ms. Daugherty captive and abused her for three days before killing her in the winter of 2010. They were all convicted.

One of Meidinger's co-defendants, Melvin Knight, who is on death row for the slaying, appealed his sentence last month.

Among the claims made by Knight's counsel was the argument that the death sentence was unconstitutional because Meidinger did not get the death penalty despite being "equally or more culpable."

Jonathan D. Silver: jsilver@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1962.

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