PHILADELPHIA (CNN) — Those who loved the late Christopher Fitzgerald came face to face with his accused killer inside a Philadelphia courtroom this week.
Miles Pfeffer waived his preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree murder and robbery in the February 2023 fatal shooting of the Temple University police officer.
"No empathy. Just an evil human being. Just an evil individual that has no regard for life,” Officer Fitzgerald’s wife said.
Fitzgerald’s mother, father, wife and family were joined by dozens of officers.
"It's because they care, they care about our son, they know the sacrifice he made, and this is more than just the loss of our son,” his father added.
The Fitzgeralds voiced frustration with delays in the case of their son's accused killer as court records show Pfeffer’s lawyers have requested four continuances, pushing the hearing back for nearly a year.
A spokesperson for the DA's office said they were ready to go for the first hearing date.
"We are talking January of 2024, and my son was killed on February 18 of last year. It's ridiculous. It's cruel to us as a family -- we want closure, we want closure."
The Fitzgerald family also spoke forcefully, demanding Pfeffer face the prospect of the death penalty if convicted.
"Out of deference to the courts, which make sentencing decisions, we have no comment at this time,” the DA’s office responded.
"The bottom line, when you look at the death penalty in the state of Pennsylvania, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and you look at the prongs that need to be hit - this case meets every last prong for the death penalty."
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