Deal sought in fatal N. Phila. carjacking

The attorney representing a Logan man charged with carjacking an SUV and plowing it into a fruit stand in North Philadelphia, killing a mother and her three children, says his client is looking to strike a plea deal with prosecutors.

Cornelius Crawford, 25, faces charges of murder, sexual assault, robbery, kidnapping, conspiracy, and related offenses in the July 2014 case.

Prosecutors say he and Jonathan Rosa, 21, carjacked a real estate agent, sexually assaulted her, and drove her vehicle at high speed through North Philadelphia before the car lurched out of control at Allegheny and Germantown Avenues.

Selling fruit on the corner were Keisha Williams and children Keiearra Williams, 15; Thomas Joseph Reed, 10; and Terrence Williams, 7. The car plowed into them, killing the children almost instantly and critically injuring the mother. She clung to life at Temple University Hospital for several days.

Rosa negotiated a guilty plea to third-degree murder and related charges.

Crawford has been held without bail since he was charged. Now, lawyer Charles P. Mirarchi is trying to negotiate a plea.

Mirarchi said his client would plead guilty in exchange for a 45-year sentence, instead of a possible life term.

"He's been remorseful since the beginning," Mirarchi said. "He can't even tell the whole story without choking up and crying."

Prosecutor Joanne Pescatore said that the sides had not come to an agreement and that they had scheduled another pretrial conference for this month.

awhelan@philly.com

215-854-2961

@aubreyjwhelan