Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 8, 2006 2:10:07 GMT -5
Hicks escapes death penalty
A man convicted last week of murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old
boy was spared the death penalty Thursday.
The jury that convicted Christopher Hicks last Friday notified District
Judge Michael Deegan that they were unable to agree unanimously on the
death penalty, defense attorney Nick Carter said.
Hicks, who turned 20 last Sunday, was found guilty of first-degree murder
and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the shooting death last
November of 16-year-old Bryce Chavers.
Prosecutors said Hicks helped to kill Chavers at the behest of another man
who wanted to keep Chavers from testifying against him in a sexual assault
trial. The jury had acquitted Hicks of 1st-degree murder in the October
death of 19-year-old Jeremy Forquer. Although Forquer's death happened a
month before Chavers', the 2 cases were tried at the same time. Hicks was
convicted of conspiracy in Forquer's death.
The sentencing phase of the case began Wednesday. Jurors must still decide
whether to impose a life sentence or life without parole on Hicks.
Carter said in his closing arguments that Hicks was a young boy without
any violent tendencies who had made some grievously bad decisions. Carter
said Hicks had tried to set his life straight by trying to join the Army,
among other things, but said bad luck had caused him to get caught up with
the wrong crowd.
"This is a 19-year-old boy and the stakes are unmistakable," Carter said.
"I'd ask you not to kill this boy. Have compassion, have mercy on my
client."
But prosecutor Bill Edelman countered that the case was one that showed
calculation, not a single slip-up.
"This is not a case that involves one bad decision," Edelman said. "This
is not a case that involves one monumental mistake. This is a case that
covers 60 to 90 days, 60 to 90 days where he was given multiple
opportunities to change his mind."
(source: Associated Press)
A man convicted last week of murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old
boy was spared the death penalty Thursday.
The jury that convicted Christopher Hicks last Friday notified District
Judge Michael Deegan that they were unable to agree unanimously on the
death penalty, defense attorney Nick Carter said.
Hicks, who turned 20 last Sunday, was found guilty of first-degree murder
and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the shooting death last
November of 16-year-old Bryce Chavers.
Prosecutors said Hicks helped to kill Chavers at the behest of another man
who wanted to keep Chavers from testifying against him in a sexual assault
trial. The jury had acquitted Hicks of 1st-degree murder in the October
death of 19-year-old Jeremy Forquer. Although Forquer's death happened a
month before Chavers', the 2 cases were tried at the same time. Hicks was
convicted of conspiracy in Forquer's death.
The sentencing phase of the case began Wednesday. Jurors must still decide
whether to impose a life sentence or life without parole on Hicks.
Carter said in his closing arguments that Hicks was a young boy without
any violent tendencies who had made some grievously bad decisions. Carter
said Hicks had tried to set his life straight by trying to join the Army,
among other things, but said bad luck had caused him to get caught up with
the wrong crowd.
"This is a 19-year-old boy and the stakes are unmistakable," Carter said.
"I'd ask you not to kill this boy. Have compassion, have mercy on my
client."
But prosecutor Bill Edelman countered that the case was one that showed
calculation, not a single slip-up.
"This is not a case that involves one bad decision," Edelman said. "This
is not a case that involves one monumental mistake. This is a case that
covers 60 to 90 days, 60 to 90 days where he was given multiple
opportunities to change his mind."
(source: Associated Press)