Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 6, 2006 13:23:24 GMT -5
Jurors urge death penalty
COURT: Louis Mitchell Jr. had been found guilty of killings in 2005 in Colton and San Bernardino.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 5, 2006
By JOHN F. BERRY
The Press-Enterprise
SAN BERNARDINO - A brief cheer and applause erupted Tuesday inside a San Bernardino County courtroom when jurors recommended that Louis Mitchell Jr. be executed for a 2005 shooting spree that killed three and wounded three people in Colton and San Bernardino.
"It's been a roller-coaster of emotions," said Doris Payan, one of two dozen shooting-victim supporters attending the verdict announcement. "This guy shows a lack of remorse."
Mitchell shuddered briefly then smiled broadly as a jury of five women and seven men returned a verdict they needed less than three hours to reach.
The same jury deliberated for four hours Aug. 8 and 9 when they convicted Mitchell, 36, on three charges of murder and three of attempted murder, court officials said.
Mitchell returns to court for sentencing Oct. 4.
Jury foreman Ed Kearby, 50, said as he left the courthouse that jurors reached a consensus Thursday, but wanted to think about their verdict over the Labor Day weekend.
Kearby said defense attorney Alan Spears did not prove that Mitchell was high on PCP on Aug. 8, 2005, before his client drove to California Auto Specialist in Colton and fatally shot two employees and wounded another two.
"That was important," Kearby said. "If he was intoxicated, I was under the impression that the death penalty was not an option."
Kearby described deliberations as rational despite Spears saying during closing arguments that the death penalty is "whitey's justice."
Some jurors were upset at that remark and wanted additional time to ensure their verdict was the right one, Kearby said.
"People wanted to make sure that we weren't angry with Mr. Spears," Kearby said.
Spears said outside of the courtroom that his client was on PCP.
"The jury was free to disregard it -- which they did," Spears said.
Mitchell's fiancée, Christina Eyre, 24, described the verdict as "outrageous."
"I can't believe they reached a decision so quick," Eyre said. "It's like they wanted revenge."
Eyre said that she and Mitchell had been together for more than two years. She said they got engaged during the trial's guilt phase in July.
"Louis would never do anything like this," Eyre said. "I trust him with my two daughters, my life. He wouldn't kill anyone else."
On Aug. 8, 2005, Mitchell was upset after the Dodge Durango belonging to his girlfriend, Doreen Small, broke down hours after buying it from the dealership, according to testimony.
Mitchell entered the business and fatally shot employees Patrick Mawikere, 20, and Mario Lopez, 59, and wounded Jerry Payan and Juan Bizzotto.
Mitchell then drove to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Sierra Way in San Bernardino, where he shot fatally Susano Torres, 16, and wounded Susano's brother, Armando.
Mitchell was arrested the next day, after he was shot while approaching a San Bernardino police officer in the 300 block of West 19th Street.
A pistol connected to the killings was found in the tire well of a nearby van.
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Online at: www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_mitchell06.3aeeda7.html
COURT: Louis Mitchell Jr. had been found guilty of killings in 2005 in Colton and San Bernardino.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 5, 2006
By JOHN F. BERRY
The Press-Enterprise
SAN BERNARDINO - A brief cheer and applause erupted Tuesday inside a San Bernardino County courtroom when jurors recommended that Louis Mitchell Jr. be executed for a 2005 shooting spree that killed three and wounded three people in Colton and San Bernardino.
"It's been a roller-coaster of emotions," said Doris Payan, one of two dozen shooting-victim supporters attending the verdict announcement. "This guy shows a lack of remorse."
Mitchell shuddered briefly then smiled broadly as a jury of five women and seven men returned a verdict they needed less than three hours to reach.
The same jury deliberated for four hours Aug. 8 and 9 when they convicted Mitchell, 36, on three charges of murder and three of attempted murder, court officials said.
Mitchell returns to court for sentencing Oct. 4.
Jury foreman Ed Kearby, 50, said as he left the courthouse that jurors reached a consensus Thursday, but wanted to think about their verdict over the Labor Day weekend.
Kearby said defense attorney Alan Spears did not prove that Mitchell was high on PCP on Aug. 8, 2005, before his client drove to California Auto Specialist in Colton and fatally shot two employees and wounded another two.
"That was important," Kearby said. "If he was intoxicated, I was under the impression that the death penalty was not an option."
Kearby described deliberations as rational despite Spears saying during closing arguments that the death penalty is "whitey's justice."
Some jurors were upset at that remark and wanted additional time to ensure their verdict was the right one, Kearby said.
"People wanted to make sure that we weren't angry with Mr. Spears," Kearby said.
Spears said outside of the courtroom that his client was on PCP.
"The jury was free to disregard it -- which they did," Spears said.
Mitchell's fiancée, Christina Eyre, 24, described the verdict as "outrageous."
"I can't believe they reached a decision so quick," Eyre said. "It's like they wanted revenge."
Eyre said that she and Mitchell had been together for more than two years. She said they got engaged during the trial's guilt phase in July.
"Louis would never do anything like this," Eyre said. "I trust him with my two daughters, my life. He wouldn't kill anyone else."
On Aug. 8, 2005, Mitchell was upset after the Dodge Durango belonging to his girlfriend, Doreen Small, broke down hours after buying it from the dealership, according to testimony.
Mitchell entered the business and fatally shot employees Patrick Mawikere, 20, and Mario Lopez, 59, and wounded Jerry Payan and Juan Bizzotto.
Mitchell then drove to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Sierra Way in San Bernardino, where he shot fatally Susano Torres, 16, and wounded Susano's brother, Armando.
Mitchell was arrested the next day, after he was shot while approaching a San Bernardino police officer in the 300 block of West 19th Street.
A pistol connected to the killings was found in the tire well of a nearby van.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_mitchell06.3aeeda7.html