Guilty, but no death penalty. Antonlin Garcia Torres, who was found guilty last month of the murder of Sierra Lamar, the fifteen year old who disappeared in 2012 while waiting for her school bus in California, will spend the rest of his life in prison, but was spared the death penalty.
Remember Dylann Storm Roof, the psychotic little racist who murdered nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina? His trial was scheduled to start on November 7, but he was sent for a psychiatric evaluation, instead. As it turns out, he is sane enough to go to court and stand trial, so jury selection began yesterday. Young Mr. Roof is facing thirty-three charges, some federal, some state, ranging from hate crimes to murder.
In court yesterday, Mr. Roof told the judge that he would like to discharge his attorneys and represent himself. While appearing in court pro se may be acceptable in uncomplicated civil matters, it is not recommended for criminal trials wherein one faces the death penalty, which Mr. Roof faces. The verdict seems almost a foregone conclusion; he has all but confessed. Is it possible that young Mr. Roof already knows he will probably not like the outcome of his trial, and is already angling for another trial, later on?
Joaquin Rams, of Virginia, was indicted earlier this week for capital murder, which means that the state of Virginia can seek the death penalty if he is found guilty. In October of last year, his fifteen month old son, Prince, died during an overnight visit. After a lengthy investigation and examination of two other cases, those being the death of Rams's former girlfriend and the death of his mother, Rams was finally arrested in December for Prince's death. The recurring theme in all of the deaths was life insurance policies. A disturbing national recurring theme is poorly thought out family law court decisions.Judge Algeo, of Montgomery County, Maryland, presided over the custody case that cost fifteen month old Prince his life.
