Chase Merritt Charged W/Murder of Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joe Jr McStay #4

[KALI]

I do not see many of the family members making the arduous trip to San Bernardino for the sentence.
I personally think that the "Guilty" verdict was their closure.
I do not think that they care about the final sentence, as long as Chase Merritt never has the opportunity to hurt someone again.
I certainly could be wrong, but both of these families strive towards the light.
The guilty verdict revealed the killer.
I think they will start to heal with that.
Moo

 

[Karinna]

I do not see many of the family members making the arduous trip to San Bernardino for the sentence.
I personally think that the "Guilty" verdict was their closure.
I do not think that they care about the final sentence, as long as Chase Merritt never has the opportunity to hurt someone again.
I certainly could be wrong, but both of these families strive towards the light.
The guilty verdict revealed the killer.
I think they will start to heal with that.
Moo

Agree, that part of obtaining Justice for their loved ones is now over and they can rest assured CM is where he belongs.
I really don't care if he gets DP or LWOP as long as he is never able to hurt another family like he did with the families of Joseph and Summer and their children. We will never forget them.

 

[la2cabo]

I wonder if any family will give a victim's impact statement? I kind of feel like some home videos of the family is really all that's needed. The jury and judge already know the rest.

 

[Lilibet]

I wonder if any family will give a victim's impact statement? I kind of feel like some home videos of the family is really all that's needed. The jury and judge already know the rest.

I think the victim impact statements are an opportunity for family to speak directly to CM and be very specific about their feelings. They need that and CM needs to hear from them and not escape their wrath, sadness and pain IMO.

 

[MsFacetious]

In good timing, the World Cup game is about to begin, so I'm going to watch that. Is there somewhere to sign up for a text alert when there's a verdict?

Law and Crime Verdict twitter account has worked well for me so far. I have all other twitter alerts turned off and only get alerts from this account. It's been quite useful really.

Verdict (@LawCrimeVerdict) | Twitter

Determining whether a man lives or dies is a huge decision. Something that will weigh heavily on every juror for the rest of THEIR lives.

Yes, they aren't interested in putting him to death because his lawyer insulted them. They are taking their duty seriously. Which is good.

Even if he didn't admit guilt he could've said the same things. We respect your decision, don't agree with it but you've made the final verdict and now we ask...blah, blah, blah. He should've done everything except insult the jury. Unless he was intentionally trying to piss them off.

Absolutely, people do it all the time. Respect the courts decision and time but ask for mercy. You can do it without admitting guilt to preserve your appeal. It happens every single day in courtrooms across America!

 

[nannymo]

As I sat and watched the closing arguments in the penalty phase I could not help wondering if CM was reliving those horrendous acts while they were talking about it and how in the world could he stay so straight faced? What was going through his mind? I too don't care what the outcome is as long as he never sees freedom again!

 

[Niner]

Friday, June 21st:
*Penalty Phase Trial (Day 5) (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - McStay Family: Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4) & Joey Jr (3) (Feb. 4, 2010, Fallbrook; found Nov. 11, 2013) - *Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt aka Charles Ray Mandel aka Charles Ray Morritt aka Chase Meredith aka Chase Jarvis (57/now 62) arrested (11/5/14) & indicted (11/7/14) of 4 counts of murder with special circumstance. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DP case.
Trial started 1/7/19. Dark on all Fridays. Jurors started with 8 women & 4 men; now have 9 women & 3 men (alternates started with 4 men & 2 women-alternates left 1 men & 1 woman). Took about 22 hours of deliberations for guilty verdict on all 4 counts of 1st degree murder with special circumstance.
Trial Days (1-63: 1/7/19 thru 6/7/19) & Verdict (6/10/19) & Penalty Phase Day 1 (6/11/19) reference post #275 here:
GUILTY - Chase Merritt Charged W/Murder of Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joe Jr McStay #4
6/18/19 Day 2: Afternoon session only. State witness: Kenneth Aranda from Hawaii via Skype (Summer's brother). Done for the day. Prosecution wants testimony from Summer's Sister, Tracy Russell, who is currently on vacation in Greece via Skype tomorrow. If not, the pros will rest in the penalty phase. Penalty phase continues on 6/19.
6/19/19 Day 3: Tracy Russell (Summer's sister via Skype from Greece). Prosecution rests. Defense calls no witnesses. Defense rests. Judge Smith gave jury instructions. Closing arguments were given by Prosecutors. Judge has to leave at 3:30pm, so Defense will begin closing tomorrow, 6/20.
6/20/19 Day 4: Defense attorney Maline gives closing arguments. Judge Smith read closing instructions to the jury. Jurors began deliberations for penalty phase of the murder trial at 11:50am PDT. Again it is stipulated jurors may select their own schedule. Jurors are instructed the verdict must be unanimous. Jurors deliberated to about 4pm (with 1 ½ hour for lunch). Deliberated for about 2 hours. Jury deliberations continue on 6/21 at 8:30am to 10:30am (because of an appointment).
Schedule for Penalty Phase-Week of June 17 thru 21st: NO court-6/17-Monday; Court on 6/18-Tuesday starts @ 1:30pm; Court on 6/19-Wednesday; Court on 6/20-Thursday; Court on 6/21-Friday (only for 2 hours).
Schedule for Penalty Phase-Week of June 24 thru 28th: Judge will give instructions for deliberations-6/24, Monday; Jury deliberations-6/25, Tuesday and on.

 

[MsFacetious]

I think it's entirely possible they will do the same thing this time as last time. Go home, sleep on it, take a final vote at 8:30am, announce they have a verdict and then we won't know what it is until next week.

 

[wary]

Schedule for Penalty Phase-Week of June 24 thru 28th: Judge will give instructions for deliberations-6/24, Monday; Jury deliberations-6/25, Tuesday and on.

snipped by me

Thank you, Niner, for all the work you do on trials. I think the judge has already given instructions—so 6/24 should just be deliberations, if needed, right?

 

[minusfour]

Another dental appointment? oh, come on, as if a dentist wouldn't squeeze a judge in at the end of the day/early in the morning, or on a Friday if they knew that the appointment was going to close a court down. We do it all the time, for all sorts of reasons. (If the person has a good reason not to be seen in our normal hours, being a judge on a murder trial would qualify as an exceptionally good reason)

 

[mrjitty]

He seemed like a wounded puppy to me.
Devastated that he lost his case.
Started out fairly well then basically blamed it on the PT and the jurors for buying into what they presented.
He mentioned having lost them in his argument.They shut down. But said a few listened. My take is that some jurors listened and responded respectfully but didn't buy any of it.

Small Suit is completely unprofessional IMO.

We've all followed cases where defence counsel has done a magnificent and professional job for their monstrous client, and simply accepted the verdict that gets handed down. Going on the sulk because the State was mean and the jury too dumb to understand the evidence should be beneath the level counsel would stoop to.

It isn't a game of football, and it isn't about winning.

 

[Niner]

snipped by me

Thank you, Niner, for all the work you do on trials. I think the judge has already given instructions—so 6/24 should just be deliberations, if needed, right?

Thanks for the correction! And you are quite welcome!

 

[TXFForever]

I wish the perpetrator could go thru the same thing he put this family through as his punishment and it's only human to feel that way.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Morning all!

I respect all who hopes CM gets LWOP instead of the death penalty, and understand some of the reasons given.

I know I may have a minority opinion about the death penalty being the only appropriate punishment that should be handed down in Merritt's case.

LOL! that's totally okay of course for I have held minority opinions before, but I can only be true to myself, and why I believe the way I do about each case.

I still stand by that opinion, and the reasons why I do is based on what makes the most logical sense..well to me anyway. Lol!

These murders are undoubtedly one of the worst I've ever followed .no matter the state...which will continue to haunt me long after the trial ends.

Seeing the shattered pieces again during Imes' closing of what was once four vibrant beautiful human beings... convinced me even more that death is the only appropriate punishment.

Imo, giving CM a reduced sentence of LWOP sends a terrible message to society, that no matter who is killed or how many or how brutal it was done.. it didn't rise to the harshest punishment allowed under CA law.

It would mean the jury did give CM mercy by not giving him the harshest sentence allowed under CA law when no mercy was deserved.

Imo, As to what happens afterwards if the inmate is sent to death row or in GP for LWOP is totally irrelevant to me when deciding what I believe is the only just punishment that fits the murders CM committed against his four victims. A lesser sentence is not an option I feel CM deserves nor should get. Jmhoo.

If anyone deserves to be labeled as one of the worst mass murderers it is Charles Merritt. I totally believe that to be true.

That is based on what I do know he did. But the dark depraved secrets of what he put all four through will remain unknown with him.

I truly think we can't even begin to imagine the horrors he made each of them all endure.

Often sociopaths do horrific prolong depraved tortures to their victims before they finally take their lives. I believe CM did the same, and enjoyed every agonizing moment of the pain he inflicted on all four.

So for me, I am hoping he is sentenced to death.

Jmho

 

[lisette]

In total agreement, OBE!

 

[Tssiemer]

Ok. Putting aside the red tape and the appeals and the “cushiness” of death row, this is about justice and I fully believe justice calls for the end of that mans life.
Regardless of which order the family was killed in, they were brutally massacred and beat to death with a sledgehammer and then buried (separate graves) in the desert for years.
No matter what the motive is, greed, hate, sexual attraction, whatever. It doesn’t matter. What could this family have possibly done for someone to think (even irrationally) that they deserved this.
That man deserves the DP.

 

[Longtimenoc]

Morning all!

I respect all who hopes CM gets LWOP instead of the death penalty, and understand some of the reasons given.

I know I may have a minority opinion about the death penalty being the only appropriate punishment that should be handed down in Merritt's case.

LOL! that's totally okay of course for I have held minority opinions before, but I can only be true to myself, and why I believe the way I do about each case.

I still stand by that opinion, and the reasons why I do is based on what makes the most logical sense..well to me anyway. Lol!

These murders are undoubtedly one of the worst I've ever followed .no matter the state...which will continue to haunt me long after the trial ends.

Seeing the shattered pieces again during Imes' closing of what was once four vibrant beautiful human beings... convinced me even more that death is the only appropriate punishment.

Imo, giving CM a reduced sentence of LWOP sends a terrible message to society, that no matter who is killed or how many or how brutal it was done.. it didn't rise to the harshest punishment allowed under CA law.

It would mean the jury did give CM mercy by not giving him the harshest sentence allowed under CA law when no mercy was deserved.

Imo, As to what happens afterwards if the inmate is sent to death row or in GP for LWOP is totally irrelevant to me when deciding what I believe is the only just punishment that fits the murders CM committed against his four victims. A lesser sentence is not an option I feel CM deserves nor should get. Jmhoo.

If anyone deserves to be labeled as one of the worst mass murderers it is Charles Merritt. I totally believe that to be true.

That is based on what I do know he did. But the dark depraved secrets of what he put all four through will remain unknown with him.

I truly think we can't even begin to imagine the horrors he made each of them all endure.

Often sociopaths do horrific prolong depraved tortures to their victims before they finally take their lives. I believe CM did the same, and enjoyed every agonizing moment of the pain he inflicted on all four.

So for me, I am hoping he is sentenced to death.

Jmho

I agree Ocean B. Its the principal of the thing. He deserves the harshest penalty. He showed no mercy to his victims. I am unable to come up with any mitigating factors.

The pretend death row is the best we can hope for.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Ok. Putting aside the red tape and the appeals and the “cushiness” of death row, this is about justice and I fully believe justice calls for the end of that mans life.
Regardless of which order the family was killed in, they were brutally massacred and beat to death with a sledgehammer and then buried (separate graves) in the desert for years.
No matter what the motive is, greed, hate, sexual attraction, whatever. It doesn’t matter. What could this family have possibly done for someone to think (even irrationally) that they deserved this.
That man deserves the DP.

I couldn't agree with you more!

Great summation!

Not one of these victims deserved any of this.

They deserved to live a happy life together as one beautiful family!

Imo

 

[Longtimenoc]

I couldn't agree with you more!

Great summation!

Not one of these victims deserved any of this.

They deserved to live a happy life together as one beautiful family!

Imo

Never to grow and live their lives. To go to school, to marry to have their own families to grow old with. The children and their potential are gone. For what? Casino money.

The children could have lived for ninety or more years. How could anyone be so cruel?

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Never to grow and live their lives. To go to school, to marry to have their own families to grow old with. The children and their potential are gone. For what? Casino money.

The children could have lived for ninety or more years. How could anyone be so cruel?

Ita! Only someone who is souless, and heartless could crush the skulls of four living totally innocent human beings.

It makes me wonder if he had abused animals this way by bludgeoning them to death.

I hope after this is over more will come forward now to reveal more about what he has done.

Imo, there are things we still dont know about him revealing who he has been maybe even starting in his childhood.

It really hit home for me when I saw again how horrific the blows were to their heads.

He literally destroyed their brains by the severe horrendous blows he did against them all.

He reduced them to horrible large gaping holes in their skulls where their brains were. And knowing two of his tiny victims were so vulnerable shows what a raging sadistic monster they faced on the 4th.

CM had no boundaries to his depravity he inflicted on all four.

And to know he did this to Joey, and his family is just too much to bear at times for me.

Joey had helped CM more than any other, and this is how CM repaid Joey's kindness. It truly is one of the worst cases of the ultimate betrayal I've ever seen.

We as a society greatly lose when evil overcomes goodness, and destroys who, and what was loving, and good.

As I have sat watching the closings in this phase seeing CM repluses me. He's stone cold. Even in court he comes across as evil, and souless.

He will never have any regret or remorse. Sociopaths always believe they are the victim ...never the dangerous victimizer.

Imo, in his evil twisted mind Joey, and Summer made him do this. All they had to do in his mind is let him keep getting away with everything, and let him continue to bilk Joey out of thousands of more dollars. Also just let him have a big cut of the coming big projects even if he was too lazy to hold up his end.

None of the facts ever matters to a loathsome vile sociopath.

Jmhoo