Good thinking. I think you're probably right breaking it down logically.My guess is the sentence is simply a cumulative effect.
e.g. They think he murdered Joe first, perhaps in the context of the theft discovery and that would have earned LWOP if he stopped there.
But then in the next transaction he went on to murder Summer and the kids - and the jury saw that as aggravated offending attracting the highest possible tariff.
I guess I see the logic of that - the offending is right at the high end.
Personally I would have gone with LWOP as I don't agree with the death penalty on principle
Is it because he was hoping that 4 verdicts of LWOP would aid his appeal in some way, attempt to show an uncertain jury, or is it because he had a preference to do with his future living conditions? Because he must know he's not likely to be put to death.Did you see his fake tears when LWOP was read? He thought he had a chance at that moment of a life in prison, until the DEATH verdicts came down, BOOM !
I was so tired last night that I forgot to say THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in following this case here at Websleuths over the years.
McGee was absent wasn't he?
Michel Bryant @TheLegalEdge 12h12 hours ago
So...Merrit jury #mcstay recommends 3 Death Sentences (Wife/kids) and Life w/o parole for murder of Joseph Mcstay. All based on a pros swiss cheese case in the guilt phase. You've heard "a ham sandwich can be indicted"? They're recommending death for ham sandwiches in Calif.
Linda Kenney Baden @KenneyBaden
Replying to @TheLegalEdge
Actually less than a ham sandwich- a single cell amoeba or less.
Cathy Russon @cathyrusson 6h6 hours ago
If you served on the #McStayFamily murder trial jury we would love to talk to you anonymously or not. Please contact me at cathy@lawandcrime.com. #CharlesMerritt #McStay
Just think if the dirt bike rider had taken a different trail that fateful day. Merritt would probably be enjoying the proceeds from his book at the casino.
Now instead of interviews and book signings he can think about that dirt bike rider who by chance caused the series of events that put him behind bars for ever.
Those first two tweets would really tempt me to leap at the chance to have Law and Crime publicly mock my six months of jury service. Lol.
Jmo.
If Joey only got the LWP because they felt his death wasn’t premeditated then that sucks as i think the turning off his phone on the drive down proves he was going there with the intent to kill them all.
Joey has different injuries to the rest of them as well which I think also shows he was tortured.
IMO
Bessie said:A special shout goes out to Niner and her detailed calendar which she maintains so meticulously.
They already voted unanimously that all four were first degree murders with SCs.
Premeditation has no legal time limit for premeditation to form, and be carried out. Imo they do believe it was first degree murder of Joey as well. They even verbally reaffirmed their first degree verdicts for all 4 stating so. Not all premedtitated murderers receives death.
I think they weighed each victim separately thinking if CM had only murdered Joey then stopped it would still be premeditated first degree murder, but felt the appropriate sentence would have been LWOP.
It's a good call imo because it has now doubled the burden he has to overcome when appealing both verdicts which will not be successful on either one. Imo.
Imo
Is anyone else sick of "legal experts" going off on juries for their decisions? I'm guilty of it too. I still say that jury foreman had a crush on Jodi Arias. But I'm not on TV and I wasn't on twitter. The way they are tweeting nasty things..Ham Sandwich? So rude!
Is anyone else sick of "legal experts" going off on juries for their decisions? I'm guilty of it too. I still say that jury foreman had a crush on Jodi Arias. But I'm not on TV and I wasn't on twitter. The way they are tweeting nasty things..Ham Sandwich? So rude!