GUILTY MA - Colleen Ritzer, 24, brutally murdered, Danvers, 22 Oct 2013 #2

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago Blodgett starts by thanking jurors

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Blodgett lauds prosecutors, says we don't see all the prepping that goes into trial

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Ritzer family flanks DA, Ritzer mom wears a pink scarf, Colleen's favorite color

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 56s57 seconds ago
Sheriff Dept John Campbell lauded, Danvers police etc, court officer Paul Gaeta postponed retirement says Blodgett

 

[Elainera]

When someone has time, can someone explain why juries are polled? The verdict has to be unanimous anyway, right? So what is the point of asking every juror?

 

[katydid23]

I agree katydid23.. Convicted lust murderer/rapist Phillip Chism has also shown his propensity for recidivism with the violent attack on the female correctional employee while incarcerated. PC is a very dangerous sexual predator imo, and if prematurely released from prison, will likely rack up a very high victim count..

http://www.practicalhomicide.com/articles/lustmurder.htm

Anatomy of a Lust Murder

By Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S.
Former Commander, Bronx Homicide, NYPD
... In fact, the dynamics of lust murder and necrophilia are intimately connected.

"Lust murders are homicides in which the offender stabs, cuts, pierces or mutilates the sexual regions or organs of the victim's body. The sexual mutilation of the victim may include evisceration, piquerism, displacement of the genitalia in both males and females and the removal of the breasts in a female victim (defeminization).

It also includes activities such as "posing" and "propping" of the body, the insertion of objects into the body cavities, anthropophagy (consumption of blood and/or flesh) and necrophilia."
<snipped - read more>

Ugh, yes. Rapist-killers are always a sick breed. But this kid goes beyond just 'sick' with the brutality and the tree branch and the nerophilia, and then going and hanging with his friends, and acting 'normal' after changing out of the bloody clothes. He was truly evil and chilling. There is no way he can integrate safely back into society, imo.

 

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 42s42 seconds ago Judge Lowy patience tested over and over again, provided fair trial and courtroom

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 40s40 seconds ago
Moment belongs to Colleen says Blodgett, no family should have to go what they went through, Blodgett says

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Colleen was loved in Danvers public schools

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
MSP Det Norman Zuch and Steve Buccheri there everyday in court, we stand with and for victims

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 51s52 seconds ago
Blodgett: Today was a good day for Commonwealth

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Tom Ritzer, Colleen dad, now speaking,

 

[katydid23]

When someone has time, can someone explain why juries are polled? The verdict has to be unanimous anyway, right? So what is the point of asking every juror?

The way it was described to me, by my attorney father, was that once a juror says it on the record, they cannot alter it later on and say they did not really want to vote Guilty. They are polled and if they say GUILTY then it is considered that they agree with the decision.

 

[atthelake]

I agree. This poor woman was brutally raped but he gets a pass because the jury couldn't determine if Colleen was alive in the woods at the time
Time for change.

I'm very surprised as I thought it was a continuation of one event which I thought the jury directions work very clear on?? I wonder if the jury will be interviewed afterwards

 

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 48s49 seconds ago Tom: We continue to witness Colleens impact

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 46s47 seconds ago
Verdict no cause for celebration, can never be true justice says Tom

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 57s58 seconds ago
Ritzer mom now speaking, thanks DAs office, showed respect, compassion

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 32s33 seconds ago
How she is remembered

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 53s53 seconds ago
Also, she says, law enforcement viewed this as more than just a case

The Boston GlobeVerified account &#8207;@BostonGlobe 1m1 minute ago
"There remains a tremendous and painful absence in our lives,"

 

[Elainera]

The way it was described to me, by my attorney father, was that once a juror says it on the record, they cannot alter it later on and say they did not really want to vote Guilty. They are polled and if they say GUILTY then it is considered that they agree with the decision.

I understand. Thank you katy!

 

[Elainera]

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 48s49 seconds ago Tom: We continue to witness Colleens impact

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 46s47 seconds ago
Verdict no cause for celebration, can never be true justice says Tom

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 57s58 seconds ago
Ritzer mom now speaking, thanks DAs office, showed respect, compassion

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 32s33 seconds ago
How she is remembered

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 53s53 seconds ago
Also, she says, law enforcement viewed this as more than just a case

The Boston GlobeVerified account &#8207;@BostonGlobe 1m1 minute ago
"There remains a tremendous and painful absence in our lives,"

I have tears in my eyes. I'm so sorry for them.

They (her parents) were very strong. May their hearts find peace and happiness again.

 

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 4m4 minutes ago Mom: we will carry on and do our very best to find the good in every day

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 5m5 minutes ago
Blodgett : every case is important to us

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 5m5 minutes ago
Blodgett echoes ADA: delays in trial had a human cost

Jill Harmacinski &#8207;@EagleTribJill 5m5 minutes ago
Blodgett: Danvers High surveillance cameras were very important to us

Laurel J. SweetVerified account &#8207;@Laurel_Sweet 1m1 minute ago
Blodgett calls the facts of the #PhilipChism and Ritzer case "excruciatingly horrifying."

Livestream went out and no more tweets are coming in.

 

[Elainera]

sorry double post

 

[jacct]

The livestream was lost and no one was tweeting. Then I lost WS for a few minutes. The presser is over now.

 

[Elainera]

I also lost WS. I thought it was my connection bc that was down about half an hour ago.

Do you know when sentencing will be, or has this not been announced yet?

 

[jacct]

I'm very surprised as I thought it was a continuation of one event which I thought the jury directions work very clear on?? I wonder if the jury will be interviewed afterwards

One of the reporters tweeted that the jurors were escorted to their cars and had no comments. They may want to talk in a few days.

 

[jacct]

I also lost WS. I thought it was my connection bc that was down about half an hour ago.

Do you know when sentencing will be, or has this not been announced yet?

Regan asked for a pre-sentencing hearing to review options for probation before the sentencing. Judge Lowy scheduled the pre-sentencing hearing for 12-22 at 10:30am EST.

 

[Elainera]

Regan asked for a pre-sentencing hearing to review options for probation before the sentencing. Judge Lowy scheduled the pre-sentencing hearing for 12-22 at 10:30am EST.

Ah! I must have overlooked that. Thank you!

ETA: she really does all she can for this guy. Maybe she really believes he is insane and should receive help in a hospital?

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Ugh, yes. Rapist-killers are always a sick breed. But this kid goes beyond just 'sick' with the brutality and the tree branch and the nerophilia, and then going and hanging with his friends, and acting 'normal' after changing out of the bloody clothes. He was truly evil and chilling. There is no way he can integrate safely back into society, imo.

I don't think he is sick. I do believe he is mentally ill. I think that he should go to jail but I don't believe he is evil. I think this level of sadism at this early an age shows he was either abused himself or really mentally ill.
It makes me sad. The whole thing.

 

[Skigirl]

I don't think he is sick. I do believe he is mentally ill. I think that he should go to jail but I don't believe he is evil. I think this level of sadism at this early an age shows he was either abused himself or really mentally ill.
It makes me sad. The whole thing.

I don't think you can commit a crime like this (or really any sexually violent crime) without being "sick" or "mentally ill" -- something is obviously wrong with him. I do not think it is necessary for him to have been abused and there was absolutely no evidence of that that I know of -- and I would bet that the prosecutor tried very, very hard to find it. I do not think 'evil' and 'mentally ill' are mutually exclusive. I think he has the same kind of evil that Alexandra Zapp's killer had. The kind that makes him dangerous and not fit for release.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

I don't think you can commit a crime like this (or really any sexually violent crime) without being "sick" or "mentally ill" -- something is obviously wrong with him. I do not think it is necessary for him to have been abused and there was absolutely no evidence of that that I know of -- and I would bet that the prosecutor tried very, very hard to find it. I do not think 'evil' and 'mentally ill' are mutually exclusive. I think he has the same kind of evil that Alexandra Zapp's killer had. The kind that makes him dangerous and not fit for release.

In this case with this kids so young when he did it, I just don't see evil. I see mental illness. Does not mean he should get off or not do time. In fact I am not sure he should ever get out of some locked facility.

Just because there is no evidence does not mean it did not happen. Not that I think it was an excuse for any of this.

 

[Skigirl]

In this case with this kids so young when he did it, I just don't see evil. I see mental illness. Does not mean he should get off or not do time. In fact I am not sure he should ever get out of some locked facility.

Just because there is no evidence does not mean it did not happen. Not that I think it was an excuse for any of this.

I don't know why the line for 'evil' would be drawn at any particular age. Evil people become evil at some point. I don't ascribe to the idea that all children are innocent and good unless something bad happens to them.