Sorry, You Can't Do That: Murder Defendant Loses Bid To Let Judge Impose Death Penalty If Convicted
Joel Guy wants to be his own lawyer at his murder trial | wbir.com
"A Knox County judge turned back a murder defendant's offer Wednesday morning to let him impose the death penalty if convicted, noting the prosecution hadn't put that option on the table.
Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steve Sword told Joel Guy in a pre-trial hearing that legally only the state can pursue the death penalty in a murder case. And in Guy's case, they're not seeking it.
Last week, Guy filed an unusual handwritten motion in which he said he was willing to let Sword be the one to decide his punishment if he's convicted. That included death, life without parole or life.
Guy, 32, who is being held in the Knox County jail, told Sword he'd been researching the law and thought it was an open question.
The judge said Guy could make the offer, but he couldn't honor it. Guy's waiver has no practical legal effect because the prosecution controls the question of pursuing a defendant's execution, Sword said."