I think if the jury can give him life instead of the DP, it may be easier to convict. I wonder if they will know that before deliberations? Anyone know? <modsnip>
I respectfully disagree. If the jury finds him guilty they won't have one problem recommending death, which he so richly deserves.
Trials dont work that way in the US anyway.
There is a legal reason there are two phases only if the defendant should be found guilty. They are totally separate conclusions from each other for the jury to weigh individually.
Until they complete the trial phase first they aren't there to decide the sentence before the guilt phase is finished.
Iirc CA has over 600 on death row.
It shows the CA juries have no problem giving the harshest sentence allowed under CA law when they believe its applicable to each particular individual.
Its afterwards that bogs the system down due to the unnecessarily long appeals process.
I did read an article last year that they do plan to find ways to speed the appeal process up.
In most other states the process doesn't take nearly as long, and executions happen at a faster pace, but then it seems CA. drags a lot of things out.
This is most definitely a death penalty qualified case if there ever has been one.
The state has to only prove ONE prong among many to choose from.
1. Were the murders extremely cruel, atrocious, and heinous? Absolutely.
2. Were children under 12 among the murder victims? Sadly, yes.
3. Were the murders committed for financial gain? Yes, imo.
If this man is convicted they will give him death. He deserves no less.
All they have to do is look at what he did to these four victims, and how he chose to end all of their lives.
Jmo