GUILTY CA - Sgt. Jan, 24, & Quiana Pietrzak, 26, murdered, Winchester, 15 Oct 2008

[joe jones]

http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/69901/

very little information in the media about this case

 

[PrairieWind]

It will be interesting to see how these juries turn out. It is pretty rare anymore to have multiple defendants tried together, especially in a capital case. It will be cumbersome for sure, but it has advantages to the prosecution. Have the defendants that will be tried together tried to get their cases severed? Anyone know?

 

[joe jones]

http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/da-murder-trial-begins-monday-for-3-former-marines

trial begins Monday

 

[PrairieWind]

http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/da-murder-trial-begins-monday-for-3-former-marines

trial begins Monday

Thanks for the update Joe. Four and a half years to reach trial. Unreal.

 

[seattlechiquita]

Thanks for the update.

 

[fran]

:bump:

Trial begins tomorrow!

 

[SyraKelly]

Here is the DA's opening statement-

http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/...cutor-says?track_event=view-follow-up.3439026

I'll post updates every nite as I get them..I got the above around 10pm eastern

 

[joe jones]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...arged-torture-slay-sgt-wife-article-1.1311076

graphic crime scene photos shown to jury,

 

[PrairieWind]

Thanks Syra. It has been difficult to find any news on this. Such a sickening story. To not only rob a young couple in their own home, but to torture them like that.... I honestly can not imagine that mentality.

 

[SyraKelly]

I did not get an update today.I did look up and see if there were any stories written,but found none..hopefully tomorrow will get something!

 

[SyraKelly]

Thanks Syra. It has been difficult to find any news on this. Such a sickening story. To not only rob a young couple in their own home, but to torture them like that.... I honestly can not imagine that mentality.

I know,its a sick crime.I hope they all get the DP!

 

[indicajane]

While unfortunately, this very well could be a hate crime, odds are against it being prosecuted as such. Just wrote a big paper on it, but crimes perpetrated by white individuals against black victims has a 1out if 45 chance of being prosecuted as a hate crime, yet a black perpetrator with a white victim has only a 1 in 1254 chance. There are further statistics in regards to this discrepancy online via the national FBI statistics. Hate crimes should mean all hate crimes, and protect ALL.

 

[seattlechiquita]

While unfortunately, this very well could be a hate crime, odds are against it being prosecuted as such. Just wrote a big paper on it, but crimes perpetrated by white individuals against black victims has a 1out if 45 chance of being prosecuted as a hate crime, yet a black perpetrator with a white victim has only a 1 in 1254 chance. There are further statistics in regards to this discrepancy online via the national FBI statistics. Hate crimes should mean all hate crimes, and protect ALL.

What makes you think it's a hate crime? Did they attack him because of his ethnicity and her why? Curious.

 

[PrairieWind]

What makes you think it's a hate crime? Did they attack him because of his ethnicity and her why? Curious.

I believe it had been rumored that part of, or the, reason these guys hated Pietrzak so much was because he had married a black girl and that didn't sit well with them. I just don't know that there was any real evidence for that. But it would explain the senseless brutality inflicted on him. But if I was the prosecutor I would not bother with hate crime charges. It would have just been a distraction.

 

[SyraKelly]

I am sorry,but this is graphic..The prosecutor said in his opening statement that they painted the letter C on her chest to see if the paint worked,then painted N lover on some walls & Jon to make it LOOK like a hate crime.I do agree with you Prairiewind that it would have been a distraction,but I think the jury will see it as a hate crime.
I know this is probably not important,but why do you all think they took Jon's uniform with them?

 

[joe jones]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013...john-winchester-slayings/?page=1#article-copy

trial begins with mother testifying about last text message with her daughter,

 

[indicajane]

Well, say that those attacked instead was a black couple by a group of white youth. The goal of the white group is to rape the woman, perhaps rob the home. In the process of this invasion, they spray paint various racial remarks on the home, and burn a cross in the yard. Pretty sure this would be prosecuted as a hate crime due to the racial component, even if it was proven that the MAIN goal was the rape and robbery.
Same goes for that of a gay couple. If a gang of kids break into a rob and murder a gay couple, and then spraypaint "Die F***" all over, perhaps include some sexual mutilation, while their main objective may very well have been the robbery, when the perpetrator introduces hate crime componants, I believe it is very necesary to convict them under the hate crime laws.
I pray they are also convicted under the hate laws.

 

[PrairieWind]

I am assuming that all of these guys will each have the same defense. "I was there, but I didn't know what was happening, the other guys did the beating, raping, and killing." This defense doesnt work so well when being tried together.

Indica, as for your question about them stealing the dress blue uniform, I don't know that we will know why. I dont know what the size comparison is in regard to Jan and the defendants. It could be they just wanted to uniform for their own use, they are pretty expensive. Or perhaps it was a "trophy." He was an Iraq war veteran, so perhaps they were envious of his service and accomplishments/awards. That uniform would have represented part of what they resented about him: his accomplishments.

 

[indicajane]

Wasn't me who asked about the uniform, but to be honest can't imagine why'd they Take it.

 

[indicajane]

Ack, sorry. iPad cut me off and can't add. My understanding is the alleged perpetrators were also active duty. I can't imagine why they would bother to steal the uniform, or any medals or rank. Is this confirmed?

My husband is a soldier, and everything single item on his uniform, including uniform, is available for purchase at the military clothing and sales on base. Even when my husband needed a replacement bronze star, I was able to pick him up one there for under $5, no proof needed. When you go up in rank, or get a military award, he always got a certificate, and then the actual physical item (those shiny medals) were purchased by him to pin on.