COUEY verdict

[LaL 418]

such a tragedy, poor little girl.

John Couey has been found

guilty of murder

guilty burglary

guilty of kidnapping

guilty of sexual battery on a child under 12

2nd phase of trial to begin shortly.

Edited March 7, 2007 by lal_brandow

[LaL 418]

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/3/...ll+four+charges

Couey convicted of all four charges

The jury convicted John Couey of all four charges he was facing after about 3 1/2 hours of deliberations at the Gerstein Justice Center in Miami Wednesday.

Couey was convicted of abducting, raping and murdering 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in February 2005, and burglary of a dwelling with battery.

The sentencing phase can't start earlier than Tuesday morning. The only possible sentences under Florida law for Couey are life in prison or the death penalty.

The same jury that convicted Couey will make a sentence recommendation, but Judge Richard Howard will have the final say on Couey's fate.

Lunsford's father, Mark Lunsford, wiped away tears as the verdict was read.

The prosecution conducted its closing arguments in about an hour Wednesday morning.

Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino urged the jury to find Couey guilty of all charges against him.

"He's not just a killer given the testimony and evidence in this case," said Magrino. "He's a first-degree murderer."

The defense then conducted its closing arguments in about 15 minutes, urging jurors to focus on the evidence, not emotion.

"Gary Atchison, the lead detective, couldn't solve this case even though he was at the very trailer where the crime was committed," said Couey's attorney, Dan Lewan. "In a way, in a sense, is he outsmarted by the mentally retarded John Couey?"

The prosecution then gave its rebuttal...

[almaty 19]

good..that chopf##k #######

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

good

[Jasman0717 9]

I got upset just reading the news article on Excite of just how heinous the crime was. It is critical that we remove monsters like this from society It’s just too bad we aren’t more barbaric, crimes against children deserve some torture aspect to the punishment.

[LaL 418]

I got upset just reading the news article on Excite of just how heinous the crime was. It is critical that we remove monsters like this from society It's just too bad we aren't more barbaric, crimes against children deserve some torture aspect to the punishment.

correct jasman... i am a tree-hugging-liberal-leftie-dem whatever, but in THESE cases, I happen to believe as sick, twisted and SAD these individuals are, they are not able to be rehabbed. they have the worst re-offender % of any violent criminal. i just want to see something pro-active done.

purple dolphin

Edited March 7, 2007 by lal_brandow

[chri'stina 190]

I was relieved to hear the verdicts. This thing happened like 25mins north of here.

[Fandango 1,440]

Let's get Al Gore to make a solar powered chair!

get the marshmallows!

[athena_ny 1]

I cried

I got upset just reading the news article on Excite of just how heinous the crime was. It is critical that we remove monsters like this from society It's just too bad we aren't more barbaric, crimes against children deserve some torture aspect to the punishment.

correct jasman... i am a tree-hugging-liberal-leftie-dem whatever, but in THESE cases, I happen to believe as sick, twisted and SAD these individuals are, they are not able to be rehabbed. they have the worst re-offender % of any violent criminal. i just want to see something pro-active done.

purple dolphin

[LaL 418]

update : jury recommendation is 10 to 2 in favor of death penalty

[ya falaha! 0]

Good. In this case I believe the death penalty is well deserved.

[Peggy 1]

I got upset just reading the news article on Excite of just how heinous the crime was. It is critical that we remove monsters like this from society It’s just too bad we aren’t more barbaric, crimes against children deserve some torture aspect to the punishment.

I agree 100 %

These f&ckers need to be off the streets. Seems like everyday I read CNN, there is another child missing. Its just heartbreaking to read this. Whats wrong with the system here. Why do they keep letting these freaks out.

[Mary Lou 682]

May he rot in hell or whereever it is he will be going

[mRx 16]

Theres an old indian torture where the accused is buried up to his neck in a giant ant hill and two cuts are made on both bottom eye lids. The blood runs down and the ants crawl up. Long, slow, and painful. Thats exactly what this fukc deserves.