State v. Joseph Chambers

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:27 am

Here's the story about the jury's recommendation as written in today's News Journal:

Jury: Death For Man Guilty In Drug Killing

welch · Post by **welch** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:16 pm

From the article:

Graves' older sister said her brother did not commit the murder and that one day she and her family would prove it. "He's not the one," Aretha Yancey said outside the courtroom. "It's just going to take a miracle. It's going to take God, actually to help us with this. But something is going to come out."

Murderers and God: that's a mind-blasting world you have to contend with, JH.

Thanks for letting us see a little into the case.

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:33 am

welch wrote:From the article:
Graves' older sister said her brother did not commit the murder and that one day she and her family would prove it. "He's not the one," Aretha Yancey said outside the courtroom. "It's just going to take a miracle. It's going to take God, actually to help us with this. But something is going to come out."

Isn't Graves the one who WAS murdered????

Yes, thanks JH for posting about this trial. I found it interesting.

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 11:33 am

Justice Hog wrote:The fact that the vote was 7-5...and not 10-2 or 12-0 will surely have an affect on the judge's decision.

To answer your final question, I think the judge will generally follow the lead of a jury that votes in a large marjority for the death penalty (i.e., 10+ votes); however, I do recall one judge in Delaware that, notwithstanding the jury's vote of 11-1 in favor of death, still gave the defendant life. Go figure.

It is now in the judge's hands.

so....what do you think the judge will decide, based on a 7-5 'split'?

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:44 pm

joebagadonuts wrote:so....what do you think the judge will decide, based on a 7-5 'split'?

That's exactly what the guy from the News Journal asked me!

It would be inappropriate for me to answer that question at this time because, the fact is, the decision is exclusively up to the judge; therefore, any comment regarding my thoughts on what sentence will likely be imposed would be inappropriate.

I will say this, however: The fact that the jury voted 7-5, though it was in our favor, is certainly not a "mandate" as to what sentence should be imposed.

Sentencing day should be interesting, to say the least.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:46 pm

tazlah wrote:Isn't Graves the one who WAS murdered????

Yes, Taz, you are correct. Graves was the murder victim. The paper was quoting the defendant's sister.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:12 pm

Justice Hog wrote:
tazlah wrote:Isn't Graves the one who WAS murdered????

Yes, Taz, you are correct. Graves was the murder victim. The paper was quoting the defendant's sister.

Someone from DE online must have caught it, because now the article says Chamber's older sister.

welch · Post by **welch** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:25 pm

(Aside from the gravity of the case...murder, conviction, either a death sentence or something close to life in prison)

Applause for Tazlah's spectacular new avatar!

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:51 pm

(Actually, we all know the applause goes to NC... :hail:

But it is awesome, eh??? :celebrate:

)

... and now back to the death or life sentence ...

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 8:56 am

Just wanted to give y'all an update. No sentencing date has been set as of today. I contacted the Judge's secretary and it sounds like sentencing may be some day in August. If/when it is scheduled, I'll post the date here.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:05 pm

Well...sentencing has STILL not been scheduled for this guy! I sent an email to the judges secretary asking to see if he can be sentenced prior to 12/30/05 . . . so I can participate at sentencing as a prosecutor. Now it looks like that's not gonna happen.

When this guy is finally sentenced, it looks like I'm gonna be "watching it" as a civilian instead of "participating in it" as the co-prosecutor. Kinda sucks.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:10 pm

Justice Hog wrote:Well...sentencing has STILL not been scheduled for this guy! I sent an email to the judges secretary asking to see if he can be sentenced prior to 12/30/05 . . . so I can participate at sentencing as a prosecutor. Now it looks like that's not gonna happen.

When this guy is finally sentenced, it looks like I'm gonna be "watching it" as a civilian instead of "participating in it" as the co-prosecutor. Kinda sucks.

If this was a TV show, you'd end up working for the defense!