Death Penalty Tag Archives — Page 2 of 5 — Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog

Hennis update

April 18, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

I expect we’ll see several commentary’s about the Hennis trial. Here is one from Myron Pitts, FayObserver.com, which he calls, “Evidence adds up in support of Hennis verdict.” (Along with the article is a great list of links to prior reporting on the case.)

I saw a military jury convict Hennis on April 8 and sentence him to die Thursday[.]

Hennis’ lawyer, Frank Spinner, said at the bottom of the courthouse steps that the jury never got to know his client, who did not testify. The jurors instead were treated to gruesome photos of the murder scene, he said.

Hennis sentenced to Death

April 15, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Washington Post reports that:

A military jury has sentenced a soldier to die for killing a North Carolina mother and her two children in 1985.

Hennis panel still deliberating

April 15, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

FayObserver notes the issue yesterday where the members wanted answers about parole should he be sentenced to life. I found this piece odd.

The jury left the courthouse at Fort Bragg about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening without a decision on a sentence for Hennis: life in prison or the death penalty. A death sentence requires a unanimous vote of all 14 jurors; a life sentence requires agreement from at least 11 of the jurors.

Hennis was convicted of premeditated murder, so it’s one or the other life or death. The paper seems to have picked up on the three-quarters vote needed for a sentence in excess of 10 years. In this case he’s already going to get life, the question is whether all 14 members will vote to terminate it.

Hennis update with a twist

April 13, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Remember that Hennis’s crimes occured before the change which permitted LWOP. So, Army Times reports:

Court recessed at 5:40 p.m. after the jury deliberated for more than two hours and also waited for the answer to three questions, including whether Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis would be eligible for parole if given a life sentence.

Judge Col. Patrick Parrish told the jury that "life means life" and reminded jurors of his instructions to impose a sentence they view as fair.

Hennis update

April 12, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

WRAL.com reports:

The family of a former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of killing a Fayetteville woman and two small children in 1985 on Monday begged a military jury not to sentence him to death for the crimes.

The panel of 14 Army officers and enlisted personnel last week found Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis guilty of three counts of premeditated murder and is considering his sentence.

Up periscope

April 9, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

1. What ever happened to the Coast Guard O-6 in Alaska pending GCM for a host of offenses.

The former Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Commander was awarded the maximum allowable punishment at an Admiral’s Mast Friday and will retire on July 1 in the grade of lieutenant with a general discharge in lieu of trial by a general court-martial.

Capt. Herbert M. Hamilton, III, was relieved of command in May 2009. An investigation conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service revealed that Hamilton had inappropriate relationships with several women, including officer and enlisted Coast Guard members, and civilians, over a period of more than 13 years. Hamilton also was charged with misusing government computers and cell phones; making false official statements; and soliciting an enlisted member to destroy evidence. His retirement as a lieutenant in lieu of trial by a general court-martial is the result of a pretrial agreement and Hamilton’s unsatisfactory service in the grades of captain, commander, and lieutenant commander.

Hennis convicted in 2hrs 45 minutes of deliberations

April 8, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

FayObserver reports:

A military jury has found Army Master Sgt. Timothy B. Hennis guilty of three specifications of pre-meditated murder.

The members of the court-martial panel returned with their verdict about 10:35 a.m. They had deliberated for two hours and 45 minutes over Wednesday and today

Nidal Malik Hasan update

March 18, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

WOAI.com reports:

Hasan’s lawyer claims the U.S. Army is withholding key information he needs to defend Hasan.

Attorney John Galligan said he has been waiting months for classified material needed to help his client. He said he has been given limited access to criminal investigation files.

Hennis update

March 15, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

The FayObserver.com is reporting that a members panel has been selected and that trial on the merits will begin Wednesday, 17 March 2009.

Major Hasan update

March 13, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Daily Caller reports that:

Following a two-week absence, the Fort Hood attorney was back at it Friday despite a gag order, blogging on the perceived injustices suffered by his defense team in defending Major Nidal Hasan, the man charged in the shooting deaths of 13 people.

As previously reported by The Daily Caller, John P. Galligan, Hasan’s civilian defense attorney, made waves in the legal community when he launched the high-profile blog to highlight his obstacles in defending the case. The blog was silent for nearly two weeks after the initial controversy erupted, but he’s back, saying: “My blog will continue to highlight how my client is being unfairly treated.”