A murderer who refused to stay in the courtroom while the victim's family read their statements at his sentencing got to hear them on CD, on repeat, all the way to prison.

Edited with more detailed article:

http://www.mlive.com/news/musk....html#incart_m-rpt-2

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Palm,

+1. Hope he gets more than that in prison, and that his life sentence is a short one.

Outstanding work Deputies!

We need more Sheriffs and Deputies like these!

Why did he have the choice to stay in the courtroom, or not?

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:
Why did he have the choice to stay in the courtroom, or not?

The Judge said there was no law which requires a defendant to listen to a victim impact statement at sentencing. While that is technically true, it is also true that victims have a constitutional and statutory right to make a statement at sentencing, so the sentencing proceeding is not complete until they have done so, if they do choose.

The Judge has the right to control his courtroom and could have, in my opinion, forced the defendant to stay. Of course that could then create a situation where he causes such a disturbance that you have to kick him out.

quote:

Originally posted by Palm:

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:
Why did he have the choice to stay in the courtroom, or not?

The Judge said there was no law which requires a defendant to listen to a victim impact statement at sentencing. While that is technically true, it is also true that victims have a constitutional and statutory right to make a statement at sentencing, so the sentencing proceeding is not complete until they have done so, if they do choose.

The Judge has the right to control his courtroom and could have, in my opinion, forced the defendant to stay. Of course that could then create a situation where he causes such a disturbance that you have to kick him out.

Under the state constitution or the federal constitution?

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
Under the state constitution or the federal constitution?

Article 1, Section 24 of the Michigan Constitution. Sorry, should have clarified that.

Yep, I'm loving it!

Well played

used to have a tape loop of Bad Boys I'd play if I had to do transport duty, but never more than about 20 minutes worth.

"I don't find it that important that Jeffrey Willis heard what the family had to say, but that the family knew he heard what they said," Poulin said.


Yeah. I like that.

If ever there was a case to support the death penalty, this is it. Absolutely no remorse whatsoever - this guy is not able to be rehabilitated, so why can't we just fry him rather than spend a couple million taking care of him over the next few decades?