The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 21, 1996, Page 3, Image 3
Jury finds N
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES ?In a decisive rejection
of the abuse defense that nearly succeeded
the first time, Erik and Lyle Menendez
were convicted of first-degree murder
Wednesday in the shotgun slayings of
their millionaire parents and could be
sentenced to deatft.
Lyle, 28, and Erik, 25, appeared
extremely pale but showed no emotion
upon hearing the jury's verdict, reached
after four days of deliberations in the
brothers' retrial. Erik's lawyer, Leslie
Abramson, shook her head.
1 feel great," prosecutor David Conn
declared as he left the courtroom with
a broad smile.
Two years ago, the brothers' first
trial ended in a mistrial when jurors
couldn't decide whether the 1989 slayings
of entertainment executive Jose Menendez
and his wife, Kitty, at their Beverly Hills
mansion were premeditated murder or
self-defense.
This time, the jury rejected the defense
claim that the brothers murdered their
parents after years of sexual abuse.
Instead, it embraced the prosecution
theory that the killings were planned
and that the brothers were greedy, spoiled
brats who murdered to set their Darents'
$14 million fortune.
The jury further decided that the
brothers had lain in wait and committed
multiple murders ? circumstances that
can bring the death penalty. The penalty
Highway Patrol
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROCK HILL -South
Carolina's Highway Patrol, reeling from
a trooper's verbal and physical assault
of a motorist during a traffic stop captured
on videotape, now has another brutality
allegation to deal with.
A York County man has sued, alleging
that a trooper repeatedly assaulted him
and falsely charged him with crimes
after a traffic stop in September.
Brice Ramsey, 68, contends Lance
Cpl. James T. Perry threw him against
his car, pushed him to the ground and
wrenched his arm. Ramsey, who has
heart problems, said he suffered chest
pains but Perry at first would not let
medics treat him along the roadside.
Perry, who has been with the patrol since
1984, could not be reached for comment,
63
QUARTERLY
Leadc
Garnc
All positions require that a
overall or minimum GPR i
is greater), and must ha
equivalent experience). A]
on their application form,
Studer
Applications can t
coi
J
lenendez brot
phase begins Monday. The jury will ba
decide whether the bj^others should a j
receive lethal injection or life without pa
parole. m
The defense suffered a serious setback
in the final days of testimony when Judge ar
Stanley Weisberg announced he was se
ruling out use of the "imperfect self- th
defense" theory. That theory holds that th
a killing by someone who believes he is th
in imminent danger can be justifiable
even if that belief was unreasonable. C i
Weisberg also barred the defense from m
calling nearly 40 witnesses who would to:
have testified about the purported abuse de
the brothers suffered as children. w(
The verdict was a badly needed victory ar
for District Attorney Gil Garcetti, who so
is running for re-election and who has Bt
gotten a reputation for an inability to de
win the big cases, including the Menendez pc
brothers at their first trial, 0 J. Simpson of
and rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg. Garcetti
had insisted on retrying the Menendez th
brothers, refusing to plea bargain. w<
The jury could have found the brothers oc
guilty of lesser counts ? manslaughter mi
in the slaying of their father and second- ar
degree murder in the killing of their sp
mother. They also had the option of
acquittal. bo
Instead, the brothers were convicted 14
of premeditated first-degree murder in of
the ambush slayings, which took place rei
as their parents watched TV. b z
Weisberg, who had permitted M
television cameras in the first trial but 01
I faces second br
The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported m
Wednesday. State Public Safety ca
Department lawyer Val Valenta said
had not seen the lawsuit and could not p z
comment. Vi
The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. ui
District Court. It does not ask for specific
monetary damages. dr
Perry was driving an unmarked car, Sc
just as Lance Cpl. W.H. Beckwith was ca
when he pulled a Florida woman over be
on Interstate 95 for speeding on Jan. 8. ar
A video camera in Beckwith's car captured
him pulling a gun on the woman, yanking th
her out of her car, forcing her to the hi
pavement and cursing at her. th
The woman, Sandra Antoine Antor, pi
26, said she did not stop for several miles th
because the patrol car was not marked wi
and Florida officials have warned 1a1
,a?nfack
irship Posi
in Student Media
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The Gamecock Summer Editoi
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pplicants be junior or senior standing, hav
required to remain in good standing in the
ve worked for the respective organization
^plications are judged on their submitted s
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aimwiniMi
hers guilty
Lrred them from the second, imposed
gag order on the jurors and all other I
irticipants out of fear their comments
ight affect the penalty phase.
In closing arguments, defense lawyers
gued that the brothers had been
xually and psychologically abused since
ey were toddlers, and that they believed
eir parents would kill them rather
an risk disclosure of incest.
The defense portrayed Menendez, a
uban immigrant and self-made
illionaire, as a demonic pervert who
rmented his sons. Their mother was
ipicted as an erratic, deeply troubled
Dman who abused alcohol and drugs
id once locked her baby in the closet
she could go shopping,
it the prosecution rejected the abuse
fense as a lie concocted in prison and
linted to what they said was evidence
premeditation.
Conn noted they bought two shotguns
e day before the killings, claimed they
jre at the movies when the slayings
curred, did not admit their role until
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UIlLIJLo CLLLCI U1CI1 pcUClltO WCIC UUI1CU,
id in the interim went on a spending
ree with their inheritance.
The case went to the jury March 1,
it deliberations had to start over March
when two jurors were replaced because
illness. Before the verdicts were
turned, Erik turned in his seat, looked
ick at his grandmother, Maria
enendez, and mouthed the words, "It's
EC"
utality charge
otorists to be suspicious of unmarked
rs with blue lights.
Beckwith was fired in February after
itrol officials reviewed the videotape,
ilenta said he did not know if Perry's
imarked car had a video camera.
Ramsey said he and his wife were
iving home from a fishing camp on
;pt. 16 when he passed a slower-moving
;r, then noticed the flashing lights
hind him. Ramsey said he pulled over
id Perry pulled beside him.
The suit alleges Ramsey got out of
e car and Perry began screaming at
m. The trooper then grabbed Ramsey,
rew him against Ramsey's Oldsmobile,
ished Ramsev to the trround twice.
rew him against the patrol car and
renched his arm to handcuff him, the
wsuit alleges.
itions
Editor
r
e a minimum GPR of 2.50
major college (whichever
for at least one year (or
amples of work responses
rview before the Board of
)ril 15.
i flnafflino ffnr
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