08-20-2010, 11:11 AM
0
I've been following this trial and I'm glad the jury found the way it did.
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From WNEP 16 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
A woman accused of beating to death her young stepson in Lackawanna County was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder.
It took a jury about 12 hours over two days to decide that Wandaly Perez-Hood is guilty of first-degree murder in the beating death of her three-year-old stepson. Now, that same jury will decide whether she gets life in prison or the death penalty.
The courtroom was very quiet as the verdict was read Thursday afternoon. The defendant put her head down and cried. Her sister and other family members could be heard sobbing as the judge read the guilty verdict.
It took more than 12 hours for a jury to find Wandaly Perez-Hood, 33, guilty of first-degree murder. As punishment for killing her three-year-old stepson, Isaiah, she will either get life in prison or the death penalty.
Prosecutors accused Perez-Hood of beating Isaiah to death in June 2005 at an apartment building in Jermyn. An autopsy revealed eight blows to Isaiah's head caused the major brain damage that killed him.
Isaiah's family members were in court during the trial.
"They're satisfied," said Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico. "It's bittersweet. It certainly doesn't bring him back, but some measure of justice was achieved today."
Now, Perez-Hood's defense attorney will try to save her life. He says he will have character witnesses, including family members and prison guards, testify on her behalf when the penalty phase begins Friday morning.
"She has no criminal history whatsoever, which is another mitigating factor," said Paul Walker, Perez-Hood's attorney. "In addition to that, she had some issues. We had her evaluated by a psychologist. He's going to testify."
The prosecution says the fact that the child was only three years old will be a key factor in their argument for the death penalty. Prosecutors say Isaiah's family has not shown preference either way.
"This entire time, they haven't really pushed for anything other than for justice to prevail and to allow the process to follow through its natural progression," said Talerico.
The death penalty phase of the trial starts at 9 a.m. Friday at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. The judge has even reserved court time for this weekend if the proceedings take longer than a day.
Copyright 2010, WNEP-TV
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I say save the taxpayers from having to support this animal and hand down capital punishment.
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From WNEP 16 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
A woman accused of beating to death her young stepson in Lackawanna County was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder.
It took a jury about 12 hours over two days to decide that Wandaly Perez-Hood is guilty of first-degree murder in the beating death of her three-year-old stepson. Now, that same jury will decide whether she gets life in prison or the death penalty.
The courtroom was very quiet as the verdict was read Thursday afternoon. The defendant put her head down and cried. Her sister and other family members could be heard sobbing as the judge read the guilty verdict.
It took more than 12 hours for a jury to find Wandaly Perez-Hood, 33, guilty of first-degree murder. As punishment for killing her three-year-old stepson, Isaiah, she will either get life in prison or the death penalty.
Prosecutors accused Perez-Hood of beating Isaiah to death in June 2005 at an apartment building in Jermyn. An autopsy revealed eight blows to Isaiah's head caused the major brain damage that killed him.
Isaiah's family members were in court during the trial.
"They're satisfied," said Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico. "It's bittersweet. It certainly doesn't bring him back, but some measure of justice was achieved today."
Now, Perez-Hood's defense attorney will try to save her life. He says he will have character witnesses, including family members and prison guards, testify on her behalf when the penalty phase begins Friday morning.
"She has no criminal history whatsoever, which is another mitigating factor," said Paul Walker, Perez-Hood's attorney. "In addition to that, she had some issues. We had her evaluated by a psychologist. He's going to testify."
The prosecution says the fact that the child was only three years old will be a key factor in their argument for the death penalty. Prosecutors say Isaiah's family has not shown preference either way.
"This entire time, they haven't really pushed for anything other than for justice to prevail and to allow the process to follow through its natural progression," said Talerico.
The death penalty phase of the trial starts at 9 a.m. Friday at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. The judge has even reserved court time for this weekend if the proceedings take longer than a day.
Copyright 2010, WNEP-TV
************************************************************
I say save the taxpayers from having to support this animal and hand down capital punishment.
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