If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea., That scripture is talking to someone that knows better, Demerson said. VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. This is as tough as it gets, Sisco said. He told me he needed to do something. Historique L'entreprise. 'May God have mercy on your soul.' Letsgetstarted. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway where he dumped Felecia's body into the bay. Aconvicted child rapist and murderer is appealing his death sentence in Florida by arguing that the prosecutor violated the so-called 'Golden Rule' by asking the jury to imagine his victim's suffering. 'May God have mercy on your soul.'. Court stopped briefly after a juror in Granville Ritchies trial began sobbing during the testimony of the 9-year-old victims mother. "That would indicate to me that a force was applied across the upper chest. Investigators later found leaves and sand matching evidence from the crime scene. Support journalism byclicking here to ourGiveSendGoor sign up for ourfree newsletter by clicking here. Ritchies defense plans to raise a number of mitigating factors to argue for a life sentence, instead. Ritchie was found guilty of killing. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: Ive thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you.
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pic.twitter.com/ICiF7E3rSA. That argument is considered legally incorrect because jurors are expected to consider a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, rather than their personal feelings. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. The sentencing phase will begin when court resumes Thursday morning. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is his direct appeal. That is true. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? When the rest of the jurors were brought in, Sisco told them that, as human beings, it is normal to feel emotional in cases of such magnitude. Ritchie found guilty in death of Felecia Williams, 9. In defending the death penalty, Tampa prosecutor Scott Harmon told the jury, in part: Can you imagine the fear of knowing that her life is ending and she is in pain all over her body? How far did Zion Cemetery stretch? You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. TAMPA, Fla The trial for Granville Ritchie, the man accused of raping and murdering a 9-year-old Tampa girl in May of 2014, began today. On the night of her murder, Felecia was left alone with Ritchie at his Temple Terrace apartment by a woman who was supposed to be watching her. At the time, they said she was left alone with Ritchie after the woman who was babysitting her left to purchase drugs. I know you're a woman of deep faith. The Golden Rule argument refers to an argument put forth by the prosecution in a jury trial, where jurors are persuaded to consider themselves in the place of the victim in reaching a verdict that they would prefer the defendant to get. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to. According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said Ritchie raped and strangled the young woman before putting her body in a suitcase. A PEDO was given the death penalty for raping and strangling a nine-year-old girl and hiding her body in suitcase. Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. LIVE: Granville Ritchie, the Tampa man convicted in the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams, is expected to be formally sentenced this morning. Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Florida man Granville Ritchie, 40, was found guilty of raping and murdering 9-year-old Felecia Williams. The woman, Eboni Wiley, testified that even though she had only known Ritchie for several days, she left Felecia with him to go buy some marijuana. After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. "I don't know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As the states case continued, the jury was presented with photos showing Felecias injuries as they were during the first phase of the trial. Eboni Wiley, in May 2014, prosecutors said. By Fallon Silcox Hillsborough County. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had sex in a bedroom, but she later admitted she lied. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. Required fields are marked *. I wish you all of the best.". Justice Jorge Labarga argued that Ritchie should receive a new sentencing hearing. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. He wrote this argument, gave it to his colleagues, I guarantee it, and tested it. You're a better, stronger woman than I am. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fatethat would be for him to be hung. And Granville Ritchie knew better.. I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. But the courts majority, while acknowledging improper comments, said Ritchie should not receive a new hearing. Your email address will not be published. The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fate and that would be for him to be hung," Demerson said. I dont know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. They spent the past two days in the penalty phase of the trial listening to witnesses and hearing arguments from the Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie," Judge. Sisco addressed the grieving mother, telling her, "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. The jury recommended the death penalty. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required to impose the death penalty. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . 2023 FOX Television Stations, Girlfriend testifies she does not believe Ritchie killed 9-year-old, 'Absolute mayhem': Suspect dead after shootout in Poinciana, Polk County sheriff says, Lakeland PD searching for driver of silver car who hit, killed woman Saturday, Accused drunk driver runs over boyfriend, police say, Train carrying propane derails in Manatee County, but no leaks detected: officials, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, FDA report into listeria outbreak reveals Big Olaf employees didnt have sink to wash hands, proper training, Watch again: NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 lifts off from Florida, now bound for space station, Spring Break season expected to bring record number of travelers to TPA, Pasco County school district considering cell phone ban, FBI: Explosive found in bag at Pennsylvania airport, man arrested. 10:20 EST 05 Nov 2021 TAMPA, Fla. A year after his trial, Granville Ritchie has been sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. the child to death before putting her body in a suitcase and dumping it near the Courtney Campbell Causeway in May 2014 . A unanimous 12-0 decision is required. Ritchie was accused of raping and killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, then shoving her body in a suitcase, and dropping it off the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge. They traveled to a home, where the defendant was alone with the victim starting at about 4:50 p.m. Investigators claim he committed the crime, stuffed the body in a suitcase, and dumped this by the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Ritchie.". He grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, plagued with crime and violence, and endured beatings from a father who had 18 children by several different mothers. The child's mother and a judge had some parting words. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where he dumped Felecias body into the bay. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. Instead, it becomes a first step of a neverending nightmare you never wake from. Prosecutors cited three aggravating factors to support their argument for a death sentence: The victim was younger than 12; her murder occurred during a sexual battery; and the killing was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel. Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. TAMPA Jurors considering whether to sentence Granville Ritchie to death for the murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams stopped their work Thursday morning when one of them began sobbing at testimony from the little girls mother. She quoted a Bible verse, Matthew 18:6. 'Mr. A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care . During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecia's father stunned the courtroom by telling his daughter's killer that he forgave him. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. Im not like everyone else, bro. The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said with her voice cracking, before removing her glasses to wipe away tears, Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Jurors had a lot of evidence to review in the trial, which has . 17:14 EST 05 Nov 2021. Prosecutors challenged that, stilling claiming Williams was strangled. RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Youll get a remembrance of Tampa Bay residents weve lost, including heartwarming and amusing details about their lives, every Tuesday. Prosecutors believe it was Felecia calling for help. How did Vladimir Putin lose half of Russia's elite paratroopers? The juror, a woman, wept as Felecia Demerson read a statement from the witness stand about her daughter and the devastating effects of her death. He pointed as Wiley as a possible perpetrator of the murder. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. 'He wrote out this argument, he gave it to colleagues, I guarantee you, and tested it. If convicted, he faces a possible death sentence. Convicted child killer, rapist wants off death row. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in September 2019. . Copyright 2022The Free Press, LLC,tampafp.com. According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said that Ritchie raped and strangled the young girl before stuffing her body into a suitcase. Rick Buckwalter, the appellate attorney for Florida, conceded that it was 'a close call,' but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. Ritchies conviction comes five years after he raped and killed Felecia before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dropping it off of the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge, according to the Tampa Bay Times, WTSP and Fox13. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years, he told the court. James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. In front of a jury tasked to decide the fate of Ritchie . According to Ritchie's appellate attorney Rachel Roebuck, Harmon's impassioned speech violated what is known in the legal profession as the Golden Rule, which is an argument that persuades jurors to put themselves in the place of the victim when considering a verdict, reported Fox 13. The jury has to be unanimous on the death sentence. That argument is considered legally improper because jurors are expected to weigh a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, instead of their personal feelings. The argument is considered improper and could be grounds for an appeal because the jurors have to consider a case in an objective manner and rely on evidence alone, instead of their feelings and biases. Still, she said, she can put her feelings aside and continue hearing the case. I feel like death is appropriate. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Deshawn Thomas Executes Homeless Man In St Louis, Sheborah Thomas Gets 40 Years For Killing 2 Kids, NFL Zac Stacy Gets 6 Months For Brutal Assault, Brendan Depa Charged For Knocking Out Teachers Aide, Jack Colton Charged In Sexual Assault Of 12 Yr Old, Taylor Frankie Paul Charged With Domestic Violence, Steven Pfeil Teen Killer Murders 2 In Illinois, Antonio Barbeau and Nathan Paape Teen Killers, Dylan Schumaker Teen Killer Murders 23 Month Boy, Lacy Aaron Schmidt Teen Killer Murders Ex Girlfriend, Amber Wright Teen Killer Seath Jackson Murder, James Parker And Robert Tulloch Teen Killers, Bobby Gonzales Teen Killer Murders Girlfriends Mother. [emailprotected]. She takes medication for depression. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years,' she told the court. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. During the trial, Ritchies girlfriend testified that Ritchie asked to use her car. Rather, viewing the record in its totality, it was the evidence of Ritchies horrific and senseless crimes against the victim, not the prosecutors missteps, that secured the recommendation of death. Justice Ricky Polston agreed with the outcome of the majority opinion but did not sign onto it. My heart breaks for you. Learn More{{/message}}. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. (Florida child s*x killer who tortured, raped and murdered girl, 9, is appealing his death ) Wiki, Bio, Age,Death,Family,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Quick Facts, Read Also: Who was Mak Parhar?Flat Earther and COVID-19 denier Mak Parhar found dead, Congress Is Investigating McKinsey Over Its Role in the Opioid Crisis, Alyssa Milano: Giving birth to my first child reminded me of being sexually assaulted. 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