"Judge rejects plea deal in fatal home invasion; N.H. teen is 1 of 5 charged in attack" by Lynne Tuohy, Associated Press | August 17, 2010
NASHUA — A judge rejected a plea agreement yesterday under which a teenager would have avoided a potential life sentence for a New Hampshire home invasion that ended in the death of a woman and injuries to her daughter....
Peter Leahy, William Marks’s lawyer, said Marks is sorry for his role.
“He does have nightmares,’’ Leahy said.
Am I supposed to feel sorry for the little thug?
Jim Marks, the father of the defendant, said his son “tried everything to get out of it; he just couldn’t.’’ Marks added, “I just think he didn’t know how.’’
How about just saying no?
Five men were charged in connection with the attack. Authorities said Steven Spader, 18, and Christopher Gribble, 20, were the ones who wielded the machete and knife. Police said Gribble told investigators the two men planned the attack “for fun.’’
Gribble and Spader have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges; Gribble’s attorneys say they may argue that Gribble was insane at the time.
Then he won't mind staying in an institution for the rest of his life.
Two other teens, Autumn Savoy and Quinn Glover, have pleaded guilty to lesser charges and agreed to testify against Spader and Gribble.
--more--"
"Home invasion suspect faces lesser charge
New Hampshire prosecutors have dropped a first-degree murder charge against one of the defendants in a Mont Vernon home invasion. William Marks, 18, no longer faces a life sentence, and is expected to be sentenced to 30-60 years in prison for a lesser conviction in the death of Kimberly Cates in her home in October. Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson rejected a plea deal for Marks last week. Lead prosecutor Jeffery Strelzin said he dismissed the charge because that is what the plea deal called for (AP)."
"Evidence in N.H. slaying challenged; Defense wants to stop talk of gang" by Kathy McCormack, Associated Press | September 12, 2010
CONCORD, N.H. — Lawyers for a man charged in a home invasion and killing of a Mont Vernon woman say that prosecutors should not be able to tell jurors about accusations that he committed the crimes as an initiation into a brotherhood he formed with codefendants.
Defense lawyers want to exclude from trial any mention that Steven Spader allegedly formed a gang called Disciples of Destruction about a month before the crimes were committed and that he discussed making chloroform and researched it online.
They say the information is irrelevant to the charges against him and would only prejudice his case.
“The use of this evidence will serve to arouse a sense of horror from the jury and will provoke its collaborative instinct to punish Spader,’’ his lawyers said.
Maybe a sense of horror should be aroused.
Prosecutors disagreed, saying in a motion filed Friday the information is evidence of the crimes he is accused of.
“He apparently fails to remember that he is charged with hacking a mother to death and horrifically wounding an 11-year-old girl, while invading their home in the middle of the night with three other armed cohorts,’’ prosecutors’ motion said....
Maybe they will be the first in line:
"Death penalty critics comment to panel
A former prison warden who carried out eight executions urged a New Hampshire commission studying the death penalty not to get into the business of executions. Ron McAndrew, a former warden in Florida and Texas, said he used to be a death penalty supporter until the ghosts of the men he executed perched at the foot of his bed and he felt himself going insane.
One can only hope the cretins above will receive the same fate. I mean the ghosts at the foot of the bed; I am opposed to the death penalty. Too many state mistakes.
A New York Law School professor told the panel to keep the death penalty but apply it to only the worst cases. Laura Bonk of Concord, whose mother was murdered in 1989, asked the panel to repeal the death penalty in honor of her mother, who opposed it and would have turned 69 yesterday (AP)."
That's up to the New Hampshire citizens to decide, not me.
