|
|
| Triple killer gets life after death sentence overturned |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 12/15/2003 |
|
Ax murderer William ''Cody'' Neal, whose death sentence was overturned as a result of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, will instead serve life in prison without parole. Neal was sentenced to death by a three-judge panel in 1999 for killing Rebecca Holberton, Candace Walters and Angela Fite during a six-day rampage that began June 30, 1998. A fourth woman was raped after Neal forced her to watch Fite's slaying at a Jefferson County townhouse. District Judge Tom Woodford revoked the death sentence Friday and imposed three consecutive life prison terms because of recent court rulings finding that Colorado's law was unconstitutional. ''Certainly, this case cried out for the death penalty, but that is no longer an option,'' prosecutor Charles Tingle said. He joined in a defense motion to revoke the death penalty and impose life imprisonment on Neal. Woodford imposed three consecutive life prison terms without possibility of parole. Holly Walters, Candace Walters' daughter, was the only family member of the victims to attend the hearing. ''I think the crime deserved the death sentence, but the court has ruled,'' she said. ''It is disappointing, but we have no control. As long as he's never on the streets again, I'm satisfied with that.'' The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that only jurors, not judges, can decide whether a convicted murderer will be executed. The decision threw out judge-sentencing systems in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Nebraska. As a result, Colorado changed its law in July so that juries do the sentencing in capital cases, as they did before the legislature adopted the three-judge panel system in 1995. Death sentences imposed by the three-judge panels are being revoked and life sentences imposed in their place. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think