What’s New
Eight suspects involved in the kidnapping and murder of a 20-year-old mother face the death penalty, following a new request from prosecutors.
Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrich notified the court on Friday that she intends to pursue the death penalty if any of the suspects are convicted of capital murder. Henrich described the case as “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel compared to other capital offenses.”
Why It Matters
All eight suspects are under the age of 26, with the youngest being 19. According to AL.com, the suspects have been identified as Teja Lewis, Giovonnie Clapp, Airana Robinson, Brandon Pope, Jeremiah McDowell, Francis Harris, Blair Green and Si’Nya McCall.
Five of the suspects were originally charged with felony murder, but in September, a grand jury elevated the charges to capital murder.
What To Know
In the early hours of February 25, Mahogany Jackson texted her family, sharing her location and claiming she had been kidnapped, according to then-Police Chief Scott Thurmond. The location indicated she was at the home of someone she knew.
The following day, authorities discovered her body on a street in southwest Birmingham. She had died from a gunshot wound.
Birmingham homicide detective Mark Green testified that videos filmed by the suspects and provided by an unnamed witness show Jackson being kidnapped, physically assaulted and sexually abused before three of the suspects drove her to the location where she was shot and left on a street, according to AL.com.
Attorneys for all eight suspects did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Monday morning. A public defender representing at least one of the suspects has filed a motion to block the death penalty in cases where the jury’s verdict is not unanimous.
In October, a grand jury upgraded the charges from felony murder to capital murder for five of the suspects involved. Three of the others were already hit with capital murder charges, WVTM-13 news reported.
What People Are Saying
In her motion seeking the death penalty, Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrich said, “the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel compared to other capital offenses.”
Former Birmingham Police Departmen Scott Thurmond previously spoke about the case, saying: “This is undoubtedly one of the most heinous acts I’ve seen in my career. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
“The facts of this case are deplorable and sickening,” Thurmond said in February, WIAT CBS 42 in Alabama, reported. “Saddest of all, they were made public by the suspects’ decision to videotape portions of this horrific act.”
What’s Next
The eight suspects, all being held without bond, were scheduled to be arraigned Monday on capital murder charges.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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