Murder defendant Henry Segura told the court Thursday that he didn’t want his attorneys to put up a case to save him from the death penalty. The defense said they won’t put up an opening statement, call any witnesses, or make a closing argument.
Judge James Hankinson allowed this approach, but said he must still review evidence.
Strictly speaking, this kind of situation makes the case tee-ball for the state. Nonetheless, they kept things concise Thursday morning, and declined to present evidence.
Segura was convicted Tuesday in the first-degree murders of girlfriend Brandi Peters, their 3-year-old son JaVante Segura, and Tamiyah and Taniyah Peters, the adult victim’s twin 6-year-old daughters who were not the defendant’s kids. He did it because he owed over $20,000 for the care of his son, prosecutors said. This was his second trial. Jurors in the first were deadlocked 8-4 in favor of acquittal. At the opening statement for Thursday’s penalty phase, the state presented aggravating factors (the children were younger than 12 years of age; the murders were done for pecuniary gain).
You can watch the brief opening statement here.
[Screengrab via Law&Crime Network]