Post by CCADP on Aug 27, 2005 20:25:51 GMT -5
Male stripper convicted of samurai sword slaying
A 3-judge panel convicted a male stripper of killing a female impersonator
with a samurai sword, rejecting his insanity plea.
Lawyers for Michael Jennings, 34, had said they opted for the panel
instead of a jury because they felt judges would better understand the
defense that Jennings was insane when he killed Gary McMurtry at a
Columbus home in May 2002.
But the panel convicted Jennings, a male stripper who performed under the
name Devon, of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and felonious
assault for an attack on McMurtry's roommate, Brian Bass.
The judges met Friday to determine if Jennings should receive the death
penalty or a life prison sentence.
Prosecutors say Jennings, dressed in a black ninja outfit with a hood,
broke into McMurtry's home, stabbed McMurtry 13 times and slashed Bass
with the sword when Bass confronted him.
Jennings testified Thursday that he killed McMurtry but lied about it to
police and his family for 2 years.
"I did not want to admit to murder because that's not what I thought I
did," Jennings said.
His lawyers asked the panel not to convict him because he was diagnosed
with psychosis and paranoia five years ago.
Jennings testified that he believed McMurtry, who he had worked with for
years, and another roommate, Scott Cole, were out to get him.
"I do feel what I did was a move of self-defense," Jennings said. "I was
sad and surprised that I actually did it. I didn't plan it out very well
or I might have gotten away with it."
Court records show Jennings was ruled incompetent to stand trial in
December 2002 and was committed to a Columbus mental health facility,
where he was injected with anti-psychotic medications under court order
until he was ruled competent in February.
(source: Associated Press)
A 3-judge panel convicted a male stripper of killing a female impersonator
with a samurai sword, rejecting his insanity plea.
Lawyers for Michael Jennings, 34, had said they opted for the panel
instead of a jury because they felt judges would better understand the
defense that Jennings was insane when he killed Gary McMurtry at a
Columbus home in May 2002.
But the panel convicted Jennings, a male stripper who performed under the
name Devon, of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and felonious
assault for an attack on McMurtry's roommate, Brian Bass.
The judges met Friday to determine if Jennings should receive the death
penalty or a life prison sentence.
Prosecutors say Jennings, dressed in a black ninja outfit with a hood,
broke into McMurtry's home, stabbed McMurtry 13 times and slashed Bass
with the sword when Bass confronted him.
Jennings testified Thursday that he killed McMurtry but lied about it to
police and his family for 2 years.
"I did not want to admit to murder because that's not what I thought I
did," Jennings said.
His lawyers asked the panel not to convict him because he was diagnosed
with psychosis and paranoia five years ago.
Jennings testified that he believed McMurtry, who he had worked with for
years, and another roommate, Scott Cole, were out to get him.
"I do feel what I did was a move of self-defense," Jennings said. "I was
sad and surprised that I actually did it. I didn't plan it out very well
or I might have gotten away with it."
Court records show Jennings was ruled incompetent to stand trial in
December 2002 and was committed to a Columbus mental health facility,
where he was injected with anti-psychotic medications under court order
until he was ruled competent in February.
(source: Associated Press)