Jury Finds Pregnant Girlfriend Killer GUILTY on All Counts

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: The court's staff has been made aware that the jury's arrived at a verdict, so we'll let them step down and announce it. Just out of respect to the jury, just keep your reactions, if any, to yourself, and we'll deal with it. All right. [00:01:00] Speaker ?: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Can you have a seat? All right. Can you have a seat? All right. Can you have a seat? All right. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, the jury, the court just... And I say this just directly. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. All right. Can you have a seat? All right. Ladies and gentlemen, the jury, the court just... And I say this just to reference to you by numbers. We start down at the far right and run down this way, one through six, upper right, seven through 12. 12. [00:01:32] Speaker 1: So, Miss, drawer number seven, you are the floor person? [00:01:34] Speaker ?: Yes. Yes. All right. Let me have a seat. All right. [00:01:39] Speaker 1: Can you have a seat? All right. Can you have a seat? All right. [00:01:43] Speaker ?: All right. [00:01:44] Speaker 1: And I say this just to reference to you by numbers. We start down at the far right and run down this way, 1 through 6, upper right, 7 through 12. So, Ms. Jor, number 7, you are the foreperson? And the jury's arrived at a unanimous verdict? Yes, sir. Alright, if you would please, ma'am, stand and announce that verdict on behalf of the jury. [00:02:12] Ms. Jor: We, the jury, find the defendant, Blaise Allen Taylor, for count 1, guilty of second degree murder. For count 2, guilty of first degree premeditated murder. For count 3, guilty of first degree felony murder during the commission of a felony. For count 4, guilty of first degree felony murder during the commission of a felony. [00:02:47] Speaker 1: Alright, if you'll turn that document in, please, ma'am. Alright, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you can back up just a second. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you've heard your foreperson juror number 7 announce your verdict in this particular case that you've found Mr. Taylor guilty of, in count 1, second degree murder. In count 2, first degree premeditated murder. In count 2, first degree premeditated murder. In counts 3 and 4, felony murder during the commission of a first degree murder. I'll ask you if that is your individual verdict. If it is, you would indicate it is. If it's not, you would indicate it's not. of a first degree murder i'll ask you if that is your individual verdict if it is you would indicate it is if it's not you would indicate it's not drawer number one is that your individual verdict yes drawer number two is that your verdict yes drawer number three is that your verdict yes drawer number four is that your verdict yes drawer number five is that your verdict yes drawer number six is that your verdict yes drawer number seven the four person is that your verdict yes drawer number eight is that your verdict yes drawer number nine is that your individual verdict yes drawer number ten is that your verdict yes drawer number eleven is that your verdict yes drawer number twelve is that your verdict yes okay all right thank you very much as you know we'll need to discuss with the attorney's further issues in this case don't discuss the case any further we'll get back with you here shortly you you can step down the hallway with the courthouse all right mr taylor you've heard the verdict of the jury in count one that found you guilty of second degree murder that verdict as well as the other counts guilty in count two of first degree murder counts three and four first degree felony murder will become the judgment of the court in terms of counts two three and four will be the need for further sentencing hearing does the state contemplate introducing victim impact statement [00:05:52] Speaker 3: yes your honor upon the court finding that by the jury's verdict that uh we would be entitled to do that okay [00:06:00] Speaker 1: we'll we'll take just probably a 15 minute break and let everyone settle down in terms of the initial verdict come back and hear that proposed testimony under state versus nesbitt and then let's see mr c mr grand miss thomas mr joiner what mitigating factors you want to submit to find that's necessary to submit to the jury [00:06:33] Speaker 3: so the state's position is that nesbitt only applies in death company cases [00:06:38] Speaker 1: what as far as what i'm talking about as far as victim impact 403 analysis [00:06:45] Speaker 3: under nesbitt if it's life without parole there is no analysis so that that is there's no run [00:06:53] Speaker 1: there's no dry run unless it is a death penalty case you can just have whatever that may be overly presidential no it will be victim impact under pain okay and does the mr brand miss hollins you have prepared propose mitigating circumstances [00:07:18] Speaker 4: uh yes your honor i think there are mitigating circumstances mitigating factors we would argue to [00:07:23] Speaker 1: the jury okay all right if you'll get those i think we need a minute probably okay like i said we'll take a short break but let me ask the state this there are cases with the obviously with the finding account one that wouldn't be considered by the jury but there's also i think it's hargus versus state that does apply to any felony murders that your notice that you submitted the felony murder of course i think it's your number two wouldn't apply in counts three and four [00:08:09] Speaker 3: disagree your honor because it is middle brooks it is not a middle brooks situation it is within the legislation that amended the statute post middle brooks so that is something the state submits the jury can consider in a felony murder sentencing that an aggravating factor is the felony murder which is based upon that aggravating circumstance which is above and beyond just the definition of felony murder what do you mean by that well that the jury would have to find the aggravating circumstance that again that it is not a middle brooks situation so that state's positions the jury can consider that as an aggravating circumstance that was the uh the whole issue in middle brooks but there's some that would only apply to certain counts yes your honor the age of the victim certainly [00:09:11] Speaker 1: but we'll take 15 minutes and then come back here from the defense in terms of [00:09:19] Speaker 3: mitigation i'm saying we'd like to be heard or i'll see that yeah let's then agree [00:09:28] Speaker 1: taylor and by law mr taylor bond has to be revoked so if you'll step into the back and talk with your attorney