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Thread: Benjamin Owen Young - Alabama Death Row

  1. #21
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    Death is possibility for Hubbard


    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — If Thomas Hubbard is found guilty of capital murder in connection with the 2016 shooting death of Ki-Jana Freeman, he will face the possibility of death.

    His attorneys, David Bradley and Jamy Poss, had filed a motion to remove the death penalty as a punishment based on the fact that Hubbard is considered to be “intellectually disabled.”

    Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher denied the motion during a hearing Tuesday morning. She also denied a motion for a change of venue.

    Bradley and Poss based their motion to remove the death penalty on a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Virginia case.

    Bradley said the Supreme Court ruled in that case it is cruel and unusual punishment to execute an "intellectually disabled" individual, which is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.

    Expert witness Dr. Allen Shealy, a clinical psychologist from Birmingham, said after talking to Hubbard and people who knew him, Shealy tested Hubbard. Hubbard's IQ tested at 63, Shealy said.

    Based on the test results and the interviews, Shealy said Hubbard should be considered intellectually disabled "which years ago would have be considered mild retardation."

    Chief Assistant District Attorney Kyle Brown argued Hubbard knew what he was doing when he gave law enforcement a statement about the incident, and when he set everything in motion that resulted in Freeman's death.

    “Did you know that Hubbard hid the gun that was used in the shooting in a location in Franklin County where his uncle used to live, and he had it marked off with rocks so it could be found later?” Brown asked. “Does that not take some planning?"

    Brown said Hubbard was head of a gang, and that he ran a business through the gang, receiving and selling marijuana.

    "Which are signs of his ability to plan and to adapt," Brown said.

    Bradley asked for the change of venue due to the media coverage of the prior trials of two of Hubbard’s co-defendants, who were found guilty and sentenced to death.

    “There were two trials and two people sentenced to death in less than four months. That publicity could taint the jury pool,” Bradley said.

    Brown said in the previous two trials, the potential jurors said they did not have knowledge of the case, or they had not read anything that would hinder a fair decision.

    Hubbard’s capital murder case is scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon following the selection of a jury.

    Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals, is the person police say orchestrated the 2016 shooting death of Freeman, which took place in the parking lot of a Tuscumbia apartment complex.

    Police said Peter Capote, 24, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals.; Benjamin Owen Young, 30, 502 Staunton Ave., Florence; Riley Hamm III, 30, 2220 W. 17th St., Sheffield; De’Vontae Bernard Bates, 21, 106 Markate Ave., Muscle Shoals; and Hubbard are all charged ain connection with the shooting death of Freeman, 19, of Tuscumbia.

    Capote and Young have been found guilty and sentenced to death. Hamm’s trial has not been scheduled.

    Bates has pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime/death-is-possibility-for-hubbard/article_193e85a3-bbba-5d7a-adb4-fca6dac029b9.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  2. #22
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    Hubbard planned shooting after burglary

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — Assistant Colbert County District Attorney Angela Hulsey said the only connection between a burglary at 1100 Midland Ave. and the shooting death of Ki-Jana Freeman was Thomas Hubbard.

    Hulsey said Hubbard’s house at the Midland Avenue address was burglarized Feb. 28, 2016, while he and other members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters were at Hubbard’s grandmother’s funeral.

    According to a police report, the back door to the house was “kicked in” and a Xbox, PlayStation, money and a television were taken.

    On March 1, 2016, Hulsey said Freeman was lured to Spring Creek Parking lot on the premise of selling a Xbox. Freeman was shot and killed by two members of the gang — Benjamin Young and Peter Capote.

    Prosecutors said Hubbard believed Freeman was involved in the burglary to his residence and the shooting was retaliation.

    “(Hubbard) felt enraged, disrespected, and he wanted to get revenge,” Hulsey told the jury during her opening statement at Hubbard’s capital murder trial.

    She said Hubbard called a meeting to see what could be done, and a plan was devised to find who was responsible. Freeman’s name came up after it was determined he had a Xbox for sale.

    “K.J. (Freeman) was lured to Spring Creek Apartments, where he was shot and killed,” Hulsey said.

    Freeman and his friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, while Blythe was flown to Huntsville Hospital.

    Police say Hubbard is the person who orchestrated the 2016 shooting death of Freeman.

    Peter Capote, 24, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals.; Benjamin Owen Young, 30, 502 Staunton Ave., Florence; Riley Hamm III, 30, 2220 W. 17th St., Sheffield; De’Vontae Bernard Bates, 21, 106 Markate Ave., Muscle Shoals; and Hubbard are all charged in connection with the shooting death of Freeman, 19, Tuscumbia.

    Capote and Young have been found guilty and sentenced to death. Hamm’s trial has not been scheduled.

    Four witnesses testified Thursday afternoon.

    Bates has pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy.

    Defense attorney David Bradley, who along with Jamy Poss represent Hubbard, told jurors another theory, one of where other members of “the gang” broke into Hubbard’s house while they were at the funeral and blamed Freeman to keep suspicion off of themselves.

    He said his client did burn the clothes Young and Capote were wearing at the time of the shooting, and Hubbard hid the gun that was used.

    “But he didn’t blame K.J. He didn’t lure K.J. in, and he didn’t kill K.J. Freeman,” Bradley said.

    Hulsey admitted that Hubbard was not the the shooter, "but he has accomplice liability. He aided and abetted in Freeman’s death,” she said

    Testimony continues today at 9 a.m. in Colbert Judge Jackie Hatcher’s courtroom.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime/hubbard-planned-shooting-after-burglary/article_b7225b18-6aaa-5f19-a013-a40ea9ce4321.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  3. #23
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    Cellmate testifies that Hubbard told him he planned the shooting

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — A man who was in the same Colbert County Jail cell with Thomas Hubbard said Friday that Hubbard told him step by step how Ki-Jana Freeman was set up and killed.

    “(Hubbard) said (De’Vontae) Bates contacted KJ on Facebook, said he wanted to buy some drugs,” Shawn Settles said Friday during Hubbard’s capital murder trial. “(Hubbard) said it was a setup to kill KJ. He said he couldn’t let him get away with stealing from him.”

    Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals is accused of being the person who planned and orchestrated the shooting death of Freeman after someone broke into his residence.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, of Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot March 1, 2016, while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, while Blythe was flown to Huntsville Hospital. He testified Friday in the trial.

    Settles said his attorney had reached an agreement with the district attorney’s office to reduce his sentence for his testimony in the case.

    Settles testified that he befriended Hubbard and Hubbard confided in him while they were cellmates.

    He said Hubbard admitted he was in the truck with Peter Capote, Benjamin Young and Trey Hamm when the shooting took place in the parking lot of Spring Creek Apartments.

    “He said Capote and Young got out and did the shooting,” Settles said.

    He said Hubbard told him “they got out, walked towards the car and unloaded on it.”

    Defense attorney David Bradley, who along with Jamy Poss and Charlton Pope represent Hubbard, asked Settles how he knew Hubbard was telling the truth.

    “I believed him. He told me what happened. I believed he killed that boy,” Settles said.

    The trial continues Monday at 9 a.m. in Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher’s courtroom.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...7f5d79a17.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  4. #24
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    Bates: I lured Freeman to lot


    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — A Muscle Shoals man said he knew the motive behind luring Ki-Jana Freeman to Spring Creek Apartments on March 1, 2016.

    De’Vante Bates testified Monday he contacted Freeman on Facebook messenger telling him he wanted to buy 11 hits of acid (LSD). He said he knew when he lured Freeman to the apartment complex in Tuscumbia that “they were going to kill him.”

    He said Freeman was targeted after someone saw a Xbox he had for sale on Facebook, and it looked like the same one stolen from the home of Thomas Hubbard on Feb. 28, 2016, while Hubbard and family members were at his grandmother’s funeral.

    Bates testified Hubbard, who was the leader of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters, was angry about the burglary. He said Hubbard told gang members he was going to find out who broke into the house and "kill them."

    Bates's testimony came during the third day of Hubbard’s capital murder trial.

    Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals, is accused of being the person who planned and orchestrated the shooting death of Freeman.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot March 1, 2016, while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, while Blythe was flown to Huntsville Hospital.

    Bates testified he has pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy and is being held in the Morgan County Jail awaiting sentencing.

    Peter Capote, 24, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals, Benjamin Young, 30, 502 Staunton Ave., Florence, and Riley Hamm III, 30, 2220 W. 17th St., Sheffield, who were all involved in the gang with Hubbard, have been charged with capital murder in connection with Freeman’s death.

    Capote and Young have been found guilty of capital murder and have been sentenced to death. Hamm’s trial has not been scheduled.

    Bates testified he was a member of the gang, along with Austin Hammonds, who knew Freeman and saw the post on Facebook about having the Xbox for sale.

    He said he was sending messages to Freeman while sitting in Hubbard’s living room.

    Bates testified after he contacted Freeman, and Freeman was on his way to the apartment complex, Young, Capote, Hubbard and Hamm got into a white truck and left Hubbard’s residence, heading to Spring Creek Apartments.

    During cross examination, Hubbard’s defense attorneys — Jamy Poss, David Bradley and Charlton Pope — tried to discredit Bates.

    The jury spent most of the day listening and watching two videos of Bates speaking to law enforcement.

    On the first video, Bates said why he was at the apartment complex, and he said he had no idea who was involved in the shooting.

    In the second video Bates changed his story and was telling police how Freeman was lured to the parking lot and shot, and who was involved.

    The trial continues at 9 a.m. today in Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher’s courtroom.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...496c64c61.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  5. #25
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    Defense attorney accuses witness of lying about Freeman

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — A Sheffield man admitted Tuesday that he and another member of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters brought up Ki-Jana Freeman’s name as a suspect in the burglary of the head of the gang’s house.

    “KJ was your friend, the guy you worked with?” defense attorney Jamy Poss asked Austin Hammonds during cross-examination. “You told the others that KJ was the one who broke into the house and stole the Xbox. His death is your fault.”

    “I didn’t shoot him,” Hammonds said.

    “You were supposed to go look at the Xbox to see if it was the one stolen. You didn’t,” Poss said. “(KJ) send you a picture of the Xbox he had for sale. You knew that was not your Xbox.

    “How did you choose KJ to die?”

    “He had the Xbox I thought was mine (that got stolen),” Hammonds said.

    “Or were you mad over a (drug deal) with him that was supposed to happen two days before?” Poss asked.

    “I only bought drugs from him once. I was mad about my Xbox being stolen,” Hammonds said.

    “Freeman was killed because you said it was your Xbox. You set him up,” Poss said.

    “I didn’t shoot him, I didn’t set him up,” Hammonds said.

    Hammonds’ testimony came Tuesday during the fourth day of Thomas Hubbard’s capital murder trial.

    Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals, is accused of being the person who planned and orchestrated the shooting death of Freeman.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot March 1, 2016, while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, while Blythe was flown to Huntsville Hospital.

    Authorities said Hubbard was upset over his residence being broken into and someone taking a television, money and computer game systems, one of which belonged to Hammonds who had left it at Hubbard’s residence.

    During Tuesday’s cross-examination, Poss continued to paint a picture that it was Hammonds who put the plan in motion that resulted in Freeman's death.

    “(The gang) wouldn’t have known KJ if you hadn’t told him it was your Xbox,” he said. “KJ didn’t break into Hubbard’s house. He died because you lied.”

    Hammonds said he had nothing to do with setting Freeman up, and he left Hubbard’s house before that happened and went to work in Florence.

    “You knew what was going to happen (to him), no doubt in your mind. You knew they were going to set up him when you left,” Poss said.

    The trial continues at 9 a.m. today in Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher’s courtroom.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...9a87b3b3a.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  6. #26
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    Cellmate directed lawmen to weapon

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — An investigator said officials found a SKS rifle hidden in a remote area of Franklin County using directions authorities got from Thomas Hubbard’s cellmate.

    Jonathan Harkins, an investigator with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Department, testified Wednesday the information obtain from the cellmate led authorities right to the rifle police believe was used in the shooting death of Ki-Jana Freeman.

    Hankins testified during the capital murder trial of Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals.

    Hubbard is accused of being the person who planned the shooting death of Freeman as retaliation after someone broke into his residence.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot March 1, 2016, while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, while Blythe was flown to Huntsville Hospital.

    Last week, cellmate Shawn Settles testified that Hubbard told him all of the details of the shooting, as well as gave him information as to where the gun had been hidden.

    Settles turned the information over to authorities in an effort to help himself with his court hearing.Settles testified Hubbard said he and Peter Capote, who has been convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for his involvement in the shooting, took the gun to a remote area north of Cedar Lake in Franklin County on property his family used to own, and hid the gun.

    “We were given directions to climb over one gate, go through a second gate, and then follow a path into the woods until we saw some pine cones that were out of place,” Harkins said.

    Officers found three pine cones at the base of a hardwood tree that doesn’t produce pine cones.

    “We were to go about 10 feet past that, and then look to our right for a clearing and for a burial site,” Harkins testified.

    He said they found the site. A metal detector indicated something was in the shallow grave.

    “We dug it up and found a black plastic bag with the rifle in it,” Harkins said.

    During the trial, prosecutors have put on witnesses who stated Hubbard owned a SKS rifle.

    Also Wednesday, forensics experts testified that the shell casings found in the parking lot of Spring Creek Apartments where the shooting took place came from the SKS rifle that police recovered.

    The trial continues today in Judge Jackie Hatcher’s courtroom. Closing arguments are expected to take place sometime today.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...403a6d471.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  7. #27
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    Hubbard found guilty of capital murder

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — For the first time during the week-long trial, Thomas Hubbard showed emotion Thursday when a Colbert County jury found him guilty of capital murder.

    Hubbard, who wiped away tears, will find out today whether he will be put to death or spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher said the sentencing phase of Hubbard’s trial will begin at 9 a.m.

    The jury deliberated just over an hour Thursday before reaching their decision.

    Hubbard, 33, 1100 Midland Ave., Muscle Shoals, was found guilty of capital murder and first-degree assault. He is accused of planning the shooting death of Ki-Jane Freeman, 19, of Tuscumbia, as retaliation after someone broke into his residence.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot March 1, 2016, while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang.

    The shooting took place around 11 p.m. in the parking lot of Spring Creek Apartments in Tuscumbia.

    Freeman died at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield. Blythe continues to recover from his injuries.

    “(Thomas Hubbard) caused the death of Ki-Jana Freeman through or by the use of a deadly weapon. This makes him accountable for the behavior of another,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Hulsey said during her closing remarks. “He helped facilitate it, he encouraged it, helped others commit the crime.

    “Under the law he is accountable for the behavior of those others.”

    Peter Capote and Benjamin Young, two members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters, which Hubbard was said to lead, were identified as the ones who shot Freeman and have both been found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.

    “(Hubbard) gave the order for Freeman to be murdered. He provided the SKS rifle. He gave them black plastic bags to put their clothes in and he went and hid the rifle,” Hulsey said. “Tommy 'Imperial' Hubbard gave the order to kill KJ and it was carried out. Thomas Hubbard made the decision to kill KJ, no one else.”

    Defense attorney Jamy Poss, who along with David Bradley and Charlton Pope represented Hubbard, told the jury the state’s case was based on “circumstantial” evidence.

    He then painted a scenario that it was Austin Dewayne Hammonds, who was the mastermind behind the shooting death as a way to coverup a break-in at Hubbard’s house.

    Poss said it was Hammonds, Young and Young’s girlfriend who broke into Hubbard’s house on Feb. 28, while Hubbard and his family attended his grandmother’s funeral.

    Police said Hubbard had Freeman killed in retaliation for someone breaking into his residence and taking money, a television, an Xbox and another computer gaming system.

    Hammonds, a member of the gang, testified it was his Xbox stolen from Hubbard’s house. He said he came up with Freeman’s name as a possible suspect after Freeman posted an Xbox on Facebook for sale. He told Hubbard it was his, but it turned out it wasn’t.

    Poss said Hammonds and Young planned the burglary and then planned on killing Freeman.

    “(Hammonds) picked KJ to die. I wish I knew why,” Poss said. “(The prosecution) wants you to believe that Hubbard was the head of the gang and gave all the orders.

    “This was a gang within a gang. Austin and Young got a plan to rob Hubbard and kill KJ. The mastermind, the leader, the one who picked KJ to die is Austin Hammonds, not Thomas Hubbard.”

    Chief Assistant District Attorney Kyle Brown warned the jury about believing what he called a fantasy.

    “There is zero proof of what (Poss) just told. His closing is fantasy land,” Brown said. “Don’t let the defense sell you reasonable doubt.”

    He said there was no evidence to back up any of the defense’s theory. “It doesn’t matter who broke into the house, it’s about who ordered the killing.”

    “There were no Sunday school teachers or community leaders in (Hubbard’s) bedroom hanging out with the Almighty Imperial Gangsters when they planned this killing.

    “The facts are not fantasy. Thomas Hubbard sent them out to do his dirty work. This was an intentional murder. The evidence is clear, (Hubbard) intended for KJ Freeman to be killed.”

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/hubba...bef38e05f.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  8. #28
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    Hubbard will spend the rest of his life in prison

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA — Thomas Hubbard will serve the rest of his life in jail without the possibility of parole.

    A Colbert County jury made the recommendation to Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher Friday afternoon.

    The jury delivered 35 minutes before returning its decision.

    Hatcher has not set a sentencing date for Hubbard.

    Thr 33-year-old Hubbard was found guilty of capital murder Thursday afternoon in connection with the March 1, 2016, shooting death of Ki-Jana Freeman, 19, of Tuscumbia.

    Police said it was Hubbard who planned and ordered Freeman’s shooting death.

    “We respect the jury’s decision, but we were obviously disappointed with the original verdict. However, I believe they came to the right decision today, determining there were no aggravating factors (in Freeman’s death) and life without parole is the right sentence,” said defense attorney David Bradley, who along with Jamy Poss and Charlton Pope represented Hubbard.

    Colbert County Chief Assistant District Attorney Kyle Brown said the jury’s recommendation is reasonable.

    “They did not find there was an aggravating circumstance in the case, and in that regard their only option was life without,” Brown said.

    Brown said murder by shooting into a vehicle while the victim is there is not an aggravation factor by law.

    “It’s a capital crime, but not an aggravating factor,” he said.

    Testimony during the trial indicated the shooting was in retaliation after someone broke into Hubbard's residence.

    Witnesses testified that Hubbard was the head of the Almighty Imperial Gangers, and he had two members of the gang — Peter Capote and Benjamin Young — commit the shooting.

    Capote and Young have both been convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang at Spring Creek Apartments.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime/hubbard-will-spend-the-rest-of-his-life-in-prison/article_dd95a1c8-2a90-5eaa-bfef-3c093674947b.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  9. #29
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    Hubbard gets life in prison without parole

    By Tom Smith
    The Times-Daily

    TUSCUMBIA – Thomas Hubbard was sentence to life in prison this morning by Colbert County Circuit Judge Jackie Hatcher.

    Hatcher announced her decision during a sentencing hearing.

    Hubbard, 33, Muscle Shoals, was found guilty of capital murder on June 28. The following day, the jury recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Hatcher could have gone against the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Hubbard to death.

    Hubbard was found guilty of capital murder in connection with the March 1, 2016, shooting death of Ki-Jana Freeman, 19, of Tuscumbia.

    Police said it was Hubbard who planned and ordered Freeman’s shooting death.

    Testimony during the trial indicated the shooting was in retaliation after someone broke into Hubbard's residence.

    Freeman and a friend, Tyler Blythe, 19, Tuscumbia, who was 17 at the time, were both shot while sitting inside Freeman’s blue Ford Mustang at Spring Creek Apartments.

    http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...05a5c6816.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  10. #30
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    Conviction and death sentence affirmed on direct appeal.

    https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama...r-17-0595.html
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