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Thread: Steven Howard Gets 30 to Life & Michael Scott Gets 20 Years For Death Of Blaine Petit

  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Steven Howard Gets 30 to Life & Michael Scott Gets 20 Years For Death Of Blaine Petit

    Death penalty sought in London killing
    Thursday, August 27, 2009 4:39 PM
    By Ashley Lutz

    THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


    Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man they believe shot a Madison County man in front of the victim's two young children.

    Steven L. Howard, 32, was indicted today in Common Pleas Court on aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and aggravated kidnapping charges.

    His alleged accomplice, Michael Scott, 19, of Columbus, was indicted on the same charges.

    Prosecutors do not plan to pursue the death penalty against Scott. They believe Howard shot and killed 21-year-old Blaine Petit in his London home Aug. 18.

    Howard and Scott broke into the N. Madison Road house over what authorities believe was a fight over money and drugs. Petit was shot in the throat in front of his 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.

    Assistant Prosecutor Eamon Costello said the case comes across as a deliberate, "execution-style," murder.

    "The evidence suggests Petit was shot almost immediately," Costello said. "And the potential for others to get hurt is also a troubling factor."

    http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/27/madison_killings.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

  2. #2
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    London man rejects deal, will take chances at trial

    LONDON, Ohio -- A man accused of gunning down a man in front of his two children at an apartment last summer rejected a plea deal in Madison County Common Pleas Court this morning and could now be sentenced to death when his trial begins April 19.

    The judge, the prosecutors, the victim's family and a slew of deputies and police officers were assembled this morning as Steven Howard, 33, of London, was expected to plead guilty to aggravated murder charges in the Aug. 18 death of 21-year-old Blayne Petit, also of London.

    In exchange for his plea, prosecutors would remove the death penalty from the table and instead recommend a sentence of life in prison with the chance of parole in 30 years.

    But when his attorneys presented him with the paperwork to sign, Howard shook his head no. His mother, sitting a few rows behind him in court, had just moments earlier told him: "It's better to go down with a fight than to give up."

    And so Madison County has scheduled its first death-penalty murder trial in 14 years. With an estimated price tag of about $200,000, it's nothing the cash-strapped county is looking forward to.

    "It has to be done, and the commissioners will have to find the money," said Prosecutor Stephen Pronai.

    Death-penalty trials are expensive for a number of reasons, but mostly because the law requires defendants in such cases to have two attorneys. They are generally court-appointed and paid largely from county funds.

    Madison County Commissioner Chris Snyder said the county will tap its $1.9 million in reserve funds to cover the costs of the trial, which is expected to last about a week.

    Police say Howard and his accomplice, 19-year-old Michael Scott of the West Side, knocked on the door of Petit's London apartment door about 10:40 p.m. Aug. 18. When Petit opened the door, Howard shot him in the neck. Petit's 1-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter were sitting in high chairs just inside the front door.

    The men stormed into the apartment, and Howard continued to shoot, chasing the wounded Petit out the back door. He died on the grass behind the apartment. The two men assaulted Petit's girlfriend, and one of them stuck a gun in her mouth and demanded money and drugs, police said.

    Petit's older sister, Brandance Petit, witnessed the shooting and then ran upstairs and took cover in a closet, hiding her own two children under a pile of clothes. Screams, shouts and the sound of at least eight gunshots all were captured on the 911 call she made as well as one from another man staying at the apartment.

    She said at the time that her brother once had been a drug dealer but had left that lifestyle behind for the sake of his children.

    Scott avoided a possible life sentence in prison by pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping and aggravated burglary earlier this year.

    Scott said in court that he thought he and Howard were only going to rob Petit. He has agreed to testify against Howard at trial.

    http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/05/Madison-County-murder-trial.html?sid=101

  3. #3
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Steven L. Howard has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in June 2039.

    http://www.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSear...spx?id=A627613

    Michael Scott has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. His term will expire on August 13, 2029.

    http://www.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSear...spx?id=A628296

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