Facts of the Crime:
On April 14, 2003, Anderson and his cohorts planned to rob Stephen Brucker because they believed he had a safe in his house that contained a large amount of money. Anderson and his cohorts knocked on the front door of Brucker’s house. Anderson shot Brucker in the chest when Brucker answered the door. One of Anderson’s cohorts testified against him at trial. The defense contested guilt by arguing the prosecution’s witnesses were not reliable. During the penalty phase, Anderson refused to present any mitigating evidence but instead testified and dared the jury to sentence him to death. Anderson’s attorney asked the jury to show mercy, urged them to consider lingering doubt, and argued that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst and this was “a run-of-the-mill felony murder.” Anderson was also convicted in two other burglaries. In February 2005, Anderson was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter for a deadly car crash that killed Tabatha Bailey.
Anderson was sentenced to death in San Diego County on October 28, 2005.
Bookmarks