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Thread: Terrell French Sentenced to LWOP in 2009 AL Slaying of Terrory Murphy

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  1. #1
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    Terrell French Sentenced to LWOP in 2009 AL Slaying of Terrory Murphy


    Terrell French


    BESSEMER, Alabama -- A Jefferson County jury today handed down two capital murder convictions against the first of four suspects to stand trial in the 2009 Bessemer shooting death of 22-year-old Terrory Murphy, according to the chief deputy prosecutor in the Bessemer Division district attorney's office.

    Sentencing of Terrell French, 27, of Bessemer will begin Monday at 10 a.m. in Judge David Hobdy's court, said Chief Deputy D.A. Bill Veitch. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

    One of the two convictions was given because Murphy was killed during a robbery and the other because he was shot while inside a car.

    Murphy is the brother of former University of Alabama football player Kerry Murphy.

    Murphy was found dead from a single gunshot wound in the 1200 block of Clarendon Avenue on Aug. 9, 2009.

    French was released from state prison in January 2007. He had pleaded guilty to robbing a woman at gunpoint in east Birmingham in 2002, according to court and prison records.

    On probation for 15 years from that conviction, a warrant was issued for French's arrest the day before Murphy's death after French failed to make a court appearance.

    Efforts to reach French's attorneys, Ken Foster and Tammy McCabe, after normal business hours tonight were not immediately successful.

    Three other suspects in the case --- Meoshia Daniel, 28; Joe Reid, 30; and Monica Sims, 29 -- have yet to go to trial. Veitch said Daniel testified against French in this week's trial. Reid is the next to go on trial with his case set to start in April, Veitch said.

    Murphy's mother, Rosetta Murphy, said she believes French deserves the death penalty but will be OK with a sentence of life without parole because it would mean "he's not out there hurting anyone else."

    "I'm so pleased with the outcome. It was such a long time coming. We've been waiting for this for over two and a half years," she said.

    http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/...tion_hand.html

  2. #2
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    Shooting victim's mother urges death penalty for Terrell French, convicted of killing Terrory Murphy in Bessemer in 2009

    The mother of a Bessemer man killed in a 2009 robbery urged a Jefferson County jury this morning to recommend a death sentence for the man convicted of killing her son.

    The same jury that on Friday convicted Terrell French, 27, of two counts of capital murder in the death of Terrory Murphy, 22, is hearing testimony in a Bessemer courtroom to decide whether to recommend a sentence of death or life without parole to Circuit Judge David Hobdy Jr.

    Rosetta Murphy tearfully testified that her family has been shattered by the murder. "I was going to take my own life," she said.

    The mother said her youngest son, former University of Alabama football player Kerry Murphy, has been depressed and can't stay focused enough to play football since his big brother's death.

    Prosecutor Adrienne Ward earlier presented evidence that showed French was on probation after serving five years of a 20-year prison sentence for robbery when he killed Murphy on Aug. 9, 2009.

    Murphy was found dead in his car in the 1200 block of Clarendon Ave. from a single gunshot wound.

    French's defense attorney, Ken Foster, told the jury that French should be sentenced to life without parole. He said he plans to present testimony that French is borderline mentally retarded. He said French grew up in an unstable, neglected home with a father who dealt drugs and a mother who used them.

    Hobdy recessed the sentencing hearing for lunch.

    French is one of three people police charged in the case. The other defendants will be tried later.

    http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/...her_urges.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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    A Jefferson County jury recommended a sentence of life without parole for Terrell French, convicted of two counts of capital murder in the 2009 shooting death of Terrory Murphy.

    Circuit Judge David Hobdy Jr. set a May 16 sentencing date for French, 27.

    Under Alabama law, Hobdy does not have to follow the jury's recommendation. He could impose a death sentence or life without parole. Those are the only two options for capital murder convictions.

    Eight jury members voted for life without parole, and four voted for the death penalty.

    The jury had convicted French on Friday.
    Murphy, 22, was found dead from a single gunshot wound in the 1200 block of Clarendon Avenue on Aug. 9, 2009.

    http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/...ecommen_5.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  4. #4
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    BESSEMER, Alabama -- The mother of Terrory Murphy pleaded with a Jefferson County circuit judge this afternoon to "send a message" about black-on-black crime by giving Terrell French, the man convicted of fatally shooting her son during a robbery in 2009, the death penalty.
    "I'm sick and tired of black crime and black people killing each other," Rosetta Murphy told Judge David Hobdy Jr. in his Bessemer courtroom. "No one is doing anything about it but sweeping it under the table .¤.¤. I'm tired of this, and I want something done about this."
    However, Hobdy elected to uphold a jury's recommendation from March that French, 27, be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    errory Murphy was the brother of former University of Alabama football player Kerry Murphy.
    French was one of four suspects charged in the Aug. 9, 2009, robbery and murder of Terrory Murphy on Clarendon Avenue in Bessemer.
    A second man, 31-year-old Joe Reid, was convicted of capital murder in the case a month ago and also received a jury recommendation for life in prison without parole. His sentencing date is June 27.

    A third suspect, 29-year-old Monica Sims, pleaded guilty to felony murder on Monday and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, court records show. A fourth suspect, 28-year-old Meoshia Daniel, has not gone to trial yet.
    Prosecutors said French was the one who actually fired the shot that killed Murphy. A prosecutor for the state, and the Murphy family, told Hobody that French deserves the death penalty.
    However, Pete Short, French's defense attorney, said his client did not deserve the death penalty because, among other things, he had been diagnosed as being mentally retarded. Short said the life sentence was a very serious punishment, as evidenced by the fact that eight members of the jury voted in favor of the sentence.
    Rosetta Murphy said a death sentence for French would have sent a message about instances of black-on-black crime. She added that if French were white, Al Sharpton and others would have been in town for a march.
    Afterward, Murphy's parents said they were disappointed that French had not received the death penalty, but drew some comfort in knowing he would not be on the street. "I just wish he could have sent out a message that you just can't do crimes like this and get away with it," Rosetta Murphy said.
    Terry McGhee, the slain man's father, said everyone involved in the crime should get equal punishment.

    http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/05/...e_upholds.html

  5. #5
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    "Rosetta Murphy said a death sentence for French would have sent a message about instances of black-on-black crime. She added that if French were white, Al Sharpton and others would have been in town for a march."

    She's right!
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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