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Thread: Zachary Dwayne Holly - Arkansas Death Row

  1. #21
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Bentonville Man Convicted Of Raping, Killing 6-Year-Old Girl

    A 30-year-old Bentonville man has been convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 6-year-old girl.

    The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1FoNkHs) that a Benton County Circuit Court jury found Zachary Holly guilty Wednesday of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary in the death of Jersey Bridgeman.

    Defense attorneys called no witnesses and acknowledged both at the start of the trial and at the end that Holly was responsible for the girl's death.

    Prosecutors have said they will ask the jury to impose the death penalty when it deliberates punishment.

    http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/bent...-year-old-girl

  2. #22
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    Aunt says girl's killer badly abused as child

    Prosecutor argues for death penalty

    BENTONVILLE -- The aunt of a man convicted Wednesday in the strangulation death of a 6-year-old girl said the man's stepfather injected him with methamphetamine when he was a boy.

    Christina Whitaker testified Thursday that she saw Zachary Holly's stepfather beat Holly's mother and be abusive toward Holly.

    Whitaker said she saw Holly smoke and snort methamphetamine on different occasions. Holly's stepfather was involved in Holly's drug use when he was a child, Whitaker said.

    "He thought it would be funny to shoot him up," Whitaker said.

    Holly's defense team hasn't denied his guilt in the Nov. 20, 2012, death of Jersey Bridgeman and began its attempt Thursday to persuade the jury to spare him a death sentence.

    Holly, 30, was found guilty Wednesday of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary in connection with the 6-year-old girl's slaying.

    Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney, asked jurors in his opening statement of the sentencing phase to impose the death penalty for Holly.

    Whitaker, when questioned by Smith, said Holly knew the difference between right and wrong.

    Kent McLemore and Robby Golden, Holly's defense attorneys, called a group of witnesses who discussed Holly's childhood.

    Karen Maus, mitigation specialist assigned to Holly's case, said Holly grew up mainly in Bakersfield, Calif. He also spent parts of his childhood in Arkansas.

    Medical records show that Holly was injured in a childhood attack by other children when they jumped on his testicles. Holly lost one testicle and the other had to be repaired, Maus said.

    Amanda Hines-Britner, Holly's former wife, testified Holly could not read or write. Hines-Britner said she would fill out job applications for him.

    Hines-Britner divorced Holly after his arrest.

    She also shared her feelings about Jersey.

    "She was an absolute beautiful baby girl," Hines-Britner said. "She was my son's best friend. It was a privilege to have her in my home. I loved her."

    Kenny Keeton, Holly's brother, also testified Thursday.

    McLemore wanted to know why Keeton had provided his jailed brother with books if he could not read. Keeton believes Holly taught himself to read or write while in jail.

    "I'm very proud of my brother for that," Keeton said.

    Circuit Judge Brad Karren ruled that Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, could question Keeton about a conversation that Keeton had with Holly. The conversation was recorded at the Benton County jail.

    The brothers talked about a newspaper article shortly after the second anniversary of Jersey's death. Holly complained about the media coverage

    The defense also called three of Holly's former teachers at Huntsville High School. The teachers testified about Holly's failing grades, but they also said Holly lacked motivation and would not do schoolwork.

    The sentencing proceeding will continue today in Benton County Circuit Court.

    http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...ed-as/?f=crime
    "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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    Childhood said filled with abuse

    Ex-DHS worker says killer fell through cracks as youth

    BENTONVILLE -- A convicted murderer's childhood was filled with reports about him being physically and sexually abused and at times having to beg for food or eat from the garbage.

    Jana Davis, former social worker for the Kern County (Calif.) Department of Human Services, described parts of Zachary Holly's childhood Friday during the sentencing phase of his trial.

    Holly, 30, of Bentonville was found guilty of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary Wednesday. Jersey Bridgeman, 6, was found dead Nov. 20, 2012, in an abandoned house next to Holly's home on Southeast A Street. She had been strangled with her pajama pants.

    Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

    Holly's defense called Davis as a witness to try to persuade the jury to sentence Holly to life imprisonment without parole.

    Holly was 2 years old when DHS had its first contact with his family, said Davis, who testified she did not remember Holly.

    The referral concerned neglect and conditions in Holly's home and that he was eating out of the garbage because his mother would not feed him. The referral also claimed there was drug use in the home.

    The case was closed because it was determined there was no risk to Holly, Davis said.

    DHS received a second referral months later in 1987. The complaint reported that Holly's mother borrowed food to feed her boyfriend while Holly had to beg for food.

    "The mother is working to take care of her boyfriend rather than feed her child," Davis said when questioned by Kent McLemore, one of Holly's attorneys.

    That case also was closed, Davis said.

    The next referral, in 1993, concerned Holly, who was 8, being sexually abused by a 13-year-old boy.

    Other referrals concerned Holly being left alone and his mother's addiction to methamphetamine. DHS received a report that Joseph Blackmon, Holly's stepfather, had physically abused Holly. The case was referred to police, and Blackmon was arrested.

    DHS received four referrals from May 19, 1994, to June 9, 1994, Davis said. The referrals were for allegations that Holly was physically abused by his mother and stepfather. One complaint concerned Holly not attending school and spending his third year in the first grade. The reports also described Holly being forced to eat food off the floor.

    Holly was taken into protective custody after one of the referrals, but he was released to his mother, Davis said.

    Two referrals in 1996 concerned Holly's mother leaving him for weeks at a time. Her whereabouts were unknown. Holly became ill during one of her disappearances, and the friend she left the boy with could not get medical assistance for him, Davis said.

    "How does the state of California not take this kid from his mother?" McLemore asked.

    Davis told McLemore that the system was broken, and "Holly and his mother fell through the cracks."

    She said DHS, the schools and law enforcement officials missed the signs with Holly's family. Holly's mother moved several times, and that was a factor in how the case was handled, Davis said.

    Davis spent most of Friday on the witness stand except when Kenneth Keeton, Holly's older brother, was questioned by Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor. Keeton said Holly confessed to killing Jersey during jail visits with him.

    Holly is being held without bond in the Benton County jail.

    The trial will resume Tuesday morning.

    http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...01505/?f=crime
    "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

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    Jury To Pick Up Sentencing Deliberations Wednesday In Child Murderer Trial

    BENTONVILLE (KFSM) - A jury that will decide whether to put child killer Zachary Holly to death will resume deliberations Wednesday (May 27) morning.

    The jury deliberated for more than four hours Tuesday (May 26) between the death sentence and life in prison without parole after finding Holly guilty of capital murder in the 2012 murder of six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman of Bentonville.

    The jury took a break for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday (May 25) and returned to the Benton County Circuit Courtroom Tuesday.

    In order to receive the death penalty, the jury will have to be unanimous in their decision. If they can’t agree, Holly will get a sentence of life in prison without parole.

    When the jury was selected, all jurors said they would be open to sentencing Holly to death.

    http://5newsonline.com/2015/05/26/ho...til-wednesday/

  5. #25
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    Zachary Holly sentenced to death by lethal injection

    Judge Brad Karren on Wednesday sentenced Zachary Holly, 30, to death by lethal injection for the 2012 kidnapping, rape and murder of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

    A jury recommended the death penalty. Karren set the execution date for Nov. 16, 2016.

    Before deciding on the sentence, jurors heard from Holly's mother about her drug use when he was a child.

    They also heard about abuse Holly suffered from other adults and children. The prosecution argued that Holly's childhood was no excuse for his crimes, and he should be sentenced to death.

    http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...ted-bentonvil/
    "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
    ProDP
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    The execution date won't hold

  7. #27
    Moderator mostlyclassics's Avatar
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    Of course it won't hold, ProDP. He still has to go through all the automatic state and federal appeals. But some states set the tentative execution date before the appeals process is completed. I guess Arkansas is one of those states.

  8. #28
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    First appeals hearing for convicted child killer

    Little Rock, Ark. — The Arkansas Supreme Court Justices heard oral arguments in Zachary Holly's direct appeal.

    On May 21, 2015, Zachary Holly was sentenced to death in the murder and rape of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

    Jersey was found dead in a vacant home in Bentonville in 2012.

    Today, the Supreme Court Justices heard the first oral arguments in the appeals process for Zachary Holly.

    Holly's defense attorney, Robby Golden, says these are the three grounds for an appeal:

    1. The circuit court erred by denying appellant’s motion for directed verdict as to residential burglary, because there was insufficient evidence that appellant “entered or remained unlawfully” in the home of another person.

    2. The circuit court erred in granting the State’s motion in limine and finding that appellant’s offer to plead guilty to capital murder was not admissible as a mitigating factor to show acceptance of responsibility during the penalty phase of the trial.

    3. The circuit court erred by denying appellant’s motions to suppress appellant’s custodial statements.

    Golden tells 40/29 News, "In my experience it is impossible to glean which way the court is leaning by the questions asked, so it is hard to know how things went. However, I trust the court will treat this case with the seriousness it deserves."

    The Assistant Attorney General, Brooke Gasaway, argued there was sufficient evidence, that the mitigating factor would not have been enough to affect the overall jury verdict, and that Holly's wife was never forced to talk to Holly by police.

    If the justices do not hand down a decision before June, it could be until the Fall when we find out what they decide.

    http://www.4029tv.com/article/first-...killer/9605008

  9. #29
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    That poor, poor little girl. First the abuse by one man, and then the rape and murder by another.

  10. #30
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    Court upholds Arkansas death-row inmate’s conviction

    LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a man who was sentenced in Benton County Circuit Court to death for killing a 6-year-old girl.

    According to prosecutors at his trial, on the night of Nov. 19, 2012, Zachary Holly entered the home where the girl, identified in court papers as J.B., was sleeping, woke her, picked her up and took her to a nearby vacant house, where he raped her and then tied her pants around her neck and strangled her.

    Holly received a death sentence for capital murder, two life sentences for rape and kidnapping, and a 20-year sentence for residential burglary.

    On appeal, Holly, now 32, argued that the trial judge should have dismissed the burglary charge, should not have allowed a confession Holly made to police to be admitted as evidence, and should have allowed jurors to be told that Holly had offered to plead guilty to capital murder.

    Holly claimed he had a key to the home because he and his wife often babysat J.B. and that he entered through an unlocked door. He said he had authority to enter the home and that he entered looking for medicine for an upset stomach and not with intent to commit a felony, so the charge of residential burglary did not apply.

    “This argument is not persuasive,” the Supreme Court said Thursday in an opinion written by Judge Josephine Hart.

    The court said J.B.’s mother testified that she had given Holly’s wife permission to enter the home when she needed medicine but did not testify that she had extended the same authority to Holly. The court said it would not consider Holly’s claim that he entered the home without intent to commit a felony because Holly did not make that argument during his trial.

    Holly also claimed that at the urging of police, his wife, Amanda Holly, coerced him into talking to police, which he argued amounted to the police improperly using a proxy to elicit a confession after he had asked for a lawyer.

    The Supreme Court said testimony at the trial showed Amanda Holly did urge her husband to talk to police and submit to a polygraph test, but she did so for her own reasons, believing he was innocent and should “clear his name.”

    Holly further claimed that during the penalty phase of the trial, jurors should have been allowed to hear that he had offered to plead guilty to capital murder. Jurors could have seen this as a sign that he accepted responsibility for his crime and considered it a mitigating factor, he argued.

    The Supreme Court disagreed.

    “Proof that Holly offered to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sanction is not evidence that Holly was taking responsibility for his crime,” Hart wrote in the opinion.

    Justice Rhonda Wood wrote in a separate opinion that she concurred in the decision to uphold Holly’s conviction but found it “troubling” that Holly — who claimed to read at a third-grade level — received two mental evaluations, but only the first evaluation was entered into the record. All that is in the record regarding the second evaluation is a statement by a lawyer for Holly that he was fit to proceed, Wood noted.

    Wood said she hopes the issue will be fully developed and resolved in future proceedings on the question of whether Holly had adequate counsel.

    http://www.arkansasnews.com/news/201...17s-conviction
    Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next products.

    "They will hurt you. They will hurt your grandma, these people. The root cause of this is there's no discipline in the homes, they don't go to school, you know, they live off the government, no personal accountability, and they just beat people up for no reason, and it's disgusting." - Former Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters

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