Sampson Blake Oguntope
Death penalty to be sought in two capital murder cases
Two defendants in separate pending capital murder cases in Lubbock will face the possibility of the ultimate punishment.
District Attorney Matt Powell said notices of intent to seek the death penalty have been filed in the murder of a Slaton woman last February, and the murder of a Lubbock restaurant employee in December of 2011.
Sampson Oguntope, 21, is accused of two counts of capital murder in the shooting death of 89-year-old Faye Grey. One count alleges the crime was committed during an aggravated sexual assault; the other alleges Gray was killed during the burglary of her home. A trial date for Oguntope has not been set yet.
Brian Suniga, 33, is accused of capital murder in the shooting death of One Guy restaurant employee David Rowser during the robbery of that 50th Street business.
Suniga's trial is set for September. Powell said no decision has been made on whether to seek the death penalty for the co-defendant in that case, 29 year-old Sesilio Lopez, Jr., whose trial date has not been set yet. Powell said determining whether to seek the ultimate penalty requires time to complete a thorough investigation.
"We want to make sure, especially because of the severity of the case and the severity of the punishment, we want to make sure everything is done appropriately," Powell said. "We want to make sure the defense has had ample time to do what they need to do. The labs and investigators and everybody has had plenty of time and has done everything they need to get done."
Powell said another key factor is a detailed and thorough investigation of the defendants themselves in capital murder cases.
http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/loc...3DwrCJ3rw.cspx
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