Gregory Whiteside
March 4, 2010
Death sentence for man who killed estranged girlfriend, her daughter
SAN BERNARDINO - A jury has decided that Gregory Whiteside Jr., who was on trial in the deaths of his estranged girlfriend and her 18-month-old daughter, should be put to death.
The same jury that previously found Whiteside guilty of first-degree and second-degree murder in the pair of deaths, announced its unanimous finding for death at 1:43 p.m. Wednesday in San Bernardino Superior Court, according to court records.
Shawana Andrews and her daughter Brittany were killed inside a San Bernardino apartment in June 1999. Family and authorities found their bodies on a makeshift bed of blankets in the garage of the apartment.
Whiteside had left a suicide note, emptied his pockets of personal effects, cut his own wrists and laid with the bodies on the bed as if in a loving embrace, say prosecutors.
The defendant is set to return to court April 9 for sentencing.
The jury had informed the court Monday that it was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of death. Judge Brian McCarville inquired of the jury if he could help and if more deliberation would help break the stalemate.
At least one juror agreed. The jury then returned Tuesday afternoon to continue its deliberations, according to court records.
In his own testimony at trial, the now 34-year-old Whiteside tried to portray himself as a patient, hardworking man who had planned to marry Andrews just days before she and Brittany died.
But prosecutors say the defendant was fueled by jealousy, selfishness and rage when he killed the victims. He struggled to control the woman he wanted to be in a relationship with, they say.
A black-handled butcher knife was used to stab Andrews several times in the back of her neck, her back, on the front side of her body and in the left eye. Andrews' eyelids were also sliced.
The little girl was also stabbed several times, and her throat was slashed, say prosecutors.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/california/ci_14522234
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