GUILTY OK - Braylee Henry, 16, beaten to death, Velma, 6 June 2012

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http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/testimony-continues-in-miles-bench-trial/38972/gZxk8S-W60u5io9k_5O36Q

Thursday morning, a Custer County officer who booked Bench into jail testified Bench told him he thought he had blacked out and killed someone, and also asked him if he could plead insanity if he had blacked out.

He said Bench showed no signs of being mentally unstable.

 

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only 16 years old

Justice for Braylee. :rose:

 

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http://www.kswo.com/story/28180868/prosecution-rests-in-bench-trial

Prosecution rests in Bench trial

After analyzing several graphic photos from Braylee Henry's autopsy, the state medical examiner confirmed with prosecutors that Henry died due to blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The medical examiner described several photos of Henry's injuries all over her body, from bruising on her knuckles to scratches on her back consistent with dragging. She says she found many of the wounds were consistent with multiple impacts to the body, not just one.

 

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http://www.duncanbanner.com/news/medical-examiner-testifies-at-bench-trial/article_0c995962-bbc0-11e4-bdd1-534fc0ba87c9.html


The forensic pathologist who performed Henry’s autopsy, the OSBI criminalist who tested Bench’s shoes and socks for blood and the OSBI criminalist who tested them for Henry’s DNA marked the end of the state’s case.

Bench looked down as images of her injuries taken by Dr. Inas Yacoub, a forensic pathologist with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, were shown to the jury of five women and seven men.

 

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http://www.kswo.com/story/28191640/defense-calls-witnesses-in-bench-trial

Defense calls character witnesses in Bench trial

Bench's grandmother was the first witness to take the stand Tuesday morning. In her testimony, she told jurors she would hear knocking on the walls and assumed the noise was Miles hitting his head against the wall. The state fired back, saying her testimony was contradictory to what she told prosecutors last year. She replied by saying she couldn't remember what she said.

 

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http://www.kswo.com/story/28203431/testimony-ends-in-bench-trial

Testimony ends in Bench trial


defense called a psychologist who interviewed Bench twice last year for a total of almost 10 hours. He says, in his opinion, Bench is a schizophrenic and suffers from OCD as well. Then, the state called another psychologist to the stand, who interviewed bench last year for 6 1/2 hours, who told the jury that that Bench was faking.

...

Closing arguments are set for Thursday morning. Jury instructions are set to begin at 10:00 a.m. and the verdict may come in Thursday.

 

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http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/guilty-verdict-in-miles-bench-trial/38972/gZxk8S-W60u5io9k_5O36Q

Guilty Verdict in Miles Bench Trial
Miles Bench has been found guilty of first degree murder.
The jury deliberated less than an hour and a half before returning verdict.
The punishment phase is set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday.


Justice for Braylee! :rose:

 

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http://www.kswo.com/story/28242933/sentencing-phase-begins-in-bench-trial

It was the story of incredible loss from those who knew Braylee Henry best that started the sentencing phase Monday morning. Jurors heard statements from each of Braylee's immediate family, many saying they lived with guilt after promising her they would always take care of her. But it was her mother, Renee, who told many emotional jurors how proud she was to have been Braylee's mother and to be the very first to feel her life, and to hold in her heart.

Afterwards, prosecutors immediately questioned one of Bench's former neighbors who claimed he harassed her while she would sit at her pool. Jurors later heard from Bench's stepfather who described a fight he had at home with Bench when he lived in Illinois.

 

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http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/miles-bench-trial-stepfather-takes-stand-sentencin/28492/cxzsXDh3DkmzIYJZPgKw5Q

The state called two Velma teenagers to testify about encounters they had with Bench at the store.

One of the girls said Bench showed aggressive behavior, chasing her car in the parking lot.

She said he wanted to learn her name and asked if they could hang out later.

The other testified she was at the convenience store the day before the murder.

She said Bench followed her around the store and told her she was pretty after he put his arm around her.

 

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http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/miles-bench-trial-childhood-friends-take-stand/28492/cxzsXDh3DkmzIYJZPgKw5Q

In the punishment phase, the defense called several childhood friends and special education teachers from Bench's time in Wilmington.

Several witnesses said Bench suffered from learning disabilities as a child, but was always respectful and seemed to know right from wrong.

Bench's second and third grade teacher said Bench seemed embarrassed whenever he needed help with school work.

She also said Bench would joke around whenever things were tough, but she said he always seemed sad to her.

 

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Testimony halted 'till Thursday, because of weather/travel conditions.

 

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http://www.kswo.com/story/28264582/jury-hears-about-benchs-childhood

NCAN, Okla._Wednesday, the jury heard from nearly a dozen defense witnesses who knew Miles Bench as a child.

Jurors are determining whether or not to sentence Bench to death for the 2012 murder of Braylee Henry. The proceedings was a change of pace in the courtroom as not one word was mentioned about Braylee. Instead, witnesses for the defense recalled their experiences with Miles Bench during his earlier years to give the jury a better picture of the person they remember.

...

Weather permitting, the sentencing phase is set to resume Thursday no earlier than 10:00 a.m. The judge believes they should be able to wrap up this phase after hearing from Thursday's witnesses.

 

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http://www.texomashomepage.com/Story/d/story/jury-recommends-death-penalty-in-miles-bench-trial/28492/cxzsXDh3DkmzIYJZPgKw5Q

Jury Recommends Death Penalty in Miles Bench Trial

 

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http://newsok.com/oklahoma-jury-recommends-death-penalty-in-2012-slaying-of-girl-16/article/5398973


After deliberating for almost two hours, a Stephens County jury recommended the death penalty for a man convicted of killing a 16-year-old girl, District Attorney Jason Hicks said Thursday.



Miles Bench, 23, of Velma, showed little reaction when the death penalty verdict was read Thursday evening, Hicks said.

 

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http://www.news9.com/story/28282474/man-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-velma-teen

According to reports, a jury of twelve came to a unanimous decision Thursday after about two hours of deliberation. Bench was convicted of first-degree murder in February for beating the 16-year-old teen to death in the backroom of the Tee Pee Totem convenience store in 2012. Prosecutors said that Bench did not know the girl, but attacked her after she entered the store alone.

 

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http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/9e95ef598e07451d94121188465d3380/OK--Oklahoma-Teen-Killed/

The jury decided that Henry's death was particularly "heinous, atrocious and cruel" and that Bench constituted a continuing threat to society. Both factors are necessary for death penalty consideration in Oklahoma.

Braylee may your family find some small comfort knowing that your killer is where he belongs.

:candle: and a :rose: for Braylee.