GUILTY CA - Det. Michael Davis, 42, & Dep. Danny Oliver, 47, slain, Auburn, 24 Oct 2014

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
13h13 hours ago

Cop killer sets record, tossed from courtroom twice in one day: Bracamontes 'aggressively trying to undermine his own trial,' judge says after latest outburst

and an article:

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article204325884.html

Convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes lasted 3 minutes and 15 seconds Monday before being tossed out of his death penalty trial because of his latest profane outburst.

With his public defenders set to begin questioning Bracamontes family members from Mexico, the defendant made clear from the moment he entered Sacramento Superior Court on Monday morning that he had no intention of behaving.
[.....]
hearing motions outside the presence of the jury that will decide whether Bracamontes is sentenced to death.

But as prosecutor Rod Norgaard began to discuss legal issues he and co-prosecutor Dave Tellman planned to use, Bracamontes interrupted again, directing more profanity at them.

“Remove the defendant,” the judge ordered.

The public defenders objected, saying they wanted Bracamontes present for his family members’ testimony, and White agreed to give him “one more chance.”

But after yet another outburst, the judge ordered Bracamontes removed, and he was escorted to a cell where he can view his penalty phase trial on a video monitor.
[.....]
“The record will reflect that Mr. Bracamontes is aggressively trying to undermine his own trial,” White said.

There is little doubt of that.

Bracamontes was returned to court Monday after the lunch break and lasted 38 seconds before his cursing again led deputies to escort him out.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
12h12 hours ago

He had a hard childhood. Does that mean cop killer Bracamontes should avoid the death penalty?


and an article-



March 13, 2018 01:19 PM

Updated 6 hours 59 minutes ago

With their hands tied by the courtroom antics of their own client, Luis Bracamontes’ public defenders continued their effort Tuesday to keep him out of San Quentin’s death chamber, presenting tearful family members who recalled him as a young boy growing up in a family wracked by poverty, mental illness and alcoholism.
[.....]
On Monday, as lawyers prepared to bring in some of Bracamontes’ family members, their client got himself tossed out of court twice for spouting profanities and calling Sacramento Superior Court Judge Steve White names.
[.....]
He did the same thing again Tuesday morning, when he lasted eight seconds into the court hearing before White ordered him removed. In the afternoon session, he lasted 10 seconds.

Despite repeated outbursts, White said Monday that due to “constitutional concerns,” he would ask that Bracamontes be present at the start of each court session.
[.....]
Testimony is expected to continue into next week. The proceedings may be interrupted March 23, when Bracamontes' wife, Janelle Monroy, faces sentencing for her role in the crime spree. She could face up to life.


Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article204900884.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 19th:
*Penalty Phase continues (Day 9) - CA - Det. Michael Davis, Jr. (42) & Dep. Danny Oliver (47) (Oct. 24, 2014) - for Luis Enrique Monroy Bracamontes aka Marcelo Marquez (34) indicted for 2 counts 1st degree murder, attempted murder, carjacking & attempted carjacking. DP case.
Bracamontes jury started Deliberations on 2/9 and reached a verdict of GUILTY on the same day.
Janelle Marquez Monroy (41) wife charged with assisting her husband. No DP, faces life in prison. Monroy Jury on 2/15 found her guilty of murder & 9 other charges; sentencing on 3/23.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case (3 days on 3/7). Bracamontes' public defenders are scheduled to begin presenting witnesses Monday, 3/12 in a weeks-long effort to convince jurors he should receive a sentence of life without possibility of parole.
Testimony is expected to continue into next week. The proceedings may be interrupted March 23, when Bracamontes' wife, Janelle Monroy, faces sentencing for her role in the crime spree. She could face up to life.
This case will continue throughout the week, except Fridays are dark.


:judge:

 

[Niner]

:waiting: hmmm.... no updates from what happened yesterday!

 

[Niner]

Friday, March 23rd:
*Sentencing (@ 2pm PT) - CA - Det. Michael Davis, Jr. (42) & Dep. Danny Oliver (47) (Oct. 24, 2014) - for Janelle Marquez Monroy (41) wife charged with assisting her husband. No DP, faces life in prison. 2/15 found guilty on all charges.


*Penalty Phase NO court today! - CA - Det. Michael Davis, Jr. (42) & Dep. Danny Oliver (47) (Oct. 24, 2014) - for Luis Enrique Monroy Bracamontes aka Marcelo Marquez (34) indicted for 2 counts 1st degree murder, attempted murder, carjacking & attempted carjacking. DP case.
Bracamontes jury started Deliberations on 2/9 and reached a verdict of GUILTY on the same day.
Janelle Marquez Monroy (41) wife charged with assisting her husband. No DP, faces life in prison. Monroy Jury on 2/15 found her guilty of murder & 9 other charges; sentencing on 3/23.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case (3 days on 3/7). Bracamontes' public defenders are scheduled to begin presenting witnesses Monday, 3/12 in a weeks-long effort to convince jurors he should receive a sentence of life without possibility of parole.
Testimony is expected to continue into next week (3/26). The proceedings may be interrupted March 23, when Bracamontes' wife, Janelle Monroy, faces sentencing for her role in the crime spree. She could face up to life.
This case will continue throughout the week, except Fridays are dark.
No update from the tweeter who regularly reported since Monday, 3/19. :dunno:

 

[Niner]

Well, I scanned the Sac Bee website and the latest update article is the one I posted in #102.

So not sure "what" is going on with the penalty phase. I don't to twitter, otherwise I'd ask Stan!

 

[Niner]

To bring us somewhat up to date - J. Monroy sentencing on 3/23.

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
15h15 hours ago

Janelle Monroy, wife of convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes, faces sentencing by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Steve White.

Prosecutors presenting victim impact statements before Judge White imposes sentence, which could be 25 years to life.

Victims of Bracamontes and his wife testifying about the impact of their crimes through written statements, video and in person. Former Placer Deputy Chuck Bardo, who was in a shootout with Brracamontes, asks White to ensure Janelle Monroy never walks free.

“Janelle Monroy Marquez is evil,” Bardo says on a prerecorded video. “She has no place in civil society.” BBardo says he was deeply troubled after the Oct. 24, 2014, shootout with Bracamontes and lost his career because of his lasting problems.

“I’ve been through every form of therapy and medication you can imagine,” Bardo said. “In short, your honor, I’ve been through hell.”

Placer sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Davis is in court, speaking through tears as he recalls seeing Detective Mike Davis (no relation) die from wounds inflicted by Bracamontes.

Jeff Davis was gravely wounded in a shootout with Bracamontes and says he suffered from PTSD, anger and sleepless nights. “A few nights before I returned to work my 8-year-old daughter asked me if I was going to get shot again...The truth is, I don’t know.”

Davis says bullet fragments still surface from his wounded arm. Placer Sheriff Devon Bell and other department leaders are in the front row watching.

Monroy is sitting quietly a few feet away from Davis watching his statement as he says she cannot be considered a domestic violence victim of Bracamontes.

Samantha Davis, Michael Davis’ daughter, now takes to the podium in tears. “Your honor, Janelle Monroy took away me best friend, my rock, my dad.”

“All I have left is the memories of my dad,” Samantha Davis says as Monroy looks down at the table.

“Because of Janelle’s actions and inactions, my dad is gone,” Samantha Davis says, noting that she dropped out of school after Michael Davis was slain.

“It took a year and a half for me to learn that I was suffering from PTSD,” Samantha Davis says, adding that she has since re-enrollled in college.

“He was the dad who never raised a voice or yelled at anyone...,” Samantha Davis says, adding that she will never be happy until she dies and can see her father again.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
14h14 hours ago

Det. Michael Davis’ brother, Jason, also a deputy, now at the podium telling Monroy about the impact her actions have had on his family. “Michael was so much more than just an older brother, he was my hero, someone I idolized.”

“After you killed Michael, I went to a pretty dark place and was depressed most of those days,” Jason Davis says.

Jason Davis says he was saved eventually by faith in God. Now, he says, God has asked him to pray for Monroy and Bracamontes. “For the past two years you and Luis have been part of my daily prayers,” he tells her.

But, Jason Davis says, he was taken aback by Bracamontes evil actions as the defendant had numerous outbursts. But he decided the outbursts had no effect on him because of his faith.

Jason Davis says Monroy’s testimony on the witness stand was “snarky.” “Today I can honestly say that I forgive you and Luis for killing Michael,” Jason Davis says.

Debbie McMahon, Michael Davis’ mother, now is reading a statement to Monroy, her voice quivering with emotion and reminding her that law enforcement officers “are human.”

“I think about the lives that were changed due to Ms. Monroy’s actions,” McMahon says, recounting all the victims of the rampage.

Apparently, judging from Twitter, as we sit in the courtroom Stephon Clark protesters are outside the building where the courthouse doors have been locked. If they are there, we can’t hear them here on the first floor.

“Michael was a detective with a good heart,” his mother says, recalling how he held a fundraiser for a baby who died after being discarded in a field “like a piece of trash.”

“I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest,” Debbie McMahon says.

Monroy now appears to be succumbing to the tearful onslaught from her victims. She is beginning to sniffle at the defense table, staring downward as attorney Pete Kmeto sits stone like.

“At no time did she show any remorse,” Debbie McMahon says, asking White to impose the maximum sentence.

After 50 minutes, the victim impact statements have ended. Defense attorney Pete Kmeto now saying the victims “baring their hearts to us” makes it difficult not to be sympathetic because their lives have changed through tragedy.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
14h14 hours ago

“I think these folks have very sincerely bared their heats, shown us what these sort of crimes, teh consequences that these sort of crimes can visit upon totally innocent people,” Kmeto says. Nevertheless, he asks for sentences that are concurrent, not consecutive.

“We’re not talking about a person who has a good life, who has had a supportive life....,” Kmeto said. ”Those sorts of things leave scars, just like the left scars on Deputy Bardo, just like they left scars on Deputy Davis.”

Monroy was under duress, Kmeto says, saying she was sitting next to “an armed madman after he had just killed Danny Oliver.” Kmeto notes that not every battered woman can just walk away, and that “there’s not a person in this courtroom that knows what its like to sit next to Luis

...Bracamontes armed to the teeth and raving about killing people,” Kmeto says. “She’s not the person who killed law enforcement officers,” Kmeto says, adding that it is unfair for her to face the same penalty Bracamontes will.

Even if Bracamontes is sentenced to death, Kmeto says, he likely won’t be executed and will “have a much easier time of it” than his wife. “She’s the one who hadn’t pulled any triggers, she’s the one who hasn’t encouraged anyone.”

“This client is not an evil person, this client has been victimized and has had a tough life,” Kmeto says.

Prosecutor Rod Norgaard now telling judge that Monroy “did not commit a crime with the devil, she married him.” She knew he wanted to kill cops, Norgaard says.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
14h14 hours ago

White now ready to impose judgment. “The issue is the culpability that she does have...”

“Ms Monroy, you did not start this reign of terror but you joined in immediately after as an active participant,” judge tells her.

“I’ve been doing this for a one time and I don’t sentence lightly or cavalierly,” White says. “I believe that you should spend the rest of your life in prison and I am going to sentence you accordingly.”

Monroy gets Nine years for attempted murder of Anthony Holmes, the motorist show in the face.

For att carjack of Holmes she gets 4 1/2 years that he is staying because it’s part of the attempted murder case.

For two counts of carjackings, he imposes consecutive sentences of two years. For att. Carjacking he imposes consec sentences of 10 months plus 4 months for being armed, or total of 14 months.

Attempted murder of Charles Bardo count and attempted murder of FDeputies Joe Rolseli and Jeff Davis she gets consec sentences of two years and eight months.

24 years and 10 months of determinate terms. But for the murder of Michael Davis Jr. she gets 25 years to life. She will serve the first sentence, then the 25 years to life sentence.

In essence, judge has sent Monroy to prison for the rest of her life.

She already has 1,247 days of credit for time served but won’t get any good time credits or work time credits for them because she has a murder conviction.

Cop killer's wife will likely spend life in prison, judge rules

and an article:
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article206440219.html

 

[Niner]

Re article I just posted above:

for Luis:
Closing arguments in his case are set for Monday.

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 26th
*Penalty Phase continues (Closing Arguments today) (Day 13) - CA - Det. Michael Davis, Jr. (42) & Dep. Danny Oliver (47) (Oct. 24, 2014) - for Luis Enrique Monroy Bracamontes aka Marcelo Marquez (34) indicted for 2 counts 1st degree murder, attempted murder, carjacking & attempted carjacking. DP case.
Bracamontes jury started Deliberations on 2/9/18 and reached a verdict of GUILTY on the same day.
Janelle Marquez Monroy (41) wife charged with assisting her husband. No DP, faces life in prison. Monroy Jury on 2/15 found her guilty of murder & 9 other charges; On 3/23/18 sentenced to 24 years, 10 months plus 25 years to life.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case (3 days on 3/7). Bracamontes' public defenders began presenting witnesses Monday, 3/12 and ended on Thursday, 3/22. Fridays are dark.

 

[Niner]

Didn't realize they started already....

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
2h2 hours ago

Bracamontes, who has been tossed out of court hearings regularly for three and a half years now, told his attorneys he did not want to be present as they begin their last effort to save him from the death penalty.

“He is not asking to be present and we believe it is not in his best interest to be here,” public defender Norm Dawson tells Judge Steve White. #Bracamontes

No way having Bracamontes present is a good idea. He has cursed the jurors and the judge, threatened to kill more cops and directed the N word at an African American juror.

Placer County prosecutor Dave Tellman is sent to begin what may be two hours of arguments over why #Bracamontes deserves to face execution. Defense is expected to take up the rest of the day.

‘We are all here this morning because Danny Oliver is not,” prosecutor Tellman tells jurors, his voice breaking as he recounts #Bracamontes putting a bullet in Deputy Oliver’s head.

Tellman displays photos of Oliver and Placer Detective Michael Davis Jr., #Bracamontes’ other victim of the Oct. 2014 slayings.

“What is the fair punishment for a man who can do this, what would be a fair and fitting punishment for someone who can reap such harm on these people, these families and these communities?” Tellman asks #Bracamontes jurors.

“”The only just verdict in this case is death,” Tellman tells #Bracamontes jurors, warning them that he knows it will be a difficult decision

“The death penalty has been the law of this state for about 160 years...it’s the law of the land, and when you were selected as jurors you all committed ...that you could fairly apply this law,” Tellman tells #Bracamontes jurors..

#Bracamontes faces either death or life without possibility of parole, and Tellman says LWOP is the minimum penalty #Bracamontes could face. He points out that the convicted killer is not here, but does not say why.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
2h2 hours ago

Tellman reminds jurors that they must agree unanimously if they want the death penalty, while family members, college students working on a class assignment and spectators from the DA’s office sit in court.

Tellman and Sacramento prosecutor Rod Norgaard have taken turns presenting the case against #Bracamontes and his wife, Janelle Monroy. She was sentenced Friday to nearly 50 years in prison in the Davis slaying, meaning the 41-year-old woman likely got a life sentence.

Tellman says there are 8 mitigating factors to consider, including whether he was under the influence of extreme mental and emotional disturbance, essentially the only defense #Bracamontes’ lawyers have.

Second mitigating factggor is whether victim participated in #Bracamontes’ acts, something that should carry zero weight, Tellman says.

Third mitigating factor is whether #Bracamontes believed morally his crimes were correct, something that Tellman says doesn’t apply.

4th mitigating factor is whether #Bracamontes was acting under the domination of someone else, another factor that doesn’t apply, Tellman says.

5th mitigating factor is whether his crime occurred when #Bracamontes was too mentally impaired or intoxicated, another avenue defense may try to prove.

Age of #Bracamontes and whether he was an accomplice or minor, two other factors that don’t apply, Tellman says.

Final mitigating factor is the “catch-all category” that allows them to decide there was some factor that could explain why #Bracamontes killed the two deputies and could lead to some benefit of the doubt.

Tellman reminds jurors of #Bracamontes “very methodical” behavior from the Stuart of the crime spree in the Motel 6 parking lot to his cars jacking his way to Auburn.

Janelle Monroy, #Bracamontes’ wife, told the jury that her husband had said he was a gonna kill everybody if the cops came, Tellman argues.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
1h1 hour ago

Tellman says there’s no question #Bracamontes knew what he was doing was wrong. “Of course he knows what he’s doing is a crime, that’s why he’s running,” he says. “He knows everything that he’s doing is a crime, thats why he’s killling and running.”

Now Tellman attacking the defense, saying the #Bracamontes family members who wept on the witness stand remembering Luis as a nice boy can’t be used to influence their decision on whether he gets death.

“Take an honest look” at the testimony from #Bracamontes family members and former employees, Tellman says, noting that Luis grew up in terribly poor conditions but adding that everybody there did.

This is extreme poverty for everybody,” Tellman says. “There’s no doubt it was tough.” But, of course, the implication is only one guy from the village in Sinaloa went on to kill two cops in Sacramento: #Bracamontes.

Tellman agrees that #Bracamontes was hard working as a child, but also was a boy who had an explosive temper.

The weeping family members the defense brought in to testify on behalf of #Bracamontes hadn’t seen him for years, Tellman says, reminding jurors, “”They don’t know Luis like you know Luis.”

The problem the defense has is the jurors have now seen #Bracamontes up close for weeks, and it has not been a pretty sight. He has used vile language, made lewd faces at the widows of the dead officers, threatened to kill more cops and called Judge White a “*advertiser censored*.”

Tellman begins to criticize #Bracamontes’ expert witnesses as people paid to come in and try to save him. “This is a cottage industry of capital defense experts,” he says, eliciting an objection from public defender Norm Dawson. Judge sustains, Tellman moves on.

You’d think is a case like #Bracamontes the prosecutors could come in with a 10-minute close and say, “C’mon, he deserves death.” But Tellman is methodically taking apart the defense during the penalty phase, taking no chance on having a single juror block him facing death.

#Bracamontes’ lawyers have argued for years that their client is nuts, that he doesn’t believe he can be executed even if is led into the San Quentin death chamber and hooked up to the lethal injection lines. Judge has rejected those arguments.

Tellman tells jurors they’ve heard about another guy who grew up poor, whose father died young, and who suffered as a boy: Placer Detective Michael Davis Jr. who #Bracamontes killed. “The difference between Mike Davis and the defendant... is what we know as free will.”

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
1h1 hour ago

No amount of bad childhood experience can make up for what #Bracamontes did, Tellman says. “He makes the decision to start smoking meth,” Tellman says. “His alcoholic father didn’t put that meth pipe in his mouth...

“This isn’t mental illness, this is the defendant making choices,” Tellman says, reminding jurors #Bracamontes attacked them and the judge and that he loved the attention he has been getting. “It’s not mental illness at all, it’s who he is...He is who he is, and he’s pure evil.”

#Bracamontes’ past convictions include January 1997 felony case in Arizona for selling cocaine. He was an illegal immigrant from Mexico who had been deported several times but returned to the U.S. repeatedly, something prosecution has not mentioned to the jury.

Tellman notes that #Bracamontes has threatened to kill his brother as well as four law enforcement officers during his legal proceedings.

Hard to imagine #Bracamontes could have sat quietly during these closing arguments, with Tellman using the defendant’s own explicit language to threaten killing more cops, displaying the profane words on two video screens in the courtroom.

Tellman recounts what Deputy Danny Oliver’s last thoughts must have been when #Bracamontes put his 9mm pistol against Oliver’s forehead, speculating that he was thinking of his partner, his wife, his children.

Tellman reminds them that #Bracamontes executed Oliver with a shot to the head, then fled the Motel 6 parking lot by running over Oliver’s body. “He gets in his car and he runs him over because he’s merciless, he has no regret for what he’s done at that time.”

Tellman plays videos from balcony of the Motel 6 parking lot showing Oliver’s lifeless body spread-eagled on the parking lot with a huge pool of blood around his head. Then, says of #Bracamontes, “This is his handiwork.” Jurors saw video once before, but still look disturbed.

Tellman begins to speculate that as Michael Davis Jr. lay dying he probably is reflecting that he’s dying on the anniversary of his father’s death, a cop killed in a Riverside helicopter crash. Defense objects, and judge sustains, so Tellman moves on.

“You have to consider the effects of the loss to the family and the community,” Tellman tells jurors, reminding them they have to know how the deaths of Oliver and Davis hurt the families. #Bracamontes

“You have to put yourself as a front row observer to their grief, you can’t say, oh that must be horrrible,” Tellman tells jurors. #Bracamontes

Pulling out all stops, Tellman now showing photos of Oliver a boy with his siblings. #Bracamontes

“”These stories off grief are things you have to consider and ascribe them a moral value,” Tellman says, showing photos of family Christmas celebrations. #Bracamontes

Tellman displaying photo of slain Deputy Danny Oliver with his daughter, Missy, as he drives home the point that #Bracamontes has devastated two families.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
8m8 minutes ago

Now showing a photo of Danny Oliver’s wedding day to Susan, and reminding jurors that he was close to retirement and already had purchased a ranch where they were going to spend their post-work lives. #Bracamontes

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
6m6 minutes ago

Tellman recounting how #Bracamontes has abused family members of the dead deputies and Oliver’s parnter in court, yelling at him and staring at the families. “He uses his words just like he did his AR-15, just to cut these people down.”

Now a photo of Michael Davis Jr., left, with his wife and his partner, Mike Simmons, who watched Davis die “essentially in his arms,” Tellman says. #Bracamontes

Now a photo of Michael Davis Jr. goofing with his mom, Debbie, who has been in court throughout watching the wrenching case unfold. She is here again today listening as Tellman reads her testimony about holding his body as he got colder at the hospital where he died. #Bracamontes

Tellman says the “complete devastation and the cruelty of these acts” far outweigh the hard life #Bracamontes had as a child.

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
5m5 minutes ago

“I ask you to show the defendant as much compassion, sympathy and mercy as he showed Danny,” Tellman says of #Bracamontes. “Show him as much compassion, sympathy and mercy as he showed Mike.”

Tellman on #Bracamontes in court: “Is this man entitled to mercy and compassion when he comes in here and in opening statements says ‘Give me f——— death, I don’t f——— regret that s—-, the only thing I regret is I only killed 2.”

Tellman notes there’s no question #Bracamontes is guilty. The guy has admitted it as have his attorneys. Tellman asks for “just verdict” and tells them if they do they’ll never have second thoughts later.

Don’t think he should suffer in prison for years rather than get death, Tellman says, adding, “Life is not worse the death.” #Bracamontes

Tellman wraps up after more than 2 hours, asking them to “come back and it’s your chance to tell the defendant something, we ask that you tell him that his life doesn’t mean any more than Oliver and Davis...., that your verdict is death.”

Jury gets a moment to stretch, and now public defender Norm Dawson is set to begin. H’s expected to go about 2 1/2 hours, meaning the jury likely will get the case today. #Bracamontes


Me: okay it's 9:30pm here, so in 2 1/2 hours it will be midnight here, so not going to stay up for that! I'll keep posting until about 10pm here, and will post the rest tomorrow for you all that are reading here! nline:

I say - the jury won't take long to come back with "Death"!

 

[Niner]

Sam Stanton
‏Verified account @StantonSam
3m3 minutes ago

Dawson gets to it straight out: “We’re not here to make excuses or justifications for Luis’ (#Bracamontes) actions, we can’t do that, we wouldn’t. Even his family and his friends found what he did unfathomable.”

But Dawson says there are reasons to believe #Bracamontes should get life without possibility of parole, that medication could help him overcome his mental illness in prison. “You have two choices, and the law’s not favoring one over the other.”

Dawson telling jurors they have the power to decide #Bracamontes’ fate, that “you do not have to choose death even if there are no mitigating factors.”

Are there mitigating circumstances that mean #Bracamontes should be spared? “We have plenty,” Dawson says.

Dawson’s job is basic: convince just one of the 12 jurors that #Bracamontes deserves a break and should get life in prison. To do so, figure he’s gonna hit hard on the mental illness claim and Bracamontes’ hard life growing up.

Dawson asks jurors, Would you drop your own 8-year-old child off in the home where #Bracamontes grew up in Sinaloa, Mexico, for even one day?

Dawson showing a photo of the scrub desert where #Bracamontes was born and grew up. “Imagine what that life is like.”

“We’re talking about a place that even now is limiting, back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, life was teetering for many people,” Dawson said. #Bracamontes didn’t have running water, drank our of a canal where they bathed and watered their animals.

“This home had no running water...,” Dawson says. “This family did not have an indoor or outdoor toilet for the first 12 to 14 years of Mr. #Bracamontes’ life.”