Chase Merritt SENTENCED TO DEATH for murder of McStay Family POST TRIAL THOUGHTS

[Force Ten]

W.T.F.

 

[katydid23]

I don't know, I'm guessing it will. And I may not agree 100% with the verdict in this case or all the evidence, but one thing that I can say is that the families should NOT have to be put through all of this. These hearings should have been held BEFORE the sentencing hearing, and that is on the judge IMO They knew when the verdicts were reached that there would be motions filed. Get them filed, deal with them, and sentence Merritt. Let it play out in appeals later.

This is horrible for the family.

But didnt the judge just say that Maline just filed these motions 15 minutes before this hearing?

 

[missy1974]

Anyone think he's confessed?

No, not at all. I think he was frustrated with Maline this morning.

 

[Bernina]

What could he have told Maline that makes him say he couldn't continue to represent him in good conscience?

Yes, and what was the conflict of interest with McGee?

 

[missy1974]

But didnt the judge just say that Maline just filed these motions 15 minutes before this hearing?

Not all of them I don't think? I don't know what was filed just this morning. But Maline did point out that the State waived the time on filing, so he had every right to file this morning. The judge didn't disagree and didn't disallow the filings.

 

[katydid23]

Anyone think he's confessed?

never

 

[missy1974]

What could he have told Maline that makes him say he couldn't continue to represent him in good conscience?

Probably the same thing he told McGee.... you suck and you should have done this or that lol

 

[katydid23]

I think CM thinks firing Maline now strengthens his appeal chances.

And he desperately wants to postpone the sentencing.

 

[Mony Mony]

What the heck! I stepped away for work and come back to this! So.....are they done for now? Are we in a holding pattern? What is happening next???

 

[missy1974]

Yes, and what was the conflict of interest with McGee?

I think the conflict came up when they wanted to argue that McGee should have called their own cell expert and McGee made the decision not too, essentially saying 'ineffectiveness of counsel', which is a conflict of interest for a lawyer to argue against himself. IMO

 

[katydid23]

Probably the same thing he told McGee.... you suck and you should have done this or that lol

Yup. he has fired several attorneys over the years. That's why this trial took so long.

 

[Bernina]

Probably the same thing he told McGee.... you suck and you should have done this or that lol

CM has had a record of firing attorneys throughout this case.......what's that all about?

 

[katydid23]

What the heck! I stepped away for work and come back to this! So.....are they done for now? Are we in a holding pattern? What is happening next???

The judge held an emergency Marsden hearing---where he meets with Merritt and Maline and hears the reasons for the firing of the attorney. I am not sure what powers the judge has over that decision. Can he deny it and go ahead with the sentencing?

 

[Lilibet]

At what point can the judge just go ahead with sentencing and let this play out in appeals. I doubt the case would ever be overturned.

ETA: I see we asked the same question simultaneously @katydid23.

 

[Tortoise]

No.

No, not at all. I think he was frustrated with Maline this morning.

never

I hear ya!

It'd be the last thing I would expect too.

 

[missy1974]

CM has had a record of firing attorneys throughout this case.......what's that all about?

Well to be fair, they probably should have been fired. I wasn't really following the case through those years other than to check in once in awhile. But I know that at least one has lost his license and may have even been charged with something... the other one's, I'm not sure, but just read the preliminary hearing transcript, I would have fired them too. But that's JMO.

 

[missy1974]

The judge held an emergency Marsden hearing---where he meets with Merritt and Maline and hears the reasons for the firing of the attorney. I am not sure what powers the judge has over that decision. Can he deny it and go ahead with the sentencing?

uggh I'm not even sure we could find a case to compare it too! LOL But I think the judge will have to be very careful to not allow for an automatic overturning of the verdict with a wrong decision here.

 

[Tortoise]

Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) | Twitter

Maline just said Merritt told him Merritt does not want him to continue as his lawyer.

Merritt just pulled off his glasses, let out a big breath, shook his head and rubbed his forehead. Then he pitched up a stack of court documents and headed for a hearing in judges’ chambers. Merritt is not in restraints.

That should be “...picked up a stack...”

There were gasps in the courtroom when Maline said Merritt wants to fire him.

 

[Tortoise]

David Gotfredson‏Verified account @DavidNews8 3m3 minutes ago
Charles Merritt’s sentencing on hold for now after his defense attorney announces in court that the convicted killer of the #Mcstay family no longer wants the defense attorney to represent him. Judge Michael Smith moves attorneys into his chambers for a meeting. We wait.

 

[missy1974]

This is when they took the break... I thought I would go back and grab it in light of what just happened....




Cathy Russon

@cathyrusson
·
1h

Replying to
@ABC7Leticia
I'm convinced the sentencing will never happen. This is all par for the course for this case.