Closing Arguments- Chase Merritt Charged W/Murder of Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joe Jr McStay #3

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Joolz1975

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absolutely. It's where certain crimes committed in conjunction with one another make the crime more heinous and leave the ability for the jury or judge to give a harsher sentence as a result. For example, murder and rape committed together, or as we see here, multiple homicides.

"n. in criminal cases, particularly homicides, actions of the accused or the situation under which the crime was committed for which state statutes allow or require imposition of a more severe punishment. "Special circumstances" in murder cases may well result in the imposition of the death penalty (in states with capital punishment) for murder or life sentence without possibility of parole. Such circumstances may include: rape, kidnapping or maiming prior to the killing, multiple deaths, killing a police officer or prison guard, or actions showing wanton disregard for life such as throwing a bomb into a restaurant. "

source: https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/special+circumstances

Thank you appreciate the explanation. First time I have ever heard it mentioned.
 

Bennettfit

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Specially if you can’t remember what your lies were, to keep them straight.
Because whatever you say, can and will be misconstrued and manipulated, it will then be offered up as evidence of lying.
 

katydid23

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Hopefully, for others, the lesson learned from this is even if you're innocent you should never talk to LE, or anyone else about the case.
Or another lesson might be, when talking to homicide detectives about a missing person, refrain from insisting you were the last person they saw. Especially if you have been forging checks from their bank account.
 

MissJames

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I think he might speak now because they dont really do a cross during this phase.

And he is a con man, so he will be sure he can convince them to have mercy, and give him a light sentence.
Every time he opens his mouth he risks contradicting one of his prior ststements . In one interview he said he was changing Quickbook with Joey’s knowledge , to hide money from Summer.
In another he said it was to hide money from DK .
He talked to a lot of people before his arrest & his stories didn’t always remain the same .
 
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