Busy with life today and missed the verdict announcement, and just now catching up. Some notes:
1 Once this went to the jury, the eventual outcome seemed obvious to me. The evidence was significant, and there was a lot of it.
2 But I think the jury did a good job of getting to a decision so relatively quickly, faced with the mountain of a case (and multiple charges) they had to weigh. I was surprised (but happy!) they were so quick to see it.
3 I think LVD will get LWOP in Idaho, plus a hefty fine for the theft. She did way too much imo. Murder spree and killed several people, with more seeming to be contemplated. LWOP is for people who do extreme things like she did. Personally, I would want her to get MULTIPLE LWOP sentences to be served consecutively because I think every life is precious and needs to be given its justice, but that would be rare -- usually multiple sentences are served concurrently.
....Then again, these murderers and their plot was also rare, and imo she would have gotten the DP with this set of evidence, if not for the missteps of the prosecution in getting to trial that forced the removal of the DP option.
ABOUT CHAD
1 For those asking, his trial was being discussed for June 2024, in the last hearing. That appeared to them to be their earliest 12-week window that made sense.
2 I think CD will get the DP if he goes to trial. I don't assume he will be offered a deal for LWOP, but imo he would be smart to jump on it if they offer it. Then again, not sure he's smart enough to be aware that he only has one route to escape death row.
ABOUT ARIZONA
1 I was surprised that AZ is going to the expense of trying LVD and deciding so quickly. If she gets LWOP in ID, what would be the point and why spend the taxpaxers' money? Is this a quest to save face and make up for past errors? (Although, they HAVE done the investigative work already - their AZ people did testify in the ID trial.)
2 Like many of you, I do wonder if part of AZ's reasoning is a desire to lock up others in this murderous gang (see BP, Melanie). But not sure anyone else was in on the CV murder except LVD and Alex. Could there be more coming?
3 As to the AZ charges for LVD, I wonder if they might get upgraded to add a murder charge with a DP possibility. There was much more evidence for her active participation than in the ID murders, and even the possibility she did the killing herself (although that part would be really hard to prove).
4 For those wondering about whether she can get the DP for a conspiracy-to-murder charge in AZ, the answer is no, as Attorney Google provides this from an AZ law firm:
"If you are convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in Arizona, you may face harsh penalties that generally include jail time. A person convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder may be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole only after serving a minimum of 25 years of the sentence."
PS - Thanks to all of you who have shared thoughts in this case in this forum. Hearing your thinking was a gift, freely bestowed. Much appreciated!!