GUILTY PA - Four Young Men killed, 18-22, Bucks Co., 5-9 July 2017 #8 *arrests*

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder‏Verified account @LehighCourts 6m6 minutes ago

Sean Kratz jury has been out 12 hours now. That’s actually not that long for capital murder.

 

[Niner]

Okay - going to bed - so if there are any tweets - I shall post them when I get up tomorrow. Yes, I'm about 8 hours ahead of PA.

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder
‏Verified account @LehighCourts
12h12 hours ago

We are going back into the quart room. No indication of a verdict Judge most likely wants to address whether the jury will stay another few hours.

The Kratz jury has decided to go home for the evening. They’ve deliberated for 14 hours over two days so far.

Some family members appear to be crying as they leave the courtroom. Has to be an agonizing wait. #SeanKratz

Just before the judge dismissed everyone a young man who is sitting with the victims families approached the bar of the court and told Kratz he was going to “burn in hell. He was escorted out by deputies

A man sitting with the victims told Kratz to burn in Hell.

link: LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[Niner]

Friday, November 15th:
*Trial continues (Day 6)-VERDICT WATCH! (Day 3) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Jimi Taro Patrick (19), Mark R. Sturgis (22), Thomas C. Meto (21) & Dean R. Finocchiaro (18) murdered (July 5-9, 2017, Bucks County) – *Sean Michael Kratz (20) (CN’s cousin) indicted (7/14/17) on 3 counts of 1st degree murder, abuse of corpse, robbery, illegal poss. of weapon & conspiracy. Plead not guilty. No bail. DA will seek DP.
Trial started on 11/6/19. Expected to last 2 weeks, now (11/6/19) only to last 1 week. 12 jurors & 6 alternates.
Court info from 5/16/18 thru 6/3/19 & trial Days 1 (11/6/19) thru Day 4 (11/12/19) reference post #1006 here:
PA - Four Young Men, 18-22, Bucks Co., 5-9 July 2017 #8 *arrests - Dinardo Pled Guilty*
11/13/19 Update: Jury deliberations continued to 11/14. See post #1005 for details.
11/14/19 Update: After 2 hours of deliberations this morning jury asked to watch a video of his confession to detectives with his prior attorney present in April 2018 before he cut a plea deal to third-degree murder. After another hour of deliberations jury asked to re-watch confession video. Jury has now deliberated for 14 hours. Will continue on 11/15.
*Cosmo DiNardo (20) (confessed in exchange for DP off table) - plead guilty & sentenced to 4 consecutive life sentences.

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder‏Verified account @LehighCourts 1h1 hour ago

Back on verdict watch in Doylestown: Jury again fails to reach a verdict in Sean Kratz murder case, frustrating families as tensions boil over



I'll keep her tweet site open for any updates during the day....

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder
‏Verified account @LehighCourts
2h2 hours ago

Sounds like the Kratz jury has another question.

The jury is wrestling with some legal terms particularly the difference between an accomplice and conspirator.

It sounds like they are torn on whether Kratz can be held liable for Dinardo’s crimes. Including 2 of the killings and the desecration of the men’s bodies.

Jury also asked for scotch tape. I don’t know why.

And now, a fire alarm is going off and we’re being evacuated. Yay!

False alarm. Some rotten child pulled a fire alarm in the building.

The Kratz deliberations, by the numbers:
16 hours, two rewatched video, one roll of scotch tape and a fire alarm.


link: LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder‏Verified account @LehighCourts 6m6 minutes ago

17 hours of deliberations so far: Jury again fails to reach a verdict in Sean Kratz murder case, frustrating families as tensions boil over

 

[Really?]

I’ve just read a verdict has been reached......stay tuned

 

[TTF14]

GUILTY of first degree murder and two counts of manslaughter.

 

[TTF14]

Penalty phase is next - life or death.

 

[Really?]

Guilty 1st degree for Dean

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder
‏Verified account @LehighCourts
34m34 minutes ago

Verdict: stand by.

There are 20 counts So this could take a few minutes

Easily 150 people lined up to get into the courtroom.

Kratz guilty of first-degree murder & two counts of voluntary manslaughter

The first degree murder count is for Dean Finocchiaro. He’s also guilty of second degree for Finocchiaro. Voluntary manslaughter is for other two victims

A penalty phase must now be held to determine if he will get life or death. Lawyers are meeting out to decide whether that will start today or Monday

Kratz dropped his head and stared at the defense table as the verdict was read. In the courtroom, light sobbing could be heard from both the victims families and Kratz’s family

In addition to the homicide counts he was also found guilty of robbery, conspiracy, three counts of abuse of corpse, possessing instrument of crime, possessing a weapon, theft by receiving stolen property.

Earlier today the jurors asked for clarification of the terms conspiracy and accomplice liability.

After deliberating nearly 18 hours over three days, a Bucks County jury convicted Sean Kratz of killing three men found buried on a sprawling farm in 2017.

Kratz rejected a plea deal last year to third degree murder that would have netted him 59-118 years in prison. He now faces the death penalty.


link: LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder‏Verified account @LehighCourts 4m4 minutes ago

Kratz’s attorneys have a psychologist and numerous other witnesses lined up for the penalty phase.



Looks like they might start penalty phase today....

 

[Niner]

I guess not - on penalty phase starting today....

LaurieMasonSchroeder
‏Verified account @LehighCourts
37m37 minutes ago

Family and prosecutors leave courtroom. Can’t comment due to gag order. Kratz’s mother is being escorted by deputies out a different door.

Sean Kratz’s supports leaving with an escort.

 

[Niner]

Sean Kratz guilty of first-degree murder in Bucks County killings


DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania -- A jury on Friday convicted a man in the slayings of three young men whose bodies were found buried at a farm in Solebury, Bucks County.

Sean Kratz, 22, was convicted of first-degree murder, second degree murder and robbery in the death of Dean Finocchiaro.

He was also convicted of two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Thomas Meo and Mark Sturgis, and abuse of a corpse for all three victims.

The jury, which deliberated nearly 18 hours over three days, must now decide on a sentence of death or life in prison. The jury will return for the penalty phase on Monday [11/18/19].

 

[Niner]

Monday, November 18th:
*Trial continues (Day 7)-Penalty Phase (Day 1) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Jimi Taro Patrick (19), Mark R. Sturgis (22), Thomas C. Meto (21) & Dean R. Finocchiaro (18) murdered (July 5-9, 2017, Bucks County) – *Sean Michael Kratz (20) (CN’s cousin) indicted (7/14/17) on 3 counts of 1st degree murder, abuse of corpse, robbery, illegal poss. of weapon & conspiracy. Plead not guilty. No bail. DA will seek DP.
Trial started on 11/6/19. Expected to last 2 weeks, now (11/6/19) only to last 1 week. 12 jurors & 6 alternates. After 18 hours of deliberations jurors found Kratz guilty of all charges.
Court info from 5/16/18 thru 6/3/19 & trial Days 1 (11/6/19) thru Day 4 (11/12/19) reference post #1006 here:
PA - Four Young Men, 18-22, Bucks Co., 5-9 July 2017 #8 *arrests - Dinardo Pled Guilty*
11/13/19 Jury Deliberations Day 1: Jury deliberations continued to 11/14. See post #1005 for details.
11/14/19 Jury Deliberations Day 2: After 2 hours of deliberations this morning jury asked to watch a video of his confession to detectives with his prior attorney present in April 2018 before he cut a plea deal to third-degree murder. After another hour of deliberations jury asked to re-watch confession video. Jury has now deliberated for 14 hours. Will continue on 11/15.
11/15/19 Jury Deliberations Day 3: Jury has another question. The jury is wrestling with some legal terms particularly the difference between an accomplice & conspirator. Jury also asked for scotch tape. And had a false fire alarm. So far 16 hours of deliberations. After 18 hours of deliberations jurors have reached a verdict: guilty of first-degree murder & two counts of voluntary manslaughter, also found guilty of robbery, conspiracy, three counts of abuse of corpse, possessing instrument of crime, possessing a weapon, theft by receiving stolen property. Penalty Phase will start on Monday, 11/18.
*Cosmo DiNardo (20) (confessed in exchange for DP off table) - plead guilty & sentenced to 4 consecutive life sentences.

 

[Gardenista]

NEWS POST: Prosecution to Forego Death Penalty in Trial of Sean Kratz

In light of last week’s jury verdict holding Sean Kratz criminally responsible for the homicides of Dean Finocchiaro, Mark Sturgis, and Tom Meo, and with the understanding of the victims’ families, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office today will end its pursuit of the death penalty in the case.

District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub will be available to the press to discuss the decision later today at the conclusion of Kratz’s sentencing hearing.

 

[TTF14]

I'm glad the families don't have to go through anything more.

 

[Niner]

LaurieMasonSchroeder Retweeted
Marion Callahan
‏ @marioncallahan
2h2 hours ago

Prosecutors in the #kratz case announced they will not seek the death penalty & they are preparing for sentencing today. The jury was released. More to come.


LaurieMasonSchroeder
‏Verified account @LehighCourts
2h2 hours ago

I'm covering court in Allentown today but we'll have a story from one of our news org. partners on the new development in the Sean Kratz murder case in Bucks County. DA NOT seeking death. Will proceed on life sentencing of Kratz today

Prosecution: No death penalty for Sean Kratz in deaths of three men buried on Bucks County farm

link: LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[Niner]

Any news on what his sentence actually was? Life without parole, or ???

TIA! I can't get into the article from the tweets....