|
|
| Life sentence reduced for convicted murderer |
| By thebaynet.com- Dick Myers |
| Published: 04/08/2015 |
|
Leonardtown, MD -- When the Maryland Court of Appeals overturned a court procedure that had been in effect since colonial times, it called into question a number of trial convictions, including three murder cases from the 1970’s in St. Mary’s County. In a plea agreement brought about because of that appeals court decision, St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams April 7 sentenced Jerome Chase, 71, to life in prison but suspended all but 45 years. Chase has served more than 39 years in jail and could be released short of the 45 years for good behavior. Chase was convicted in 1975 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of Millard “Harry” Tippett, 61, at his residence in Park Hall during an armed robbery attempt. Chase was convicted in a jury trial held in Calvert County before Judge Perry Bowen. As had been typical in court in those days, Judge Bowen told the jurors his instructions were advisory only. That rule was changed in the state in the 1980s. But in 2012 the appeals court ruled that the instruction could have allowed jurors to overlook the standard that guilt be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think