Stitt Sentenced to Life Without Parole

News Update 05.16.08

North Carolina

A Cumberland County jury has voted to spare the life of convicted double-murderer James Stitt. Stitt killed his housemate, a 21-year-old soldier, and the soldier’s 16-year-old girlfriend, at their home in 2005. He then took the victim’s car and other property and drove to Brooklyn, New York, where he sold some items and disposed of the gun before being arrested three days later. Stitt will serve life without the possibility of parole for the murder of the girl, as well as 22 to 27 years for the robbery and murder of the soldier.

In Raleigh, lawmakers, legal scholars, lawyers, journalists, filmmakers, and religious leaders came together to encourage others to take a closer look at capital punishment. Clips from the film “At the Death House Door” (about Texas death row chaplain Carroll Pickett) were shown as Glen Chapman’s attorney discussed his recent exoneration and Representative Rick Glazier promoted the Racial Justice Act, which is before the General Assembly this session.

Meanwhile in the western part of the state, former Buncombe County sheriff Bobby Lee Medford was found guilty of 11 counts of extortion, money laundering, and illegal gambling. Madison County deputy Randy Edgar Mathis resigned this week after being accused of planting marijuana on a woman to cover up the fact that he had stolen over $300 from her during a search.

Elsewhere

Amnesty International reports on the upcoming execution of Mississippi’s Earl Wesley Berry.

Capital Defense Weekly notes that two other executions are scheduled for this month, Samuel Crowe in Georgia and Kevin Green in Virginia.