People may not realize just how important criminal classifications are. People may think all felonies are treated alike, or that misdemeanors are all the same. However, the specific charges can make a really big difference when it comes to penalties. In Utah, the most serious penalty a person can be sentenced to is the death …
Factors that contribute to aggravated murder in Utah Read More »
Criminal charges have the potential to change a person’s life forever. This is particularly true when the charges are felonies. If the accused is a young person, the affects can be even greater since they have so much of their life ahead of them. A 17-year-old boy was recently arrested in connection with a murder …
There are some cases that police have a difficult time solving. In their desperation to avoid a cold case, they can place the blame on any number of sources. Even years after the fact, police still may be trying to bring charges against anyone for a particular crime. However, the longer a criminal investigation drags …
26 years after death, Utah man charged with murder Read More »
Readers have no doubt heard about the most recent incident of school violence to make national news. The incident at a Pennsylvania high school earlier this week differs from other school violence cases in at least two ways. The first is that the alleged attacker used a knife instead of guns, which is likely why …
Violent crime and teens: Culpable adults or developing juveniles? Read More »
There have been many cases over the years involving criminals who almost got away with their crimes but were eventually foiled by their own pride. They simply couldn’t help bragging about what they had done. But what exactly constitutes a confession? This is one of many questions at the heart of a growing debate between …
Evidence vs. art: Can violent rap lyrics be taken as confessions? Read More »
The murder trial of a 27-year-old Burmese refugee continues today. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Esar Met is accused of raping and killing 7-year-old Hser Ner Moo back in 2008. The girl lived in the same South Salt Lake apartment complex as Esar Met. Authorities say that the girl’s murder occurred about a month …
An autistic and mentally-ill Utah man was recently ruled not guilty in his mother’s homicide by reason of insanity. Authorities say that the 23-year-old Bountiful man killed his mother and stuffed her body in the freezer of their Davis County home. The man then fled to Montana, where he was found a few days later. …
Davis County man found not guilty of homicide due to insanity Read More »
A 66-year-old trucker recently pleaded guilty to capital murder charges in connection with the homicide of a 24-year-old woman whose remains were found in Millard County, Utah. The trucker was originally charged with capital murder in Utah, but those charges were dismissed in favor of capital murder charges brought in Texas. The trucker was charged …
When a jury considers guilt in a criminal case, it also is asked to consider the intent of the person who committed the crime. Did the person intend to do wrong or cause harm or was the result accidental? The question of intent is significant when it comes to sentencing, especially in criminal cases involving …
What Juror Confusion Over Terms Can Mean in a Murder Case Read More »
By: Greg Smith and Brett Skidmore Can a person be legally insane one moment, then the next moment suddenly become legally sane? The Utah Supreme Court thought so in the 1999 case State v. Herrera where the defendant, Tomas Herrera, murdered his ex-girlfriend and attempted to shoot and kill his ex-girlfriend’s mother and little brother. …