RSSSpencer trial -- 'Murder or nothin'' option puzzles jurors
Yakima Herald-Republic
The outcome of this trial was a huge disappointment. Letting this man walk free after taking two lives is just not right. Scary to know that someone that got away with MURDER is out walking the same streets as the rest of us. What happens when he does this again. My thoughts and prayers are with Rebecca's family...i know firsthand how they feel about losing a loved one to murder.
Report ViolationI disagree with the commentors. First, drugs have nothing to do with core values; it's a lifestyle choice. But the more important question is: What do drugs have to do with premeditated murder? If the issue were manslaughter, maybe there'd be some relevance. Premeditated means he planned it. Being on drugs implies a more irrational state of mind, more suited to a manslaughter charge. Don't blame the jury, blame the state for not asking for a lesser included of manslaughter. Based on this article, if the state had asked for manslaughter as a safety measure, Mr. Spencer would have been convicted. It's the state's fault for being greedy and not understanding their case. The jury heard all of the evidence. In this article, it seems that they would have convicted Mr. Spencer of manslaughter. That would not have made him a murderer: That would have made him either negligent or reckless, similar to someone driving a car, and accidentally killing someone.
It goes without saying that this was a terrible tragedy, and my heart goes out to the Tatum family for their loss. All the parties involved will never be the same, including the two young children. But the jury concluded that it was an accident, based on what was reported in the article. Spencer shouldn't be convicted of murder if it was an accident. The state had the opportunity to ask for manslaughter and chose not to. The fault does not lie with the judge or the jury: The fault lies with the state for being greedy and not asking for a manslaughter charge.
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It amazes me why certain evidence that definitely points at the core values of a person, can't be admitted in a trial for criminal actions such as this. The use of meth, to me, is indicative of a person who would make other stupid decisions. And I agree with the jurors about the manslaughter charge.
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