The Plutonian Empire
01-12-2006, 13:18
(Nothing international, just some local news here in MN.)
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=141172
Jury: Everson guilty on all charges
A 21-year-old man was found guilty Thursday in the shotgun slaying of his mother, who was killed by the man's friend moments after he asked her where she wanted to be shot: "Head or chest?"
Grant Everson was convicted on four counts, including aiding premeditated first-degree murder. The charge carries an automatic life sentence without parole; sentencing was set for Tuesday.
He wasn't the triggerman in the death of Nancy Everson at the family's home in this Minneapolis suburb last Jan. 15. His friend, Joel Beckrich, testified that Everson lost his nerve at the last minute and passed him a shotgun and asked him to pull the trigger.
It was Beckrich, according to his testimony, who twice asked Nancy Everson where she wanted to be shot. She cursed her son, and when she made a move for the gun, Beckrich shot her, he testified.
Everson's father, Tom Everson, fled through a bedroom window and ran to a neighbor's house.
In court Thursday, the elder Everson sat in the front row, holding his head in his hand while the verdicts were read. He wiped away tears several times. His son sat at the defense table staring forward with no visible emotion.
Afterward, Tom Everson said he was glad his son was going to prison for the rest of his life.
"I miss my wonderful soul-mate, Nancy. And I miss my family," he said. "It's one of us that has done this terrible, tragic thing. How could that happen?"
Everson said he had no interest in speaking to his son, but he said in answer to a question that he didn't hate him.
"I don't hate, because hate is consuming. He's my son. I can't change that. But those are just normal-people terms for a normal life, and this is not that. There are no words for this situation."
Defense attorneys declined to comment on the verdicts.
Grant Everson was also convicted on one count of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and two counts of aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder.
After the verdicts were read, in a cautionary move should the first-degree verdict ultimately be overturned, prosecutors asked the jury to rule that aggravating factors existed. The jury agreed, allowing the judge to depart upward from sentencing guidelines for the lesser charges.
"This is a betrayal of trust," Peter Ivy, the lead prosecutor, said. "What greater betrayal could there be? He betrayed his family lineage. He betrayed the father and mother that gave him life."
Authorities said Everson and Beckrich and two other friends had hatched a plot to use a life insurance payout to open a coffee shop in Amsterdam and sell marijuana. Beckrich, 21, pleaded guilty to the killing in October.
He said Everson told his friends he had hit rock bottom. Everson's girlfriend testified that Grant had quarreled with his parents the night before the murder over his bad grades at technical school.
Another friend, 17-year-old Michael Gulden, testified during the trial that Everson and Beckrich initially planned to divvy up the killings: Grant would slit his father's throat and Beckrich would do the same to Nancy Everson. They would dress in black and bring the shotgun along for backup.
Gulden earlier pleaded guilty to lesser charges for conspiring in the plan. Another friend, 21-year-old Christopher Fuhrman, was cleared of similar charges; both got their deals in exchange for testimony.
Tom Everson awoke to his wife's screams. He testified during the trial that he immediately knew his wife was dead and his son was responsible.
Tom Everson grabbed his own handgun, hid in a walk-in closet and briefly planned to shoot his son to defend himself, he testified, but then decided to flee instead. He testified that he realized if he shot his son, he'd have to step over the dead body only to be faced with the body of his dead wife.
Beckrich is expected to serve 30 years in jail before becoming eligible for parole.
By Patrick Condon, Associated Press Writer
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Personally, I blame the parents. Putting too much pressure on him about academic success. I bet it was the parents who started the arguments over his bad grades. Expected too much of him, etc. I'd say more, but terrible at turning thoughts and feelings into words, so I'll just say that in my opinion, they (the parents) deserved it. Harsh, I know, but it's how I feel right now.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=141172
Jury: Everson guilty on all charges
A 21-year-old man was found guilty Thursday in the shotgun slaying of his mother, who was killed by the man's friend moments after he asked her where she wanted to be shot: "Head or chest?"
Grant Everson was convicted on four counts, including aiding premeditated first-degree murder. The charge carries an automatic life sentence without parole; sentencing was set for Tuesday.
He wasn't the triggerman in the death of Nancy Everson at the family's home in this Minneapolis suburb last Jan. 15. His friend, Joel Beckrich, testified that Everson lost his nerve at the last minute and passed him a shotgun and asked him to pull the trigger.
It was Beckrich, according to his testimony, who twice asked Nancy Everson where she wanted to be shot. She cursed her son, and when she made a move for the gun, Beckrich shot her, he testified.
Everson's father, Tom Everson, fled through a bedroom window and ran to a neighbor's house.
In court Thursday, the elder Everson sat in the front row, holding his head in his hand while the verdicts were read. He wiped away tears several times. His son sat at the defense table staring forward with no visible emotion.
Afterward, Tom Everson said he was glad his son was going to prison for the rest of his life.
"I miss my wonderful soul-mate, Nancy. And I miss my family," he said. "It's one of us that has done this terrible, tragic thing. How could that happen?"
Everson said he had no interest in speaking to his son, but he said in answer to a question that he didn't hate him.
"I don't hate, because hate is consuming. He's my son. I can't change that. But those are just normal-people terms for a normal life, and this is not that. There are no words for this situation."
Defense attorneys declined to comment on the verdicts.
Grant Everson was also convicted on one count of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and two counts of aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder.
After the verdicts were read, in a cautionary move should the first-degree verdict ultimately be overturned, prosecutors asked the jury to rule that aggravating factors existed. The jury agreed, allowing the judge to depart upward from sentencing guidelines for the lesser charges.
"This is a betrayal of trust," Peter Ivy, the lead prosecutor, said. "What greater betrayal could there be? He betrayed his family lineage. He betrayed the father and mother that gave him life."
Authorities said Everson and Beckrich and two other friends had hatched a plot to use a life insurance payout to open a coffee shop in Amsterdam and sell marijuana. Beckrich, 21, pleaded guilty to the killing in October.
He said Everson told his friends he had hit rock bottom. Everson's girlfriend testified that Grant had quarreled with his parents the night before the murder over his bad grades at technical school.
Another friend, 17-year-old Michael Gulden, testified during the trial that Everson and Beckrich initially planned to divvy up the killings: Grant would slit his father's throat and Beckrich would do the same to Nancy Everson. They would dress in black and bring the shotgun along for backup.
Gulden earlier pleaded guilty to lesser charges for conspiring in the plan. Another friend, 21-year-old Christopher Fuhrman, was cleared of similar charges; both got their deals in exchange for testimony.
Tom Everson awoke to his wife's screams. He testified during the trial that he immediately knew his wife was dead and his son was responsible.
Tom Everson grabbed his own handgun, hid in a walk-in closet and briefly planned to shoot his son to defend himself, he testified, but then decided to flee instead. He testified that he realized if he shot his son, he'd have to step over the dead body only to be faced with the body of his dead wife.
Beckrich is expected to serve 30 years in jail before becoming eligible for parole.
By Patrick Condon, Associated Press Writer
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Personally, I blame the parents. Putting too much pressure on him about academic success. I bet it was the parents who started the arguments over his bad grades. Expected too much of him, etc. I'd say more, but terrible at turning thoughts and feelings into words, so I'll just say that in my opinion, they (the parents) deserved it. Harsh, I know, but it's how I feel right now.