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@quackquack saidIf the jury had found him guilty of first degree murder, he would have been death penalty eligible and even if not sentenced to death would have likely got a life sentence with little chance of parole. But they acquitted him of that charge, finding him guilty of " conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and using an instrument to destroy an unborn child."(the latter two on accomplice liability theories). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rae_Carruth
I'd give him the death penalty. But of course that would interfere with his goal of now having a relationship with his surviving child.
First degree Murder in North Carolina is, obviously, the most serious type of crime i.e. a Class A Felony. Conspiracy to commit a Class A Felony (which is what Carruth was convicted of) is a Class B2 Felony. https://gilleslaw.com/attempt-or-conspiracy-in-north-carolina/ The sentencing range for a Class B2 Felony is 94 to 393 months or about 8 to 33 years.https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/felony-offense/north-felony-class.htm
Carruth had no priors and got an 18-24 year sentence. He would have had to have been released in 5 years at most anyway. Not knowing the specific reasons for the initial sentence or the parole board's decision to release him now, I cannot say whether those decisions were well-reasoned but they certainly seem to comport with North Carolina law.
@quackquack saidI think that the son has brain issues and cerebral palsy due to an emergency premature birth on the night of the shooting.
The article didn't say. I just assumed not.
Because of this, he's not able to fully comprehend what his 'dad' tried to do, and thus wants to see him.
It's sad.
There's an interesting story here with interviews with the jury members: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/rae-carruth-special-report-19-years-after-inconsistent-verdict-rae-carruth-is-about-to-be-released-from-prison/ar-BBOFkuJ
The actual shooter plead guilty to second degree murder in exchange for testifying against Carruth; it appears that some jury members believed it would be unfair to convict Carruth of 1st degree Murder when the actual killer only was convicted of 2nd Degree. It is described as a "compromise verdict" by a juror in the article.
@no1marauder saidI would give Carruth a larger penalty than the hit man. He masterminded the whole crime.
There's an interesting story here with interviews with the jury members: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/rae-carruth-special-report-19-years-after-inconsistent-verdict-rae-carruth-is-about-to-be-released-from-prison/ar-BBOFkuJ
The actual shooter plead guilty to second degree murder in exchange for testifying against Carruth; it appears that some jury members belie ...[text shortened]... ly was convicted of 2nd Degree. It is described as a "compromise verdict" by a juror in the article.
@quackquack said"Masterminded" is a bit of an overstatement. He told the guy to kill his GF. I don't see why that's any more guilty than the guy who actually did it.
I would give Carruth a larger penalty than the hit man. He masterminded the whole crime.
@quackquack saidThat seems to have been the prosecutors' idea as well when they offered the actual killer a plea deal where he avoided 1st Degree Murder in exchange for his testimony against Carruth.
I would give Carruth a larger penalty than the hit man. He masterminded the whole crime.
The jury, which saw all the evidence, didn't accept that reasoning.
@techsouth saidDo they despise the Panthers only because he played for them, or is there more?
I had not heard this news. I actually met the girlfriend once at a family reunion not long prior to the murder. (I was not part of the family, but am good friends with the victims cousin and cousin's husband, both of whom despise the Carolina Panthers to this day).
@chaney3 saidI believe it is more because the Panthers supported Carruth during his legal battle. Not sure I agree, but it is a deep emotional issue for them. I don't know what one would expect the Panthers to have done. They could have thrown Carruth under the bus day 1 like Duke did to the Duke Lacrosse players, but I'd say that wouldn't have been the right thing to do.
Do they despise the Panthers only because he played for them, or is there more?