
An East Feliciana Parish judge has voided the first-degree murder charge of accused serial killer Ryan Sharpe as the result of a recent US Supreme Court decision that bans non-unanimous convictions. Sharpe’s Attorney Tommy Damico says his client was convicted by jurors 11 to 1 last December.
“Today’s ruling was not a surprise to us I honestly don’t think that the district attorney had any grounds on which to object to it, they did object but the court rightfully granted the motion,” says Damico.
The First Degree Murder charge was for the killing of 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, one of three men Sharpe is accused of fatally shooting during a killing spree in East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana parishes in 2017. Authorities say Sharpe shot and wounded a fourth person.
A new trial has been scheduled for December. Damico says he will try to convince a new jury that his client was insane at the time of the shootings.
“The idea that we have got a little more time that has passed may help us get a better jury who understands what the law is and understand the facts regarding my client’s case there warrant a not guilty by reason of insanity,” says Damico.
Physiatrists in the first trial raised doubts that Sharpe had a mental illness.
Damico says non-unanimous jury verdicts are unjust and he’s glad the High Court’s ruling will give his client another chance.
“These were Jim Crow laws that were brought in at the turn of the century so I think it was certainly a good decision, a decision for justice,” says Damico.
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