Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years,' she told the court. "For him to feel what my daughter felt over and over again. Ritchie's lawyer had argued against a death penalty, claiming factors like an abusive childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. TAMPA, Fla The trial for Granville Ritchie, the man accused of raping and murdering a 9-year-old Tampa girl in May of 2014, began today. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where he dumped Felecias body into the bay. The girls body was found washed up on a shoreline a day after she had been left alone with Ritchie. "I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they can't find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. 'May God have mercy on your soul.'. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. Wiley has been charged with lying during a missing person investigation. Testimony is expected to continue Friday. That pain would have been greater for a girl. You can see proceedings in the player above. The duo were watching the girl one day, and Ritchie took Felecia to his mother's apartment, the Associated Press reported. My heart breaks for you. LIVE: Granville Ritchie, the Tampa man convicted in the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams, is expected to be formally sentenced this morning. He then is believed to have hid her body in a suitcase, which he dumped into Tampa Bay. I know youre a woman of deep faith. They asked for tissues then said they needed a break. Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. "I don't know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. pic.twitter.com/K1mmbzLM7b, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 25, 2019. That argument is considered legally improper because jurors are expected to weigh a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, instead of their personal feelings. Texas Special Education Teacher Admits Sexually Assaulting Student in Classroom Closet, West Virginia Teenager Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of 4 Family Members, Man Who Murdered Girlfriend, Her 2 Children Captured on Video Casually Saying, 'I Murdered 4 People', Md. 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The woman, Eboni Wiley, testified even though she had only know Ritchie for a couple of days, she left Felecia with him to go buy some marijuana. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. After hearing a number of witness impact statements, Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville Ritchie to death for killing Felecia Williams in 2014. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. Instead, it becomes a first step of a neverending nightmare you never wake from. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. And Granville Ritchie knew better.. Im trying to figure out how thats not a violation of the Golden Rule, she said Grosshans, referring to the prosecutors speech. (Florida child s*x killer who tortured, raped and murdered girl, 9, is appealing his death ) Wiki, Bio, Age,Death,Family,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Quick Facts, Read Also: Who was Mak Parhar?Flat Earther and COVID-19 denier Mak Parhar found dead, Congress Is Investigating McKinsey Over Its Role in the Opioid Crisis, Alyssa Milano: Giving birth to my first child reminded me of being sexually assaulted. The argument is considered improper and could be grounds for an appeal because the jurors have to consider a case in an objective manner and rely on evidence alone, instead of their feelings and biases. On Wednesday, the 12-member jury found the 40-year-old Ritchie guilty in the girls 2014 rape and murder. Granville Ritchie, right, sits with defense attorneys during his trial Monday at the Hillsborough County Courthouse. Open in Our App I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. Last y. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. The jury recommended the death penalty. When Wiley returned nearly an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and she had not returned. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Fridays sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-olds mother. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to. 10:20 EST 05 Nov 2021 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The evidence in this case established that Ritchie committed a horrific murder, and I fully concur in the majoritys decision to affirm his conviction for first-degree murder, Labarga wrote. I do still see the humanity in you,"Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. It is unreasonable to think, in light of the facts of this case, that any juror would be able to avoid all signs of emotion, Sisco said. TAMPA, Fla. A year after his trial, Granville Ritchie has been sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Who is Granville Ritchie? Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown off an overpass. Ritchies attorney could not be reached for comment. The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said with her voice cracking, before removing her glasses to wipe away tears, Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. Prosecutors believe it was Felecia calling for help. Prosecutors cited three aggravating factors to support their argument for a death sentence: The victim was younger than 12; her murder occurred during a sexual battery; and the killing was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel. Historique L'entreprise. #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday and the jury began deliberating. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesn't. By pic.twitter.com/uYMknpFSzI, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 16, 2019, #GranvilleRitchie Wiley said Ritchie told her to tell Felecias family that there was no male in the house, only females so she wouldnt seem like a bad person for leaving Felecia alone with a man. I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they cant find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. I feel like death is appropriate. Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea., That scripture is talking to someone that knows better, Demerson said. . UPDATED 4:30 PM ET Sep. 25, 2019. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . The juror, a woman, wept as Felecia Demerson read a statement from the witness stand about her daughter and the devastating effects of her death. Injuries to her mouth, he said, indicated that a hand may have been placed over it, keeping her from crying out. A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care . For him to feel what she felt. Hyman Eisenstein, a psychologist who spent 32 hours examining Ritchie in jail, testified for the defense. She didnt deserve thatits hard for all of us to deal with it, you know, but we have to take it one day at a time.. RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. "I am here to bury this Jamaican today," she said during the hearing. Still, she said, she can put her feelings aside and continue hearing the case. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Rick Buckwalter, the appellate attorney for Florida, conceded that it was 'a close call,' but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 murder of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown over an overpass. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Initially, Wiley told police that Felecia ran away, the Associated Press reported. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Crime Library | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . Ritchies conviction comes five years after he raped and killed Felecia before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dropping it off of the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge, according to the Tampa Bay Times, WTSP and Fox13. [. During the trial, Ritchies girlfriend testified that Ritchie asked to use her car. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Wiley is charged in an ongoing case with allegedly providing false information to law enforcement. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchie's case this week. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. When she returned Ritchie told her he let Sugarplum go to the CVS to get candy. TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A jury of his peers has found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Florida man Granville Ritchie, 40, was found guilty of raping and . According to Ritchie's appellate attorney Rachel Roebuck, Harmon's impassioned speech violated what is known in the legal profession as the Golden Rule, which is an argument that persuades jurors to put themselves in the place of the victim when considering a verdict, reported Fox 13. Have a tip we should know? That pain wouldve been greater for a little girl.'. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown. Mister. [emailprotected]. Wiley went to buy marijuana and Ritchie then strangled and assaulted the nine-year-old, prosecutors claimed. By Fallon Silcox Hillsborough County. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. The jury has to be unanimous on the death sentence. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. This is as tough as it gets, Sisco said. Jurors in Tampa murder trial confront ultimate question: Could they impose the death penalty? James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. The jury voted unanimously to recommend a death sentence for the murder, and the trial court sentenced Ritchie to death. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death," Sisco said in court on Friday. Follow Us OnFacebook HereOrTwitter Here. In sum, we cannot say that the improper arguments precluded Ritchies jury from making a reasoned assessment based on the evidence so as to amount to a denial of due process, said the opinion shared by Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Alan Lawson, Carlos Muniz, John Couriel and Jamie Grosshans. After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. As the states case continued, the jury was presented with photos showing Felecias injuries as they were during the first phase of the trial. Ritchie then sexually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said during his trial. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Referring to the CVS to get candy went to buy marijuana and Ritchie then strangled and assaulted the,! 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