", Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. During a Florida Supreme Court hearing Thursday, Judge Jamie Grosshans closely examined Harmons comments and noted that she leaned toward the defense position. Ritchie was accused of raping and killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, then shoving her body in a suitcase, and dropping it off the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge. Rick Buckwalter, the appellate attorney for Florida, conceded that it was 'a close call,' but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. Nearly a year aftera jury recommended Granville Ritchie be put to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, an emotional judge agreed, and sentenced him to death on Friday morning. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. ", PREVIOUS: Girlfriend testifies she does not believe Ritchie killed 9-year-old. The child's mother and a judge had some parting words. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to the police and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. You're a better stronger woman than I am. During the trial, Ritchies girlfriend testified that Ritchie asked to use her car. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. ", Seven passengers rushed to hospital after 'severe turbulence' on flight, Gabby Petito's family claim cop knew Laundrie was threat in lawsuit update, Jury inspect eerie Murdaugh murder scene where mom & son were executed, US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl, Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014, Six years later, Ritchie was sentenced to death on Friday. "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. 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. Wiley was a witness at Ritchies trial and was accused of lying during the missing person investigation. By Roebuck, the appellants attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous in Harmons argument. I know youre a woman of deep faith. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Im trying to figure out how thats not a violation of the Golden Rule, she said Grosshans, referring to the prosecutors speech. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where he dumped Felecias body into the bay. [. 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. Roebuck, the appellant's attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous about Harmon's argument. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction and death sentence of a Hillsborough County man convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering a 9-year-old girl and dumping her body in water off the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Have a tip we should know? Fridays sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-olds mother. As the states case continued, the jury was presented with photos showing Felecias injuries as they were during the first phase of the trial. I feel like death is appropriate. I just cant believe he did that to her, Felecias cousin, Rashida Johnson, told WTSP shortly after her death. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. My heart breaks for you.". Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death Florida Death Row Inmate List Published: 4:25 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Updated: 8:35 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Almost two weeks after his trial began, Granville Ritchie has been found guilty of the sexual battery and. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. A doctor who took the stand Tuesday disagreed with the medical examiner's findings on the cause of death. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in September 2019. . Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? During jury selection two weeks ago, the woman who wept told the court she works as a kindergarten teachers aid. TAMPA, Fla. A year after his trial, Granville Ritchie has been sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years, he told the court. "I am here to bury this Jamaican today," she said during the hearing. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . It was the same jury who on Wednesday convicted him of killing the child in 2014. Ritchie's lawyer had argued against a death penalty, claiming factors like an abusive childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, the Tampa Bay Times reported. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. Ritchie then s*xually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said during his trial. In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. Ritchie was convicted in 2019 of first degree murder, s*xual assault and aggravated child abuse in connection with Felecias death. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions and death sentence for a man who sexually battered and killed 9-year-old Felecia Williams. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie may have suffered brain damage, Eisenstein said. I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. Prosecutor Scott Harmonsaid in closing arguments on Wednesday that Ritchie was a master manipulator, who lied and used Wiley and his mother to cover up what really happened. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had s*x in a bedroom, but later admitted that she lied. 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. Follow Us OnFacebook HereOrTwitter Here. Jurors in Tampa murder trial confront ultimate question: Could they impose the death penalty? Apparent signs of sexual abuse on the victims body might have happened while she was floating in the water, exposed to the elements. En 1946 Christian Dior s'installe au 30, avenue Montaigne [11], l'ouverture de la boutique [12] a lieu en dcembre. Ritchie was found guilty in 2019 of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in connection with Felecia's death. Jurors had a lot of evidence to review in the trial, which has . Ritchie did poorly in school, repeating 9th grade before dropping out in 10th, jurors were told. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. The sentencing hearing began Thursday and continued Friday. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. 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. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. I wish you all of the best.". Instead, it becomes a first step of a never-ending nightmare you never wake from. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. I said do what, you dont even know anybody around here, Kellisa Kelley said, according to BayNews9. Who is Granville Ritchie? Since Felecias death, Demerson said, she has been unable to return to work. . Ritchie instructed Wiley, who was baby sitting Felecia, to leave the home to buy marijuana. By That argument is considered legally improper because jurors are expected to weigh a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, instead of their personal feelings. Ritchie was found guilty of killing. That is true. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway where he dumped Felecia's body into the bay. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. When her mother had foot surgery in 2013, the girl spent the summer cooking for her and nursing her back to health, Demerson said. You're a better, stronger woman than I am. In front of a jury tasked to decide the fate of Ritchie . PREVIOUS:Granville Ritchie found guilty of murder in 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Granville Ritchie, the man who raped and murdered 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, was sentenced to death Friday. Ritchies defense plans to raise a number of mitigating factors to argue for a life sentence, instead. After the child's body was discovered, however, her story changed. Court stopped briefly after a juror in Granville Ritchies trial began sobbing during the testimony of the 9-year-old victims mother. Justice Jorge Labarga argued that Ritchie should receive a new sentencing hearing. #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. I do still see the humanity in you,"Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. 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. Wiley has been charged with lying during a missing person investigation. Defense casts doubt as Granville Ritchie trial winds down, Jury in Granville Ritchies murder trial hears his account of girls disappearance, He sold me a dream. Ex-girlfriend links Granville Ritchie to 9-year-old murder victim, She was looking into the face of her killer: Trial opens in slaying of girl, 9, Jury seated in trial of Granville Ritchie, accused of strangling young girl. You can see proceedings in the player above. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Ritchie, now 43, is an inmate at Union Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. Eboni Wiley says she had just started dating Ritchie in 2014 when the two went to pick up her. Ritchie faces the death penalty. Florida man Granville Ritchie, 40, was found guilty of raping and murdering 9-year-old Felecia Williams. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesnt. He grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, plagued with crime and violence, and endured beatings from a father who had 18 children by several different mothers. Alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams use this website analyze and how! A few unfortunate ones, it is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running cookies... 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