Page 26 - Impact Statement News Today

James holmes the victims impact statement would be how it affects her. the judge said no. she will be allowed to testify during the victim impact stage. martha: a lot of pain on all sides. the defense needs one juror to save his life, right? >> reporter: exactly. that could happen at any point. today, for example, no matter how unlikely it seems, one juror could decide that james holmes is not eligible for the death penalty. that would mean that he would automatically be sentenced to life inries...

And three men whether james holmes lives or dies. remember that the defense initially offered to accept a guilty plea if the prosecution would take the death penalty off the table. the prosecution would not do this, so we had that three-month trial. and now we get into this really a three-pronged phase where first the jury will look at aggravating factors, the fact this was a heinous crime, a mass murder where a child was involved. then thil look at mitigating factors, mental illness and other i...

Ed lavandera has been covering the trial since it started. and ed we have a guilty verdict can, and you are outside of the courthouse and im not sure about the reaction, but what do you know? >> well the victim statements have just started, and one of the people speaking is don littlefield, the father of chad littlefield. we were told that maybe one person would be doing the impact statement, but it has changed. it is just now unfolding, and we are listening, as soon we are able to get the detai...

Hadlock. charles, what do we know about the victim impact statement which was the final procedure that was closed to us in that courtroom tonight? >> reporter: im just getting a note from the reporters in the courtroom listening to the impact statement. its from jerry richardson littlefields stepbrother. he says in part speaking directly to eddie ray routh, you took the lives of two heroes men that tried to be a friend and you bill an american disgrace. your disregard for life will put you in a ...

See what happens when these 12 good folks tell the world what they already know. lawrence? >> charles hadlock, what is the judges rules on the reading of the verdict in the courtroom? he has allowed video but not allowed audio to come out of the courtroom. >> reporter: he will allow audio and video to come out for the verdict. he allowed audio and video for the opening statements. but throughout the trial, for testimony and closing arguments, he would only allow the video to be recorded without ...

And called his actions depraved and callous. he refused to speak during his hearing. after the sentencing, stephen davis, the brother of one of the alleged victims, had this to say. >> speak up, spit out what you have to say. im sitting inside, what more punishment are they going to give you than two life sentences plus five? say something, there has to be something, whether you didnt like the prosecutor said, your lawyers, me. you know he hates me. say something. be a man. >> stephen davis, aut...

Physically murdered her. i believe he had no problem with talking about the 18 or 19 murders. i dont believe he murdered debra hussy. >> mr. davis, were you inside the courtroom when the verdict was read? were you in there with whitey bulger? >> yes, i was. and i had to leave for a minute. a couple of minutes. because of -- i had my wife pulling at my pants, you know, to keep me from standing. i wanted to say something. and then i do want the chance and the opportunity to give an impact statemen...

One that could be used by others. >> with the guidance of god, i will prevail and help others that have suffered at the hands of others. writing this statement gave me this strength to be a stronger woman and know that theres more good than evil. i know that theres a lot of people going through hard times, but we need to reach out a hand and hold them and let them know that theyre being heard. >> that was michele knight, the woman no one knew for sure had even been kidnapped ten years ago, deliv...

>> finding friendship in the wretchedness that this was. she said it was her survival mechanism. one that could be used by others. >> with the guidance of god, i will prevail and help others that have suffered at the hands of others. writing this statement gave me this strength to be a stronger woman and know that theres more good than evil. i know that theres a lot of people going through hard times, but we need to reach out a hand and hold them and let them know that theyre being heard. >> tha...

And tortured three young women he held captive for nearly a decade. astro is expected to speak in court today. his sister said will show, the quote, the other side of ariel castro. new court documents lay out his crimes in excruciating details. the women were kept chains in rooms. they ate one day and they were repeatedly raped. one woman gave birth to ariel castros child. prosecutors said that it was important to detail castros crimes. while in court today, castro could come face to face with o...