Deanna's Daydreamer
10-11-2010, 09:07 PM
http://www.wlox.com/story/13213281/jury-sends-galloway-to-death-row
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) – A jury has determined that Leslie Galloway III deserves the death penalty for raping, burning, and running over a 17-year-old Harrison Central High School student.
Just before 2:00 pm Friday, jurors returned to the Harrison County courtroom. They spent about two hours deliberating a sentence for the convicted capital murderer. Thursday, the same jury determined that the Moss Point man was guilty of the December, 2008 murder of Shakeylia Anderson.
Prosecutors convinced a jury that Leslie Galloway used his mother's car to drag Shakeylia Anderson after he had raped her, cut her throat, and set her on fire. It wasn't until the murder trial that Shakeylia's mother found out about her last moments.
"It's been hard," Sandra Anderson said. "I knew she suffered, but I didn't know she went through all she did."
The Anderson family's nearly two year wait for justice ended when jurors convicted Galloway of capital murder after two hours of deliberations.
"It was overwhelming. It was joyful," said Shakeylia's father, Jerry Anderson. "They came out with the right verdict. The verdict that I was looking for."
Tawonna Pope is Shakeylia's cousin.
"I'm just so happy that we got the verdict that we got, because justice was served. He got what he deserved, because she didn't deserve what she got. What he got, I'm just extremely happy, brought tears to all our eyes."
There were also tears of anguish shed at the Harrison County courthouse. Leslie Galloway's mother was not in the courtroom when the verdict came in, but she said she plans to testify during his sentencing phase.
She talked with WLOX off camera about her worst fears.
"I don't know what happened that night," Ollie Varghese said. "My son is not a monster. I just don't want him to get the death penalty. That's my baby. Both families are hurting behind this. If I could bring her back, I would."
But no one can bring Shakeylia back, and the girl's mother said the man who took her daughter's life deserves to die.
"I haven't been able to sleep and I still won't be able to sleep until his eyes are closed," Sandra Anderson said.
A witness testified she saw Shakeylia get into a car Leslie Galloway was driving the night of her murder. Galloway also admitted to police that he had picked her up. Traces of Shakeylia's remains were found under the car.
Death penalty sought for teen’s ‘brutal’ murderer
By ROBIN FITZGERALD - rfitzgerald@sunherald.com
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GULFPORT — Defense attorneys want the jury that convicted Leslie Galloway III of capital murder on Thursday to spare his life today.
A Harrison County jury deliberated about two hours and found Galloway guilty in the slaying and sexual assault of Shakeylia Anderson of Gulfport. The 17-year-old girl, a Harrison Central High student, was found burned, set afire and crushed Dec. 6, 2008, in the De Soto National Forest off Mississippi 15.
The sentencing phase began later Thursday. It resumes today at 9 a.m. before Circuit Judge Roger Clark.
Gallery:Death penalty sought for teen’s ‘brutal’ murderer
The state is seeking the death penalty, but only a jury can impose the death sentence.
Galloway, 27, of Moss Point, appeared to be in shock as a court clerk read the guilty verdict. He put his hands over his eyes and laid his head on the defense table.
About 40 of Anderson’s family members and friends gasped quietly. Some threw their hands in the air. Others put their hands on their faces. Many wept. Relatives later said they were overwhelmed with relief at the verdict.
“It’s all right now,” said her father, Jerry Anderson. “Justice has prevailed.”
Galloway’s family was not in the courtroom for the trial. Officers of the court said his mother waited for the verdict elsewhere in the building.
Galloway sat motionless as deputies stood waiting to take him to a holding cell.
Public defender Glenn Rishel told him, “Right now we’ve got to convince this jury to keep you alive. We need your help.” Galloway stood slowly and allowed deputies to escort him out.
The jury believed testimony that Galloway sexually assaulted the girl, cut her throat, set her on fire and ran over her with his mother’s car.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge said the sentencing phase allows the defense “to show any redeeming characteristics of the defendant or to show by his record he is someone who should be spared the death penalty.”
Assistant District Attorney George Huffman said Galloway was on probation for a carjacking conviction in Jackson County when Anderson was killed.
Huffman described Anderson’s death as “brutal” and urged the jury “to impose the maximum sentence that comes with this crime.”
Glenn Rishel, who leads the county’s public defender office, said he will show the jury “a full view of his life. Leslie Galloway is a human being and he has people that love him and that he loves. This is not done to excuse what he has been doing. That’s over with.”
“My only purpose here is to try to convince you not to kill Leslie Galloway,” Rishel said.
A corrections officer from the county jail testified that Galloway has caused no problems on her watch.
An offender-services coordinator said he has only had one violation at the jail; he was in an unauthorized area talking to another inmate.
The hearing was continued because a witness for the defense, Dr. Beverly Smallwood, was not available. The psychologist is expected to testify this morning.
It’s likely that Anderson’s family will tell the judge what Anderson’s killing has done to their lives.
The jury will then be sent out to deliberate. If the jury can’t reach a unanimous decision, the judge will sentence Galloway to life in prison without parole.
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) – A jury has determined that Leslie Galloway III deserves the death penalty for raping, burning, and running over a 17-year-old Harrison Central High School student.
Just before 2:00 pm Friday, jurors returned to the Harrison County courtroom. They spent about two hours deliberating a sentence for the convicted capital murderer. Thursday, the same jury determined that the Moss Point man was guilty of the December, 2008 murder of Shakeylia Anderson.
Prosecutors convinced a jury that Leslie Galloway used his mother's car to drag Shakeylia Anderson after he had raped her, cut her throat, and set her on fire. It wasn't until the murder trial that Shakeylia's mother found out about her last moments.
"It's been hard," Sandra Anderson said. "I knew she suffered, but I didn't know she went through all she did."
The Anderson family's nearly two year wait for justice ended when jurors convicted Galloway of capital murder after two hours of deliberations.
"It was overwhelming. It was joyful," said Shakeylia's father, Jerry Anderson. "They came out with the right verdict. The verdict that I was looking for."
Tawonna Pope is Shakeylia's cousin.
"I'm just so happy that we got the verdict that we got, because justice was served. He got what he deserved, because she didn't deserve what she got. What he got, I'm just extremely happy, brought tears to all our eyes."
There were also tears of anguish shed at the Harrison County courthouse. Leslie Galloway's mother was not in the courtroom when the verdict came in, but she said she plans to testify during his sentencing phase.
She talked with WLOX off camera about her worst fears.
"I don't know what happened that night," Ollie Varghese said. "My son is not a monster. I just don't want him to get the death penalty. That's my baby. Both families are hurting behind this. If I could bring her back, I would."
But no one can bring Shakeylia back, and the girl's mother said the man who took her daughter's life deserves to die.
"I haven't been able to sleep and I still won't be able to sleep until his eyes are closed," Sandra Anderson said.
A witness testified she saw Shakeylia get into a car Leslie Galloway was driving the night of her murder. Galloway also admitted to police that he had picked her up. Traces of Shakeylia's remains were found under the car.
Death penalty sought for teen’s ‘brutal’ murderer
By ROBIN FITZGERALD - rfitzgerald@sunherald.com
Reprint or license
Text Size: tool nameclose tool goes here
GULFPORT — Defense attorneys want the jury that convicted Leslie Galloway III of capital murder on Thursday to spare his life today.
A Harrison County jury deliberated about two hours and found Galloway guilty in the slaying and sexual assault of Shakeylia Anderson of Gulfport. The 17-year-old girl, a Harrison Central High student, was found burned, set afire and crushed Dec. 6, 2008, in the De Soto National Forest off Mississippi 15.
The sentencing phase began later Thursday. It resumes today at 9 a.m. before Circuit Judge Roger Clark.
Gallery:Death penalty sought for teen’s ‘brutal’ murderer
The state is seeking the death penalty, but only a jury can impose the death sentence.
Galloway, 27, of Moss Point, appeared to be in shock as a court clerk read the guilty verdict. He put his hands over his eyes and laid his head on the defense table.
About 40 of Anderson’s family members and friends gasped quietly. Some threw their hands in the air. Others put their hands on their faces. Many wept. Relatives later said they were overwhelmed with relief at the verdict.
“It’s all right now,” said her father, Jerry Anderson. “Justice has prevailed.”
Galloway’s family was not in the courtroom for the trial. Officers of the court said his mother waited for the verdict elsewhere in the building.
Galloway sat motionless as deputies stood waiting to take him to a holding cell.
Public defender Glenn Rishel told him, “Right now we’ve got to convince this jury to keep you alive. We need your help.” Galloway stood slowly and allowed deputies to escort him out.
The jury believed testimony that Galloway sexually assaulted the girl, cut her throat, set her on fire and ran over her with his mother’s car.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge said the sentencing phase allows the defense “to show any redeeming characteristics of the defendant or to show by his record he is someone who should be spared the death penalty.”
Assistant District Attorney George Huffman said Galloway was on probation for a carjacking conviction in Jackson County when Anderson was killed.
Huffman described Anderson’s death as “brutal” and urged the jury “to impose the maximum sentence that comes with this crime.”
Glenn Rishel, who leads the county’s public defender office, said he will show the jury “a full view of his life. Leslie Galloway is a human being and he has people that love him and that he loves. This is not done to excuse what he has been doing. That’s over with.”
“My only purpose here is to try to convince you not to kill Leslie Galloway,” Rishel said.
A corrections officer from the county jail testified that Galloway has caused no problems on her watch.
An offender-services coordinator said he has only had one violation at the jail; he was in an unauthorized area talking to another inmate.
The hearing was continued because a witness for the defense, Dr. Beverly Smallwood, was not available. The psychologist is expected to testify this morning.
It’s likely that Anderson’s family will tell the judge what Anderson’s killing has done to their lives.
The jury will then be sent out to deliberate. If the jury can’t reach a unanimous decision, the judge will sentence Galloway to life in prison without parole.