Just before lunch today, the jury in the Michael Allan Lamb murder case announced itself "hopelessly deadlocked" on whether the Public Enemy Number One (PENI) Death Squad member deserved the death penalty.
The vote was nearly tied after almost three days of deliberating. Six jurors wanted death; five wanted life in prison without the possibility of parole; and one person remained undecided.
Lamb kept silent, but studied his fingernails after the decision. Throughout the three-month proceeding, the 33-year-old hit man always appeared nonchalant. He was lighthearted even when the same jury convicted him on July 10 of the murder of a fellow gang member and the attempted murder of an Anaheim police officer. But when deputies hauled him back to jail, he turned to his mother in the audience and contorted his face into a huge smile. Cathy Lamb, portrayed by her son's defense as a longtime alcoholic who drank hairspray when she couldn't afford cheap booze, nodded happily.
Before jurors were excused, Orange County Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg asked the foreman if there was "anything" the court could provide that might help the panel "resolve" its deadlock. The foreman, a middle-aged man, quickly replied, "No, sir."
Froeberg then questioned individual jurors if they agreed with the foreman, and there was one surprise. It sounded like Juror No. 3--a Latina who looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties--softly volunteered that she didn't believe in the death penalty. She was one of four jurors who quickly left the courtroom unwilling to answer any questions.
It's likely that Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh, the veteran prosecutor on the case, will retry the penalty phase with a new jury after an Aug. 21 hearing. Baytieh believes Lamb will kill or seriously injury other inmates or guards with a life sentence. He wants to send him
to California's notorious death row at San Quentin State Prison. Until a decision is made, Lamb will continue to reside in the relative comfort of the OC Jail.
PENI's white supremacist gang members haven't had much luck avoiding law enforcement in recent years. That's no surprise. Many--if not most--are addicted to heroin, methamphetamines and Hilter, according to OC gang cops. The combination makes for bad teeth, worse manners, awesome tattoos but less than graceful social skills.
Jacob Anthony Rump--Lamb's pal in the murder and attempted murder case--is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 31. Like many Orange County judges, Froeberg is not known for dishing out light punishments. Rump, 31, faces a possible life in prison without the possibility of parole.
For previous coverage of the case, see "White Power With a Lisp."
July 31, 2007 13:46
I'm glad this is a blog post and not a news story or I might have had the impression that you are biased. For example, "the 32-year-old hit man always appeared nonplussed" so if there is a hitman shouldn't there be someone that hired him? You paint an inaccurate picture. Convicted killer, convicted murderer, maybe something along those lines would have been actually accurate.
You describe him as "nonplussed". Should he be be in tears that his already totally wasted life is going to continue in the same vein? After weeks of this crap how would you expect him to behave. It seems to me your are trying to paint the picture of the stereotypical "cold and calculating killer". Stereotypes are for the lazy that choose not to think critically. Why not mention the times he broke down and cried during his friends and family's testimony?
I think my favourite one is that he "contorted his face into a huge smile". As if it's hard for him to smile being such a monster an all... Hmm, that's not exactly fair and unbiased is it? you don't moonlight for FOX do you?
But hey, thanks for the news... err update.
July 31, 2007 16:43
And what, exactly, does this have to do with ComiCon? (fwiw, Not sure you meant "nonplussed.")
July 31, 2007 20:58
Were we at the same trial. I don't think 6 to 6 deadlock is a narrow decision on the penality phase of the Lamb trial. The Latina you referred to in your blog did not say she didn't believe in the death penalty, she said she didn't believe Lamb deserved the death penalty.
Reasonable doubt and mitigating factors caused this jury to deadlock. The points made by Attorney Erickson during the opening and closing statements of the penality phase brought home the fact that this case should never have been a death penalty verdict. The over zealous District Attorney went over the line. What makes you think he'll want to try the penalty phase again?
I'm curious to know why you consider a releaved smile to your mother is a contortion. It actually looked like he said "I love you". Could that be possible?
This entire trial represents a modern tragedy. Gang members live by values and rules that are alien to many of us. I'm hopeful that this tragedy does not extent to another murder. Life in prison is the correct penalty for Michael Lamb, not death.
Fellow Spectator....
August 1, 2007 09:37
Here is a thought, and sorryif this is being "lazy" in my thinking but a jury found both of these men guilty. So death penalty or not is this not the end result of a choice made by two men? I am sorry I had a rough upbringing to however when faced with a choice of running along side idiots and ending up being nothing more than property of the state, I made a decison to stand for something a little less dangerous. Something called maturity. So lets see we have stereo typical results of a stereo typical choice made by a human being. And we are supposed to sympathise?
You know what stop wasting the tax dollars, take the mistrial as a sign and give them both life without parole. They atre likely as this trial has proven to continue the gang activity even behind bars which increases the likelyhood of them being killed in prison which, by the looks of my wallet and tax dollars will save me enough to buy a few tacos today.
August 1, 2007 23:34
Shawn - It's unfortunate that you do not realize the message of my post. Unless you are R. Scott Moxley I really was not talking to you. I was not defending Mike's decisions, nor was I asking anyone to sympathize. What I was doing was stating my opinion, and giving examples demonstrating, that the style of reporting was biased. That's really it. Your diatribe on choice and maturity is as misplaced as it is muddled.
I'm not sure what's sadder really, the fact that you'd hope that they would be killed in prison to save yourself taco money, or the fact that you apparently don't understand that you get taxed the same amount regardless of how much they spend on a trial. Your tax money is wasted the moment you make it.
August 2, 2007 05:51
Hey "Yeah, I knew him,"
Let me get this straight: It's your opinion that Moxley has an opinion?
And you--who personally know Michael Lamb--raise the issue of bias?
And you think Moxley hasn't done his job because he "painted the picture of the stereotypical cold and calculating killer."
Lady, you can't change reality. A 12-0 vote by a jury said Lamb is a cold and calculating killer.
I pray you don't have children.