Post by Anja on Jun 1, 2006 22:00:01 GMT -5
Salazar gets death penalty
Nearly 6 years after the death of Evelyn Jean Nutter, the fate of the man
who shot her is still uncertain.
Last Friday, a 6-person Okeechobee County jury could not reach a verdict
on the murder and attempted murder charges facing Julius Hatcher, 26, who
has, under oath in court, admitted he pulled the trigger.
A new trial has been set for June 12.
In the very early morning hours of June 27, 2000, armed men entered the
Fort Drum home of Evelyn Jean Nutter and Ronze Cummings. Mr. Cummings and
Ms. Nutter were bound with duct tape and had plastic bags secured over
their heads before each was shot in the head.
Julius Hatcher of Miami, and Neil Salazar, 38, of Trinidad, both faced
charges of attempted murder, murder and grand theft auto in connection
with the crimes.
In a March 2006 trial, Salazar was found guilty of 1st degree murder,
attempted murder and grand theft auto, and the 12-person jury unanimously
recommended Salazar receive the death penalty.
On May 30, Judge Sherwood Bauer sentenced Salazar to the death penalty.
"With the 12-0 recommendation, we certainly expected it," said Assistant
State Attorney Ashley Albright. "Given the facts in this case, it was
certainly deserved."
Ms. Nutter, Mr. Cummings and their 2-year-old child were in their Fort
Drum home on June 27, 2000, when 2 men broke in, restrained them with duct
tape and put plastic bags over their heads. After being questioned about
someone telling federal agents about a drug deal, Ms. Nutter and Mr.
Cummings were taken into separate rooms and shot in the head, Mr. Cummings
later told police.
Ms. Nutter died at the scene.
In testimony in Salazar's trial, Hatcher said he duct-taped and shot Mr.
Cummings and Ms. Nutter with Salazar holding them all at gun point and
giving the orders.
"He told me if I didn't do it (duct-tape and shoot Mr. Cummings and Ms.
Nutter) he'd leave me there," said Hatcher.
He quoted Salazar as saying, "If you don't want to die here, you do what I
say."
He testified to duct-taping both victims, taping the blue plastic bags
over their heads and making a small hole in the bag on Mr. Cummings' head
while Salazar's back was turned. He told of Salazar's order to drag the
taped victims back into separate bedrooms. He said he put a pillow over
the head of Ms. Nutter first, then Mr. Cummings and shot each through the
pillow. He said Mr. Cummings got to his feet screaming after the 1st shot.
"I started to walk out of the room but Neil said I had to do it again," he
said.
After driving back to Miami, Hatcher said he went to a motel. He
eventually went to his father and told the whole story, but left out the
fact that he had actually done the shooting. His father advised him to go
to the police. After his admission of guilt to police on July 5, 2000, he
was charged with 1st-degree murder.
He later agreed to testify against Salazar in exchange for immunity from
the death penalty.
In the trial last week, Hatcher was found guilty of grand theft auto, but
the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other charges.
(source: Okeechobee News)
Nearly 6 years after the death of Evelyn Jean Nutter, the fate of the man
who shot her is still uncertain.
Last Friday, a 6-person Okeechobee County jury could not reach a verdict
on the murder and attempted murder charges facing Julius Hatcher, 26, who
has, under oath in court, admitted he pulled the trigger.
A new trial has been set for June 12.
In the very early morning hours of June 27, 2000, armed men entered the
Fort Drum home of Evelyn Jean Nutter and Ronze Cummings. Mr. Cummings and
Ms. Nutter were bound with duct tape and had plastic bags secured over
their heads before each was shot in the head.
Julius Hatcher of Miami, and Neil Salazar, 38, of Trinidad, both faced
charges of attempted murder, murder and grand theft auto in connection
with the crimes.
In a March 2006 trial, Salazar was found guilty of 1st degree murder,
attempted murder and grand theft auto, and the 12-person jury unanimously
recommended Salazar receive the death penalty.
On May 30, Judge Sherwood Bauer sentenced Salazar to the death penalty.
"With the 12-0 recommendation, we certainly expected it," said Assistant
State Attorney Ashley Albright. "Given the facts in this case, it was
certainly deserved."
Ms. Nutter, Mr. Cummings and their 2-year-old child were in their Fort
Drum home on June 27, 2000, when 2 men broke in, restrained them with duct
tape and put plastic bags over their heads. After being questioned about
someone telling federal agents about a drug deal, Ms. Nutter and Mr.
Cummings were taken into separate rooms and shot in the head, Mr. Cummings
later told police.
Ms. Nutter died at the scene.
In testimony in Salazar's trial, Hatcher said he duct-taped and shot Mr.
Cummings and Ms. Nutter with Salazar holding them all at gun point and
giving the orders.
"He told me if I didn't do it (duct-tape and shoot Mr. Cummings and Ms.
Nutter) he'd leave me there," said Hatcher.
He quoted Salazar as saying, "If you don't want to die here, you do what I
say."
He testified to duct-taping both victims, taping the blue plastic bags
over their heads and making a small hole in the bag on Mr. Cummings' head
while Salazar's back was turned. He told of Salazar's order to drag the
taped victims back into separate bedrooms. He said he put a pillow over
the head of Ms. Nutter first, then Mr. Cummings and shot each through the
pillow. He said Mr. Cummings got to his feet screaming after the 1st shot.
"I started to walk out of the room but Neil said I had to do it again," he
said.
After driving back to Miami, Hatcher said he went to a motel. He
eventually went to his father and told the whole story, but left out the
fact that he had actually done the shooting. His father advised him to go
to the police. After his admission of guilt to police on July 5, 2000, he
was charged with 1st-degree murder.
He later agreed to testify against Salazar in exchange for immunity from
the death penalty.
In the trial last week, Hatcher was found guilty of grand theft auto, but
the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other charges.
(source: Okeechobee News)