| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010 4:51 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||
Everett man found guilty in grandfather's fatal beating Jody Sands of Everett could serve more than 10 years in prison. EVERETT -- Jody Sands clapped his shackled hands together Wednesday after he was convicted of murdering his grandfather.Sands later turned to his mother and said, "I'll be fine." Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krese found Sands guilty of second-degree murder in the 2007 ax-beating death of his wheelchair-bound grandfather, Albert Beasley. Sands faces more than 10 years in prison. The prosecution had been delayed for more than a year because Sands, who has a long history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, was deemed incompetent to stand trial on three separate occasions. Sands was forcibly ordered to take medication, and doctors later determined he was able to assist with his own defense and understood the charge against him. Sands denies that he suffers from any mental illness. He refused to have a psychological evaluation by an expert who doesn't work for the state. He also refused to allow his attorney, Caroline Mann, to pursue an insanity defense, according to court documents. Sands is convinced he will not be imprisoned beyond Dec. 21, 2012 -- the last day of the Mayan calendar and the day Sands believes the world will end, according to court documents. Sands has no prior criminal history. He was arrested Dec. 19, 2007, after he called 911 and told an emergency operator he had hit his grandfather, 86, in the head with the blunt end of an ax inside their north Everett home. Beasley died nine days later. Sands told investigators he had "lots of sounds and voices irritating" him and he "did something about it," according to court documents. Sands testified during the bench trial that he didn't hit Beasley. He claimed his grandfather hit his head during a fainting spell. There was no evidence to support Sands' claims, Krese said. Beasley was hit at least twice in the head and once in the shoulder. Those injuries weren't consistent with a fall from his wheelchair, and the multiple blows indicated intent to kill, she said. Krese said she suspected that Sands' mental illness likely played a role in the assault, but she had to base the verdict solely on the evidence presented in court. "I have no choice but to find him guilty," she said. Sands is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 26. |
- Snohomish man dies in snowmobile accident
- A gift for a gifted kid
- Chocolate elegance: Monroe chocolatier hopes shop grows from simple beginnings
- Ex-official pleads not guilty in drunken golf course incident
- Everett cat goes from imperiled to princess
- Mariners' Moore looks to be ready for The Show
- An early start to allergy season
- Silvertips fall short in quest for No. 1 seed
- Life by chocolate
- The ‘Buzz’ from Marquette
- 16-year-old girl convicted in Sultan gang murder
(17) - Former county planning director pleads not guilty to assault charge (11)
- Census mailing a money saver (9)
- Gunfire at site of Kirkland medical marijuana grow (8)
- Monroe cell-tower plan angers neighbors (6)
- The Hub, a Snohomish institution, closes (6)
- Ex-official pleads not guilty in drunken golf course incident (5)
- A gift for a gifted kid (5)
- A consumer primer on Obama’s health bill (4)
- Local beef — lots of it (4)
- Yelm ousts Lynnwood girls, 54-51
- Meadowdale boys take aim at fifth place
- Archbishop Murphy girls keep vow to win
- Meadowdale boys refuse to fold, but rally falls short in 3A state opener
- Prairie’s zone defense stymies Lynnwood at Class 3A state girls basketball tournament
- Ellensburg takes it to Archbishop Murphy girls at 2A tourney
- Beyond the ‘Woodstock Generation'
- Magical run for Jackson
- Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force
- New CEO at Valley General Hospital
- Dan Koffman's ‘TopSpin' marketing astounds, inspires, motivates, produces — just for starters
- Economic forecasts for Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville offer some bright moments
- Government officials influencing home prices
- Massive EPA energy regulations meet challenge
- Washington state healthcare reforms also needed
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here