KP95DAO
January 18, 2003, 11:15 PM
All the people connected to this case; victim and perps, are black. And the family is all for the death penalty. Of course the former Gov. Ryan would think this is just wrong, wrong, wrong.
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=974976&pic=none&TP=getarticle
Judge orders 4 to stand trial in March carjacking, killing
2003-01-18
By Diana Baldwin
The Oklahoman
Four men were ordered Friday to go to trial for killing a postal worker during a carjacking at a northwest Oklahoma City convenience store.
Kevin Thomas Macklin, 20; Lewis Desean Hamilton, 23; Keary Lamar Littlejohn, 20; and Vernon King Jr., 19, all of Oklahoma City, are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with a firearm for the March 19 shooting death of Gregory Laurice Rogers II.
Rogers, 22, was shot while getting gasoline at a 7-Eleven near NW 122 and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for all the defendants.
Hamilton also was ordered to go to trial on an additional charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Oklahoma County Special Judge Donald Deason set their pretrial hearing for March 5 before District Judge Susan Bragg.
The men remain in jail in lieu of bail.
Monique Robinson, the victim's older sister, said, "I'm happy, very happy.
"For all the prayers that everyone has been asking for strength ... the Lord is working, and we have went on past the first step.
"It has been lengthy, but it was worth it."
The Rev. Greg Rogers, the victim's father, said: "I'm very pleased that the court system has operated as it has done. It tells me, of course, justice will prevail."
"It has taken some time, and sometimes these things take time because we do understand the system wants to be fair to the utmost to the defendants as well.
"This is just a step. We still have a long way to go."
The Rogers family said they supported the death penalty even before their relative's death.
"I believe that according to the Bible that men have to give an account for what crime they have done," said Rogers, pastor of Community Missionary Baptist Church. "God uses men and women to keep this society in the right place.
"Of course, He'll make a ruling when its all said and done. Still, justice has to be done right here on this Earth."
The judge delayed making his decision until Friday because six of the eight defense attorneys wanted to present their arguments against the evidence in writing.
Assistant Public Defenders Catherine Hammarsten and Cynthia Tedder told the judge none of the state's witnesses saw Greg Rogers killed or robbed. The attorneys, representing Hamilton, claim the testimony was hearsay.
Heidi Baier, King's attorney, said none of the state's witnesses said King did anything other than be present at the crime scene.
"The state's case against Vernon King Jr. is based almost entirely upon the admissions of Vernon King Jr.," said Baier, an attorney for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=974976&pic=none&TP=getarticle
Judge orders 4 to stand trial in March carjacking, killing
2003-01-18
By Diana Baldwin
The Oklahoman
Four men were ordered Friday to go to trial for killing a postal worker during a carjacking at a northwest Oklahoma City convenience store.
Kevin Thomas Macklin, 20; Lewis Desean Hamilton, 23; Keary Lamar Littlejohn, 20; and Vernon King Jr., 19, all of Oklahoma City, are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with a firearm for the March 19 shooting death of Gregory Laurice Rogers II.
Rogers, 22, was shot while getting gasoline at a 7-Eleven near NW 122 and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for all the defendants.
Hamilton also was ordered to go to trial on an additional charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Oklahoma County Special Judge Donald Deason set their pretrial hearing for March 5 before District Judge Susan Bragg.
The men remain in jail in lieu of bail.
Monique Robinson, the victim's older sister, said, "I'm happy, very happy.
"For all the prayers that everyone has been asking for strength ... the Lord is working, and we have went on past the first step.
"It has been lengthy, but it was worth it."
The Rev. Greg Rogers, the victim's father, said: "I'm very pleased that the court system has operated as it has done. It tells me, of course, justice will prevail."
"It has taken some time, and sometimes these things take time because we do understand the system wants to be fair to the utmost to the defendants as well.
"This is just a step. We still have a long way to go."
The Rogers family said they supported the death penalty even before their relative's death.
"I believe that according to the Bible that men have to give an account for what crime they have done," said Rogers, pastor of Community Missionary Baptist Church. "God uses men and women to keep this society in the right place.
"Of course, He'll make a ruling when its all said and done. Still, justice has to be done right here on this Earth."
The judge delayed making his decision until Friday because six of the eight defense attorneys wanted to present their arguments against the evidence in writing.
Assistant Public Defenders Catherine Hammarsten and Cynthia Tedder told the judge none of the state's witnesses saw Greg Rogers killed or robbed. The attorneys, representing Hamilton, claim the testimony was hearsay.
Heidi Baier, King's attorney, said none of the state's witnesses said King did anything other than be present at the crime scene.
"The state's case against Vernon King Jr. is based almost entirely upon the admissions of Vernon King Jr.," said Baier, an attorney for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.