Saturday, March 06, 2010
Inmate Denied Retrial In Infant Death
WEST VIRGINIA...
There will be no new trial for a Putnam County man convicted in the death of a 2-year old child. This is the second time a retrial has been denied Michael Merrifield. The first denial occured in July, 2009 The child was the son of his ex-girlfriend. Defense attorneys argued Merrifield should have been part of telephone conference call that decided the questions on a jury questionaire form. Judge Phillip Stowers released an opinion that said juror orientation is not a critical part of the trial as the defense argued. Instead, he ruled that it is an administrative process to familiarize jurors with their duties. The denial of the retrial means Merrifield will continue to serve a life sentence without mercy in prison. Judge Stowers also denied a similar call for a retrial in July 2009.
There will be no new trial for a Putnam County man convicted in the death of a 2-year old child. This is the second time a retrial has been denied Michael Merrifield. The first denial occured in July, 2009 The child was the son of his ex-girlfriend. Defense attorneys argued Merrifield should have been part of telephone conference call that decided the questions on a jury questionaire form. Judge Phillip Stowers released an opinion that said juror orientation is not a critical part of the trial as the defense argued. Instead, he ruled that it is an administrative process to familiarize jurors with their duties. The denial of the retrial means Merrifield will continue to serve a life sentence without mercy in prison. Judge Stowers also denied a similar call for a retrial in July 2009.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:08 PM 
