Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Two Brothers Enter Alford Pleas In Crawford Death
WEST VIRGINIA....
During a hearing Tuesday morning, Phillip and Nathaniel Barnett entered Alford pleas to voluntary manslaughter for their roles in the death of 21 year old Deanna Crawford of Huntington. Phillip also took an Alford plea to malicious wounding. Crawford's decomposing body was found in a secluded area of Salt Rock in August 2002. The brothers had been convicted of 2nd degree murder, but, in July, the West Virginia Supreme Court overturned their second-degree murder convictions due to an error by the judge during the trial. The brothers agreed to the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Phillip will also serve an additional 2-10 years on the malicious wounding charge. Formal sentencing is set for January 31st. The men will remain on home confinement until then. An Alford plea means the brothers maintain their innocence but accept the punshishment for the crime.
During a hearing Tuesday morning, Phillip and Nathaniel Barnett entered Alford pleas to voluntary manslaughter for their roles in the death of 21 year old Deanna Crawford of Huntington. Phillip also took an Alford plea to malicious wounding. Crawford's decomposing body was found in a secluded area of Salt Rock in August 2002. The brothers had been convicted of 2nd degree murder, but, in July, the West Virginia Supreme Court overturned their second-degree murder convictions due to an error by the judge during the trial. The brothers agreed to the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Phillip will also serve an additional 2-10 years on the malicious wounding charge. Formal sentencing is set for January 31st. The men will remain on home confinement until then. An Alford plea means the brothers maintain their innocence but accept the punshishment for the crime.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:27 PM 
