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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — The gunman recovered criminally liable for the wide shooting onslaught against the Capital Gazette volition beryllium sentenced connected Sept. 28.
On Wednesday, the pb authoritative connected the lawsuit sat down with WJZ newsman Ava-joye Burnett for an extended interview.
READ MORE: Jury Finds Capital Gazette Shooter Criminally Responsible For 2018 Mass Shooting
Anne Arundel County’s State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said the wide shooting astatine the Capital Gazette was the worst execution lawsuit she’s ever prosecuted.
“I besides deliberation that I’m moving for the radical who passed away,” said Colt Leitess. “I consciousness similar I’m representing the victims who can’t talk for themselves.”
During the 12 time proceedings that concluded past week, State’s Attorney Colt Leitess utilized an FBI-built exemplary of the Capital Gazette newsroom to assistance marque her lawsuit that the suspect was criminally liable for his actions.
Defense attorneys said Jarrod Ramos was mentally ill, suffered from autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive upset and delusional upset but State’s Attorney Colt Leitess said that wasn’t the case.
The authoritative argued that the suspect methodically planned and hunted down victims due to the fact that of a long-running grievance with the paper.
“It was precise wide for maine for a agelong clip that this lawsuit was not astir transgression responsibility, it was astir him seeking revenge to marque himself consciousness better,” said Colt Leitess.
“What was your idiosyncratic fearfulness if the assemblage recovered that it was OK for him to spell to a authorities infirmary alternatively of a maximum-security facility?” asked Ava-joye Burnett.
“Imagine the dilemma if the doctors successful the State of Maryland said determination is thing incorrect with him, there’s thing earnestly incorrect with him, if helium was past committed to the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, helium could’ve conceivably been released from jail,” Colt Leitess responded.
The suspect antecedently pleaded blameworthy to 23 counts related to the shooting. The state’s lawyer said the suspect could person 5 beingness sentences for each of the 5 victims. Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters were killed during the attack.
“He’s facing ne'er getting retired of situation ever,” Colt Leitess added. “It makes maine consciousness good, I deliberation that the assemblage needs to beryllium protected from the defendant. ”
The assemblage unanimously recovered that the suspect is criminally responsible.
WJZ contacted the defendant’s attorneys to talk astir this lawsuit but has not received a response.
We volition update this communicative if determination is simply a effect from the defence team.
Ava-joye Burnett
English (US) ·