'He wrote out this argument, he gave it to colleagues, I guarantee you, and tested it. TAMPA, Fla The trial for Granville Ritchie, the man accused of raping and murdering a 9-year-old Tampa girl in May of 2014, began today. According to Ritchie's appellate attorney Rachel Roebuck, Harmon's impassioned speech violated what is known in the legal profession as the Golden Rule, which is an argument that persuades jurors to put themselves in the place of the victim when considering a verdict, reported Fox 13. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: Ive thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. 11/4/21 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Granville Ritchie v. State of Florida SC20-1422. "I don't know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. [emailprotected]. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The sentencing phase will begin when court resumes Thursday morning. TAMPA, Fla. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of sexually battering and murdering 9-year-old Felicia Williams in May of 2014. Nearly a year aftera jury recommended Granville Ritchie be put to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, an emotional judge agreed, and sentenced him to death on Friday morning. But the judge told them to speak up if what they hear becomes overwhelming. 'Mr. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Instead, it becomes a first step of a neverending nightmare you never wake from. My heart breaks for you.". My heart breaks for you. "I am here to bury this Jamaican today," she said during the hearing. If the inmate wins on appeal, he will be awarded a new sentencing trial to determine whether he is re-sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. He told me he needed to do something. The Golden Rule argument refers to an argument put forth by the prosecution in a jury trial, where jurors are persuaded to consider themselves in the place of the victim in reaching a verdict that they would prefer the defendant to get. (FOX 13 News). On Friday morning, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville Ritchie to death for the May 16, 2014, murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams, report Fox13, WWSB and the Tampa Bay Times. pic.twitter.com/K1mmbzLM7b, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 25, 2019. I said do what, you dont even know anybody around here, Kellisa Kelley said, according to BayNews9. Court is being held in Hillsborough County. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. [. TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A jury of his peers has found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Granville Ritchie (pictured in mugshot) killed Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014 Wiley was a neighbor and friend to Felecia's family. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . Ritchie found guilty in death of Felecia Williams, 9. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had sex in a bedroom, but she later admitted she lied. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchie's case this week. A doctor who took the stand Tuesday disagreed with the medical examiner's findings on the cause of death. Defense attorney Daniel Hernandez asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco to either bar the entire panel from hearing the rest of the case or to excuse the juror who wept. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. The girl's body was found washed up on a shoreline a day after she had been left alone with Ritchie. For him to feel what she felt. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death," Sisco said in court on Friday. . Prosecutors said Ritchie had been dating Felecia's neighbor, Eboni Wiley, in May 2014. Fridays sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-olds mother. This was deliberate. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where he dumped Felecias body into the bay. If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea., That scripture is talking to someone that knows better, Demerson said. , updated Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 murder of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown over an overpass. After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday and the jury began deliberating. Required fields are marked *. Support journalism byclicking here to ourGiveSendGoor sign up for ourfree newsletter by clicking here. The jury has to be unanimous on the death sentence. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 murder of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown over an overpass. "I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they can't find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. Rick Buckwalter, the Florida appeals attorney, admitted it was a close call, but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Ex-Cop Husband Over Allegations He Molested Children at Her Daycare, Pieper Lewis, Sex Trafficking Victim Who Killed Alleged Rapist, Escapes from Custody, Chinese-Canadian Singer Kris Wu Sentenced to 13 Years for Raping Multiple Women: Reports, Mel Gibson Can Testify in Support of Accuser at Harvey Weinstein Trial, Judge Rules, Jury Recommends Death for Fla. Man Who Killed 2 Boys with Hammer in 'Violent and Relentless Rage', Ohio Softball Coach Sexually Abused a Student, Then Begged Teen Not to Tell Authorities, Kansas Police Officer Allegedly Preyed on Black Women and Girls for Years: 'Terrorized a Community', R. Kelly Found Guilty on Six Counts in Child Pornography Trial, R.I. Man Accused of Sexually Abusing 12-Year-Old Girl, Then Offering Fellow Inmate $200 to Kill Her. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I feel like death is appropriate. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchies case this week. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown off an overpass. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to the police and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. Rick Buckwalter, the appellate attorney for Florida, conceded that it was 'a close call,' but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. No one spoke on behalf of Ritchie during Friday's testimony. He grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, plagued with crime and violence, and endured beatings from a father who had 18 children by several different mothers. May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie., https://www.fox13news.com/news/granville-ritchie-sentenced-to-death-for-2014-rape-murder-of-9-year-old-felecia-williams, Your email address will not be published. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. 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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Prosecutors challenged that, stilling claiming Williams was strangled. Ritchie may have suffered brain damage, Eisenstein said. That is true. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. On the day of the murder, Felecia left home with Wiley and went to Ritchie's mother's apartment at the Doral Oaks Apartment complex. Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Some days I dont know if Im coming or going.. I think there is a good chance there was somebody pressing the arm down or kneeling on the patient for a period of time. Ritchies conviction comes five years after he raped and killed Felecia before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dropping it off of the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge, according to the Tampa Bay Times, WTSP and Fox13. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Aconvicted child rapist and murderer is appealing his death sentence in Florida by arguing that the prosecutor violated the so-called 'Golden Rule' by asking the jury to imagine his victim's suffering. Eboni Wiley says she had just started dating Ritchie in 2014 when the two went to pick up her. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Public housing tenants ask if old maps are accurate. She didnt deserve thatits hard for all of us to deal with it, you know, but we have to take it one day at a time.. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . TAMPA, Fla. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year . #GranvilleRitchie GUILTY on all counts 1st degree murder, Rape & Sexual Battery and Aggravated Child Abuse. This is his direct appeal. 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