For him to feel what she felt. "The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fatethat would be for him to be hung. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. I feel like death is appropriate. VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecia's father stunned the courtroom by telling his daughter's killer that he forgave him. That argument is considered legally improper because jurors are expected to weigh a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, instead of their personal feelings. She met Ritchie in May of that year and the two began dating. In front of a jury tasked to decide the fate of Ritchie . A convicted child rapist and murderer is appealing his death sentence in Florida arguing that the prosecutor violated the so-called Golden Rule by asking the jury to imagine his victims suffering. By He pegged Ritchies IQ at 78, well below average. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. By She explained that she recently suffered a personal loss. 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. During Ritchies trial, the court heard from Felecias mother. I ain't got no ill will against you,' said Jerome Williams, WREG reports. This was deliberate. All I know is he needs to be like her. Authorities say the victim was in the care ofEboni Wiley, a family friend. Learn More{{/message}}. 3 Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl Credit: Hillsborough County Jai 3 Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014 Credit: Facebook Granville Ritchie, right, sits with defense attorneys during his trial Monday at the Hillsborough County Courthouse. He said she used ecstasy, and that she said it could feel like Satan was manipulating her while she was on it. 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. That is true. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. The argument is considered improper and could be grounds for an appeal because the jurors have to consider a case in an objective manner and rely on evidence alone, instead of their feelings and biases. Mister. When Wiley returned almost an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money for her to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and that she had not returned. He pointed as Wiley as a possible perpetrator of the murder. In defending the death penalty, Tampa prosecutor Scott Harmon told the jury, in part: Can you imagine the fear of knowing that her life is ending and she is in pain all over her body? 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. I think there is a good chance there was somebody pressing the arm down or kneeling on the patient for a period of time. pic.twitter.com/uYMknpFSzI, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 16, 2019, #GranvilleRitchie Wiley said Ritchie told her to tell Felecias family that there was no male in the house, only females so she wouldnt seem like a bad person for leaving Felecia alone with a man. But the courts majority, while acknowledging improper comments, said Ritchie should not receive a new hearing. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. Ritchie was convicted in 2019 of first degree murder, s*xual assault and aggravated child abuse in connection with Felecias death. Felecias death has affected my life, Felecia Demerson said on the stand, according to BayNews9. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. Injuries to her mouth, he said, indicated that a hand may have been placed over it, keeping her from crying out. Hernandez expressed concern about the panels ability to make a fair decision on the death penalty. Eboni Wiley says she had just started dating Ritchie in 2014 when the two went to pick up her. 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. A doctor who took the stand Tuesday disagreed with the medical examiner's findings on the cause of death. My heart breaks for you.". #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. Eboni Wiley, in May 2014, prosecutors said. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said with her voice cracking, before removing her glasses to wipe away tears, 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. Ritchie then s*xually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said during his trial. James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. 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. On the night of her murder, Felecia, who was known to her family as Sugar Plum, was left alone with Ritchie at his Temple Terrace apartment by a woman who was supposed to be watching her. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie," Judge. TAMPA, Fla. -- A key witness testified Monday in the Granville Ritchie murder trial. During a hearing in Florida Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Jamie Grosshans closely scrutinized Harmon's remarks and signaled she was leaning towards the position of the defense. It is unreasonable to think, in light of the facts of this case, that any juror would be able to avoid all signs of emotion, Sisco said. pic.twitter.com/K1mmbzLM7b, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 25, 2019. Ritchie was found guilty in 2019 of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in connection with Felecia's death. (FOX 13 News). Instead, it becomes a first step of a neverending nightmare you never wake from. 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. I feel like death is appropriate. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. Authorities said she originally lied to them during the investigation into Williams disappearance. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. I wish you all of the best.". Youre a better stronger woman than I am. Ritchie did poorly in school, repeating 9th grade before dropping out in 10th, jurors were told. When she returned Ritchie told her he let Sugarplum go to the CVS to get candy. Historique L'entreprise. 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Im not like everyone else, bro. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. All I know is he needs to be like her.. The duo were watching the girl one day, and Ritchie took Felecia to his mother's apartment, the Associated Press reported. Granville Ritchie (pictured in mugshot) killed Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014 Wiley was a neighbor and friend to Felecia's family. 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. 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. Rick Buckwalter, the appellate attorney for Florida, conceded that it was 'a close call,' but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. As the states case continued, the jury was presented with photos showing Felecias injuries as they were during the first phase of the trial. . Demersons testimony brought back feelings of grief, she said. Ritchie and Felecia did not know each other before meeting on May 16, 2014, but they were both close to Eboni Wiley, who was the mans girlfriend and the girls neighbor and family friend. Prosecutor Scott Harmonsaid in closing arguments on Wednesday that Ritchie was a master manipulator, who lied and used Wiley and his mother to cover up what really happened. Defense casts doubt as Granville Ritchie trial winds down, Jury in Granville Ritchies murder trial hears his account of girls disappearance, He sold me a dream. Ex-girlfriend links Granville Ritchie to 9-year-old murder victim, She was looking into the face of her killer: Trial opens in slaying of girl, 9, Jury seated in trial of Granville Ritchie, accused of strangling young girl. Granville Ritchie, 35, of this suburb northeast of Tampa also was charged with capital sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in the death of Felecia Williams, police Chief Kenneth Albano. Sisco addressed the grieving mother, telling her, "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . [emailprotected]. All rights reserved. Required fields are marked *. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchie's case this week. On Friday morning, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. During a Florida Supreme Court hearing Thursday, Judge Jamie Grosshans closely examined Harmons comments and noted that she leaned toward the defense position. They traveled to a home, where the defendant was alone with the victim starting at about 4:50 p.m. Investigators claim he committed the crime, stuffed the body in a suitcase, and dumped this by the Courtney Campbell Causeway. 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Rather, viewing the record in its totality, it was the evidence of Ritchies horrific and senseless crimes against the victim, not the prosecutors missteps, that secured the recommendation of death. Justice Ricky Polston agreed with the outcome of the majority opinion but did not sign onto it. Prosecutors cited three aggravating factors to support their argument for a death sentence: The victim was younger than 12; her murder occurred during a sexual battery; and the killing was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel. Wiley went to buy marijuana and Ritchie then strangled and assaulted the nine-year-old, prosecutors claimed. During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecias father surprised the courtroom by telling the murderer of his daughter that he forgave him. I have no ill will against you, Jerome Williams said, reports WREG. I said do what, you dont even know anybody around here, Kellisa Kelley said, according to BayNews9. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions and death sentence for a man who sexually battered and killed 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Florida man Granville Ritchie, 40, was found guilty of raping and . After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. In sum, we cannot say that the improper arguments precluded Ritchies jury from making a reasoned assessment based on the evidence so as to amount to a denial of due process, said the opinion shared by Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Alan Lawson, Carlos Muniz, John Couriel and Jamie Grosshans. Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams, during the sentencing for! That sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child by clicking Accept, you dont even know around. 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