JOPLIN, MO.--- The jury spent just one hour deciding the fate of William Laramore, 46. Just before 4 this afternoon, Laramore was found guilty on both 1st Degree Murder in the death of Sean French and 1st Degree Assault in the beating of Steve Shockley. Closing arguments ended just before 3 this afternoon.
The charges stem from an incident in November 2010. The prosecution argued Laramore intentionally beat the murder victim Sean French and attacked Steve Shockley, who survived. The defense says Laramore had been drinking the night of the murder and was making inconsistent claims as to what had happened.
The defense also argued there is no evidence that Laramore committed the crime since his DNA was not tested on any of the weapons used, but jurors heard a recording of Laramore confessing to everything in the police car after the crime had happened. The prosecuting attorney says they will ask the judge to sentence him to life in prison.
"We'll ask that run consecutive, the reason for that is I think there needs to be a separate punishment for both victims in this case. Even though, technically he'll have to serve the rest of his life in prison anyway, but we still think it's an important message to send to victims that there's a separate punishment for each crime committed," states Dean Dankelson, Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney.
Laramore could face life in prison without parole for 1st Degree Murder as well as 10 to 30 years or a life sentence for 1st Degree Assault. He is set to be sentenced on May 10th.
The charges stem from an incident in November 2010. The prosecution argued Laramore intentionally beat the murder victim Sean French and attacked Steve Shockley, who survived. The defense says Laramore had been drinking the night of the murder and was making inconsistent claims as to what had happened.
The defense also argued there is no evidence that Laramore committed the crime since his DNA was not tested on any of the weapons used, but jurors heard a recording of Laramore confessing to everything in the police car after the crime had happened. The prosecuting attorney says they will ask the judge to sentence him to life in prison.
"We'll ask that run consecutive, the reason for that is I think there needs to be a separate punishment for both victims in this case. Even though, technically he'll have to serve the rest of his life in prison anyway, but we still think it's an important message to send to victims that there's a separate punishment for each crime committed," states Dean Dankelson, Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney.
Laramore could face life in prison without parole for 1st Degree Murder as well as 10 to 30 years or a life sentence for 1st Degree Assault. He is set to be sentenced on May 10th.
