Ronson Kyle Bush – White, age 31
Sentenced in Grady County, Oklahoma
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: December 23, 2008
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bush shot William Harrington (age 35). Bush admitted to shooting his friend, but denied that he meant to do it. Prosecutors showed that Harrington had been shot many times, crawled away, and was shot again multiple times. The defense argued that Bush’s head injuries, bipolar disorder, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction were mitigating factors. Bush killed Harrington while on parole.
Sources: The Express-Star (Chickasha, OK) 10/26/09 (2009 WLNR 21290627), 10/28/09 (2009 WLNR 21464427), 10/29/09 (2009 WLNR 21619413), 10/30/09 (2009 WLNR 21727968), 11/02/09 (2009 WLNR 21882080); Oklahoman 10/30/09(2009 WLNR 21856153).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: December 23, 2008
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bush shot William Harrington (age 35). Bush admitted to shooting his friend, but denied that he meant to do it. Prosecutors showed that Harrington had been shot many times, crawled away, and was shot again multiple times. The defense argued that Bush’s head injuries, bipolar disorder, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction were mitigating factors. Bush killed Harrington while on parole.
Sources: The Express-Star (Chickasha, OK) 10/26/09 (2009 WLNR 21290627), 10/28/09 (2009 WLNR 21464427), 10/29/09 (2009 WLNR 21619413), 10/30/09 (2009 WLNR 21727968), 11/02/09 (2009 WLNR 21882080); Oklahoman 10/30/09(2009 WLNR 21856153).
Raymond Eugene Johnson – Black, age 33
Sentenced in Tulsa County, Oklahoma
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: June 2007
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Johnson beat to death Brooke Whitaker (age 24) with a hammer, and then set fire to Whitaker’s home with Kya Whitaker (age 7 months) still inside. During sentencing the prosecution offered evidence of four different aggravating circumstances: previous felony convictions, knowingly created great risk of death to more than one person, continued threat to society, and especially heinous atrocious or cruel. The previous felony conviction included five previous convictions against Johnson among them a first-degree manslaughter charge. The defense argued that Johnson intended to kill Brooke Whitaker, but not Kya Whitaker. During sentencing the defense argued that Johnson could be a benefit to society behind bars as part of the prison ministry.
Sources: Tulsa World (OK) 10/10/07 (2007 WLNR 19945218), 06/27/09 (2009 WLNR 12350970), 07/29/09 (2009 WLNR 14695826).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: June 2007
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Johnson beat to death Brooke Whitaker (age 24) with a hammer, and then set fire to Whitaker’s home with Kya Whitaker (age 7 months) still inside. During sentencing the prosecution offered evidence of four different aggravating circumstances: previous felony convictions, knowingly created great risk of death to more than one person, continued threat to society, and especially heinous atrocious or cruel. The previous felony conviction included five previous convictions against Johnson among them a first-degree manslaughter charge. The defense argued that Johnson intended to kill Brooke Whitaker, but not Kya Whitaker. During sentencing the defense argued that Johnson could be a benefit to society behind bars as part of the prison ministry.
Sources: Tulsa World (OK) 10/10/07 (2007 WLNR 19945218), 06/27/09 (2009 WLNR 12350970), 07/29/09 (2009 WLNR 14695826).