Durham, N.C. — Durham prosecutors failed Tuesday to persuade a judge that they should be able to ask a jury to make the defendant in a Durham murder trial the fifth woman on North Carolina’s Death Row.
Christy Crittenton, prosecutors charge, is a cold and calculated gold digger who helped three others kill 71-year-old Edwin Knowles last July. Knowles was found pistol-whipped and shot to death in his Bahama home.
“I would argue circumstance show she knew what was going on and what was going to happen,” Assistant District Attorney David Saacks told Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson.
Not so, defense attorney Jay Ferguson told Hudson.
“She wasn't even in the house when the shooting occurred,” Ferguson said.
Both sides agreed Knowles was Crittenton’s sugar daddy. Ferguson said she visited him only to borrow money, while Saacks said her visit was about robbery and turned into murder.
Even though Crittenton didn't fire the shot that struck Knowles, she led the trigger man to his home, the prosecutor told Hudson.
Saacks argued that Crittenton's criminal background should be considered, including her 1993 conviction for killing a former Durham police officer. In the end, however, Hudson ruled that there was not enough evidence to support the death penalty in the case.
If convicted, Crittenton will face an automatic life sentence instead.
Prosecutors indicated they still plan to seek the death penalty against the shooter in Knowles’ death.
The last time prosecutors sought the death penalty against a woman was when Barbara Stager was convicted in 1989 of first-degree murder for a 1988 killing and sentenced to die. She received a new trial, however, and was given a life sentence instead in 1993.
Judge Rules Out Death Penalty in Woman's Murder Trial
- Reporter: Julia Lewis
- Photographer: Pete James
- Web Editor: Ron Gallagher
Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
17 Comments
-
- Novartis opens first U.S. plant for flu vaccine in N.C.
Updated 52 minutes ago | Slideshow |
- ConAgra explosion claims fourth victim
Updated Nov. 23 6:16 p.m. | Slideshow |
- Concern lingers about Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 strain
Updated at 5:46 a.m. |
- Holiday speed enforcement campaign under way
Updated Nov. 23 11:04 p.m. |
- State to review DSS' contact with slain girl's family
Updated Nov. 23 6:55 p.m. |
- Novartis opens first U.S. plant for flu vaccine in N.C.
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- AMA Awards show
Updated Nov. 23 5:15 p.m. - Pet Photos | November 23 - November 29, 2009
Updated 13 minutes ago - Photos: Adam Lambert
Updated Nov. 23 5:03 p.m.
- AMA Awards show
Photo Spotlight
-
Bands, marchers in holiday paradeChoose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.
-
Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas ParadeWatch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.
-
Search for missing IRS refundsThe Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.
-
North Carolina unemployment ratesView an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.











STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.