Thread: Anti-Immigration Activist Eligible For Death Penalty

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Anti-Immigration Activist Eligible For Death Penalty


Shawna Forde (myFOXPhoenix.com)

(NewsCore) - TUCSON, Ariz. -- The murderous leader of an anti-illegal-immigration group will be eligible for the death penalty, a jury said Tuesday, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Shawna Forde, 42, was found guilty Monday of killing a 29-year old man and his nine-year old daughter during a home invasion designed to fund her border protection group.

Jurors will hear from the victims' family Tuesday afternoon and then begin deliberating on Forde's punishment.

She was found guilty earlier on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and robbery.

Prosecutors told of how she recruited two men to rob the victim, Raul Junior Flores, because she thought he was a drug smuggler and she wanted cash for her organization, Minuteman American Defense.

Flores' wife, Gina Gonzalez, told the court that on May 30, 2009, her husband answered the door of their home in Arivaca, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the Mexico border, to find Forde and one of her accomplices, who identified themselves as police officers looking for fugitives.

When Flores questioned their story, Forde's accomplice allegedly began shooting.

Flores and Gonzalez were both shot and as Gonzalez lay injured on the floor of the house, the couple's daughter, Brisenia, was shot twice in the head.

Within two weeks of the incident Forde, the alleged gunman Jason Bush, 36, and another man, Albert Gaxiola, 44, were arrested. Bush and Gaxiola are scheduled to go to trial March 15 and June 1, respectively.

Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpps/news/anti-i ... 5_11896127

related

At the Courthouse: Forde eligible for death penalty

After deliberating just 45 minutes, the jurors in the Shawna Forde trial decided she is eligible for the death penalty.

This afternoon they'll hear from Gina Gonzalez and her surviving daughter, followed by the start of several days of mitigating evidence Forde's defense attorneys hope will convince them to spare her life.

The jury decided the death penalty ought to be on the table because:

* Forde intended the murders of Junior Flores and Brisenia Flores to take place.

* She was a major (not a minor) participant in the robbery of the Flores' and the burglary of their home.

* Forde was convicted of other serious offenses yesterday.

* Forde's motive was money.

* More than one person was murdered.

* Brisenia was younger than 15 and Forde was older than 18.

Source: http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/courtho ... 002e0.html