Jury begins deliberations in Coonrod case
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The jury has begun deliberations in the capital murder trial of Wesley Coonrod.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., the jury was given the case.
Coonrod is accused of setting the March 7 fire at 150 Lafayette Street in Greenfield that killed his 3- and 4-year-old sons, Thomas and Stephen.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey and defense attorney Jerry McHenry gave closing statements - summations of the case - to the jurors.
As the state has the burden of proof, Grandey gave his statements in two parts, with the defense addressing the jury in between.
The jury will be sequestered until all 12 agree on verdicts on the charges of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications; arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; and two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree. On the counts of murder, jurors are permitted to consider lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide.
The state has alleged Coonrod poured an accelerant in the hallway of his home near the door to the bedroom where his children were, lit the accelerant with a Bic cigarette lighter, and walked out the front door.
The defense had alleged that one of the children could set the fire, and presented testimony to show that Thomas had a history of playing with fire and cigarette lighters.
Grandey told the jurors that to suggest Thomas or Stephen set the fire "is offensive."
Acknowledging that is a circumstantial case, Grandey said he believed that when the jurors reviewed the totality of evidence, they would find Coonrod is guilty of intentionally murdering his children.
McHenry said that when Coonrod took the stand Wednesday, the jurors could see for themselves he was a "heartbroken" father who obviously loved his children. While everything thinks they know how they would react in a situation when their children are in danger, in truth, no one knows until they are confronted with that situation.
"This is life and death," McHenry said, and to send someone to death row on a "hypothesis" is not right, and they should find him not guilty.
Continue to check back to highlandcountypress.com as the story is updated, and watch for reports on the verdict.
The jury has begun deliberations in the capital murder trial of Wesley Coonrod.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., the jury was given the case.
Coonrod is accused of setting the March 7 fire at 150 Lafayette Street in Greenfield that killed his 3- and 4-year-old sons, Thomas and Stephen.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey and defense attorney Jerry McHenry gave closing statements - summations of the case - to the jurors.
As the state has the burden of proof, Grandey gave his statements in two parts, with the defense addressing the jury in between.
The jury will be sequestered until all 12 agree on verdicts on the charges of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications; arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; and two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree. On the counts of murder, jurors are permitted to consider lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide.
The state has alleged Coonrod poured an accelerant in the hallway of his home near the door to the bedroom where his children were, lit the accelerant with a Bic cigarette lighter, and walked out the front door.
The defense had alleged that one of the children could set the fire, and presented testimony to show that Thomas had a history of playing with fire and cigarette lighters.
Grandey told the jurors that to suggest Thomas or Stephen set the fire "is offensive."
Acknowledging that is a circumstantial case, Grandey said he believed that when the jurors reviewed the totality of evidence, they would find Coonrod is guilty of intentionally murdering his children.
McHenry said that when Coonrod took the stand Wednesday, the jurors could see for themselves he was a "heartbroken" father who obviously loved his children. While everything thinks they know how they would react in a situation when their children are in danger, in truth, no one knows until they are confronted with that situation.
"This is life and death," McHenry said, and to send someone to death row on a "hypothesis" is not right, and they should find him not guilty.
Continue to check back to highlandcountypress.com as the story is updated, and watch for reports on the verdict.