Double-Jeopardy Claim Rejected In 2010 Murder Case
FLINT (AP) - A judge has rejected a defense lawyer's double-jeopardy claim and has sentenced a Flint man to life in prison without parole for the robbery-slayings of a 15-year-old girl and a 27-year-old marijuana dealer.
Stanley Smith Jr.'s sentencing was postponed while a judge considered whether a jury verdict last month convicting Smith of both first- and second-degree murder amounted to double jeopardy for a single crime. Genesee County Circuit Judge Geoffrey decided it didn't and issued the mandatory sentence Thursday under Michigan's first-degree murder law.
Prosecutors say Smith fatally shot 15-year-old Porsche Turner and 27-year-old Martarien Wilson in November 2010.
Authorities say Smith and Delante Russell planned to rob Wilson, a marijuana dealer. When they were went to carry out their plan however, an argument ensued and Smith shot Wilson to death, prosecutors said. Turner was killed when she came downstairs to see what happened, according to court documents.
Russell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob in a deal with prosecutors and testified against Smith.
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