Guilty Verdict In 'Dunkin Donuts' Murder Case
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A Lauderhill man, already sentenced to 9 life terms for a violent doughnut shop robbery in Delray Beach, has been found guilty of 2 murders which took place during a two-county crime spree.
The jury in the case against suspected gang member James Herard began deliberating Wednesday and handed down their verdict Friday morning.
He was found guilty of all but one of the 19 charges against him which included murder, racketeering and robbery. He was found not guilty of one of the robbery charges against him.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Herard for the murder of 56-year-old Kiem Huynh at a Tamarac Dunkin Donuts on November 27th, 2008 and the murder of Eric Jean-Pierre. Huynh died after being shot in the back during the Thanksgiving Day robbery in 2008. Jean-Pierre was shot in the face. Herard is accused of ordering the killing while driving with a fellow gang member.
Herard, described as the ringleader of a gang of violent criminals, was sentenced in August 2011 to nine life terms for the robbery of a Delray Beach Dunkin Donuts just one day before he shot and killed Huynh. During the Delray Beach crime, four customers were shot, two in the face. Nobody died.
Herard is also accused of taking part in the robberies of three Broward Dunkin Donuts and a 7-11.
The penalty phase was scheduled to start on June 3rd. Jurors will either recommend life in prison or the death penalty.
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