Jury reaches verdict in ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ trial
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The jury will continue deliberating Frederic Rogers’ sentence Wednesday, the man convicted for his role in killing seven people.
On Wednesday, August 28, a jury found Frederic Rogers guilty of three counts of capital murder after seven days of testimony, arguments and four hours of jury deliberation over two days.
The State of Alabama is seeking the death penalty against Rogers, which is what the jury will now decide in this phase of the trial.
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Rogers’s defense said at the trial opening he was guilty, but they hoped to spare his life.
The penalty phase is almost a mini-trial, in which jurors will hear from character witnesses as the defense will argue Rogers should be given life in prison without the possibility of parole.
To begin the day Tuesday, the state and defense both rested and gave their closing statements during the penalty phase.
After lunch, the jury was instructed on their second round of deliberations. They will decide Rogers’ sentence: Life in prison or death. To sentence Rogers to death, 10 of 12 jurors need to agree to the sentence. Seven jurors are required to get life without parole.
At 2:25 p.m., the jury began deliberating Rogers’ sentence. The jury then left for the day around 3:40 p.m. and is set to return to court Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to continue deliberations.
News 19’s Investigative Reporter Dallas Parker is in the courtroom again today to provide live updates.
At 10:35 a.m., the judge said Rogers’ was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Because of this, Rogers will be sentenced today.
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