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Justice Served — Sparing The Life of a Serial Killer, A Jury’s Life Verdict for Andre Crawford
By Debra A. Seaton
On December 18, 2009, family members of 11 women murdered in a small,
impoverished African American community on Chicago’s Southside jumped up
from their seats and stomped out of Courtroom 402 as the judge read the
jury’s verdict.
We, the jury, after weighing the factors in aggravation and
mitigation, one or more jurors do not find death is the appropriate
sentence. The court shall not sentence the defendant Andre Crawford to
death, but shall sentence the defendant to natural life imprisonment.
As the family members exited the courtroom, one could hear them ask,
“How could the jury do this to us?” Anger, disbelief, and tears filled
their faces. At the same time, an alternate female juror nearly fainted
and almost fell to the floor. Crying and gasping, her face expressed
shock and disbelief at the verdict. Another female juror, visibly shaken
and angry, buried her head in her lap and sobbed. Her emotions could
not be camouflaged through the makeup smeared over he
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