Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Court stopped briefly after a juror in Granville Ritchies trial began sobbing during the testimony of the 9-year-old victims mother. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A jury of his peers has found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. On Wednesday, the 12-member jury found the 40-year-old Ritchie guilty in the girls 2014 rape and murder. When Wiley returned almost an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money for her to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and that she had not returned. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: Ive thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had s*x in a bedroom, but later admitted that she lied. Who is Granville Ritchie? They spent the past two days in the penalty phase of the trial listening to witnesses and hearing arguments from the Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown off an overpass. In September 2019, all 12 jurors agreed Ritchie, who grew up in Jamaica,should face the death penalty. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. In front of a jury tasked to decide the fate of Ritchie . Roebuck, the appellant's attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous about Harmon's argument. Copyright 2022The Free Press, LLC,tampafp.com. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? I feel like death is appropriate. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . That is true. The sentencing phase will begin when court resumes Thursday morning. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 3 Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl Credit: Hillsborough County Jai 3 Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014 Credit: Facebook By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. Wiley was a witness at Ritchies trial and was accused of lying during the missing person investigation. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction and death sentence of a Hillsborough County man convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering a 9-year-old girl and dumping her body in water off the Courtney Campbell Causeway. 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VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. TAMPA Jurors considering whether to sentence Granville Ritchie to death for the murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams stopped their work Thursday morning when one of them began sobbing at testimony from the little girls mother. Wiley has been charged with lying during a missing person investigation. Youre a better stronger woman than I am. Published: 4:25 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Updated: 8:35 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Almost two weeks after his trial began, Granville Ritchie has been found guilty of the sexual battery and. Granville Ritchie, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, rape and sexual battery, and aggravated child abuse. Wiley went to buy marijuana and Ritchie then strangled and assaulted the nine-year-old, prosecutors claimed. "I am here to bury this Jamaican today," she said during the hearing. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Justice Jorge Labarga argued that Ritchie should receive a new sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said Ritchie had been dating Felecia's neighbor, Eboni Wiley, in May 2014. The girl's body was found washed up on a shoreline a day after she had been left alone with Ritchie. Granville Ritchie (pictured in mugshot) killed Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014 Wiley was a neighbor and friend to Felecia's family. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. During a Florida Supreme Court hearing Thursday, Judge Jamie Grosshans closely examined Harmons comments and noted that she leaned toward the defense position. Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. "I don't know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. In arguing for the death penalty, Tampa prosecutor Scott Harmon said to the jury, in part: 'Can you imagine the dread of knowing that your life is ending and you are feeling pain all over your body? During Ritchies trial, the court heard from Felecias mother. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. Apparent signs of sexual abuse on the victims body might have happened while she was floating in the water, exposed to the elements. Android Users,Click Here To Download The Free Press AppAnd Never Miss A Story. Jurors had a lot of evidence to review in the trial, which has . Ritchie has difficulty completing complicated tasks, the result of head trauma he suffered during incidents including car accidents, Eisenstein said. At the time, they said she was left alone with Ritchie after the woman who was babysitting her left to purchase drugs. Granville Ritchie, the man who raped and murdered 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, was sentenced to death Friday. TAMPA, Fla. - Nearly a year aftera jury recommended Granville Ritchie be put to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, an emotional judge agreed, and sentenced him to death on Friday morning. Have a tip or story idea? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Ritchies conviction comes five years after he raped and killed Felecia before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dropping it off of the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge, according to the Tampa Bay Times, WTSP and Fox13. Nearly a year aftera jury recommended Granville Ritchie be put to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, an emotional judge agreed, and sentenced him to death on Friday morning. This is his direct appeal. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown. More than six years after the child's death, Ritchie was sentenced with the death penalty on Friday, the Tampa Bay Times reported. , updated 11/4/21 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Granville Ritchie v. State of Florida SC20-1422. Historique L'entreprise. Im on seven different types of medication trying to cope with this new normal called life. 'May God have mercy on your soul.'. In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. During Friday's hearing, Felecia's mother addressed the court, calling for Ritchie's death. Wiley said during a trial that Ritchie said he gave Felecia money to buy candy from a store. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. TAMPA, Fla. -- A key witness testified Monday in the Granville Ritchie murder trial. He wrote this argument, gave it to his colleagues, I guarantee it, and tested it. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesn't. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death," Sisco said in court on Friday. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. . In September 2019, all 12 jurors agreed Ritchie, who grew up in Jamaica,should face the death penalty. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. By Fallon Silcox Hillsborough County. On the day of the murder, Felecia left home with Wiley and went to Ritchie's mother's apartment at the Doral Oaks Apartment complex. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. I wish you all of the best.". The court rejected a series of arguments raised by Granville Ritchie, who was convicted in the 2014 murder of the girl, identified in the court opinion by the initials F.W., Felecia Williams. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchies case this week. 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Mister. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. pic.twitter.com/uYMknpFSzI, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 16, 2019, #GranvilleRitchie Wiley said Ritchie told her to tell Felecias family that there was no male in the house, only females so she wouldnt seem like a bad person for leaving Felecia alone with a man. He pegged Ritchies IQ at 78, well below average. That pain would have been greater for a girl. Court is being held in Hillsborough County. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had sex in a bedroom, but she later admitted she lied. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. "The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fatethat would be for him to be hung. She was allowed to remain on the panel. Testimony is expected to continue Friday. Defense attorney Daniel Hernandez asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco to either bar the entire panel from hearing the rest of the case or to excuse the juror who wept. He then is believed to have hid her body in a suitcase, which he dumped into Tampa Bay. Florida man Granville Ritchie, 40, was found guilty of raping and . Ritchie motioned for Wiley, who was babysitting Felecia, to leave the house to buy marijuana. The Golden Rule argument refers to an argument put forth by the prosecution in a jury trial, where jurors are persuaded to consider themselves in the place of the victim in reaching a verdict that they would prefer the defendant to get. En 1946 Christian Dior s'installe au 30, avenue Montaigne [11], l'ouverture de la boutique [12] a lieu en dcembre. Ritchie.". Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Demersons testimony brought back feelings of grief, she said. Some days I dont know if Im coming or going.. This is as tough as it gets, Sisco said. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. ", Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. 2023 FOX Television Stations. I do still see the humanity in you,Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. Ritchie, now 43, is an inmate at Union Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website. I know you're a woman of deep faith. the child to death before putting her body in a suitcase and dumping it near the Courtney Campbell Causeway in May 2014 . A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care . Roebuck, the appellants attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous in Harmons argument. 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