Convicted murderer/Minutewoman Shawna Forde said, in an interview with the Daily Beast after her conviction, "I am NOT Sorry!"Forde remained calm when she listened to the verdict, even though the murder charges could lead to a death sentence in a state that does not shy away from executions. The 43-year-old former child burglar, mom, beautician, and self-professed Minuteman from Everett, Washington, kept her composure, because, (as she told The Daily Beast in an exclusive post-verdict jailhouse interview), “you can’t freak out with the whole world watching you.”
Forde said she was "extremely saddened by the verdict" NOT because of the deaths/murders of an innocent child and her dad, but "because she wanted to set the jury straight on her Minuteman group, which “runs recon missions” and DOES NOT sit on lawn chairs." (As the prosecution witnesses testified.)
On Tuesday, the jury will hear aggravating and mitigating circumstances surrounding Forde and her crimes, and will then decide whether Forde should be put to death.
From Immigration Clearinghouse:
Jurors were asked to consider if Forde;
1.Killed either victim;
2.Attempted to kill either victim;
3.Intended to kill either victim; or
4.Was a major participant in the crimes that resulted in the deaths of either of the victims.
It took the jurors only 45 minutes to come to the unanimous conclusion, that yes, Forde was a major participant in all 4 actions described.
In addition to the above, the jurors were asked to consider the aggravating 4 circumstances of the crime.
They were:
1.The defendant has been convicted of another offense in the United States for which under Arizona law a sentence of life imprisonment or death was imposable.
2.The defendant has been or was previously convicted of a serious offense, whether preparatory or completed. Convictions for serious offenses committed on the same occasion as the homicide, or not committed on the same occasion but consolidated for trial with the homicide, shall be treated as a serious offense under this paragraph.
3.The defendant committed the offense as consideration for the receipt, or in expectation of the receipt, of anything of pecuniary value.
4.The defendant was an adult at the time the offense was committed or was tried as an adult and the murdered person was under 15 years of age, was an unborn child in the womb at any stage of its development or was seventy years of age or older
The jurors found Forde culpable of the first three in regards to the murder of Raul Flores and in all four in regards to the death of nine year old Brisenia Flores.
These findings triggered phase three of the trial.
PHASE THREE
This is the mitigation or penalty phase of the trial as some call it. The burden of proof rests on the defense to show why Forde should receive a sentence of life in prison, with or without parole. This is where the defense will offer excuses as to why Fordes life should be spared. This effort could last until the end of the week as they bring in witnesses to testify about Fordes early childhood, her alleged mental problems, drug use and other excuses they hope will sway the jury into deciding Forde deserves a life sentence instead of the death penalty.
Should this be their decision, then presiding Judge John S. Leonardo will have to decide whether to sentence Forde to “natural life” in prison without parole, or life with a possibility of parole after 25 years.
A decision could be rendered as early as Friday but we expect sentencing to be delayed until Monday or Tuesday of next week.
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