Eugene C. Griffith, Jr.

Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr. presided from arraignment through sentencing in this capital murder trial. He supervised individualized voir dire concerning publicity, impartiality, the insanity defense, and capital sentencing views; resolved juror challenges; and denied renewed requests to move the trial after concluding that the voir dire process had addressed publicity concerns.

Before and during the presentation of evidence, Griffith instructed jurors on the presumption of innocence, the State's burden beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defense burden on the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He ruled on the admissibility and scope of defendant statements, photographs, expert testimony, and social-history evidence. He also issued limiting and curative instructions, including directing jurors to disregard testimony that characterized Jones as a heavy crack cocaine user.

For the guilt phase, Griffith instructed the jury on the charged offenses, the competing burdens of proof, insanity-related verdicts, a lesser offense concerning Nahtahn, and deliberation procedures. When jurors accessed material on a Blu-Ray evidence disk, he investigated, denied a mistrial, and required any further review to occur in the courtroom. The jury then returned guilty verdicts on all five indictments.

During the penalty phase, Griffith managed disputes over recovery and autopsy photographs, mitigation evidence, and proffered expert testimony. He instructed jurors on statutory aggravation, mitigation, mercy, the verdict forms, and deliberations. After the jury unanimously recommended death and each juror confirmed that decision, Griffith denied the post-verdict motion for a new trial, formally imposed the death sentence, completed the sentencing report, and closed the record.