9.Death Sentence Imposed

THE COURT: The Defendant, Timothy R. Jones, has been found guilty by a jury of his peers of the offense of murder. The jury has recommended the Defendant should be sentenced to death. It is therefore the judgment, the law and the sentence of the Court, the Defendant, Timothy R. Jones, Jr., be taken to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, henceforth, to be kept in close and safe confinement until the 30th day of November 2019, upon which date between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or upon an order of execution issued by the State Supreme Court of South Carolina, the Defendant, Timothy R. Jones, shall suffer death by electrocution or by lethal injection in a manner consistent as provided for by the law of South Carolina. Signed today by me, Eugene Griffith, Jr., as presiding Judge, June 13th, 2019.

THE COURT: There's another supplemental report the lawyers have made me aware that we need to sign and publish, likewise. We will do that momentarily.

THE COURT: (Whereupon, a bench conference was held with the Court and Court Reporter as stated below.)

THE COURT: The Court put on the record that there were no less than three lawyers presenting the case during the trial, no less than three lawyers presenting the case from the Defense. Most days during the trial, there was additional lawyers, particularly on the Defense side, including an additional lawyer at trial Counsel table as well as one to two lawyers from the Office of Appellate Defense. The State, upon realizing that, also asked for a lawyer from the Attorney General Appellate review. So during the majority of the trial, there were an average of seven to eight lawyers at both Counsel -- not at both Counsel -- between each Counsel table presenting to the Court throughout the trial. It seemed like a lot to me.

THE COURT: This is a form I'm reading off of my law Clerk's report that's being printed momentarily. I'll sign it. It's entitled, Death Penalty Sentencing Report. It shows trial Judge being Eugene C. Griffith, Jr. The Defendant being Timothy R. Jones, Jr. Defense attorneys, Boyd Young, Rob Madsen, Casey Secor. Date of sentence, June 13th, 2019. The aggravating circumstances found were attached to the verdict form; also, two or more persons murdered by the Defendant in an act pursuant to one common scheme, and he murdered five children, ages eleven years or younger. I will sign that and date it today. Now, that's on the record and that's the additional report. If there's another report we have to sign, certainly, we can reconvene and do that at either side's request. I'm not certain there's anything else. Anybody is aware of something after we adjourn today, please advise me as promptly as you can. As soon as that's printed off, I will sign it. Anything else?

THE COURT: All right. The record is closed.

THE COURT: I don't think I do.

THE COURT: Sure. If the Court is required to make a finding. The Court will make a finding that the verdict of the jury was not a result of any arbitrary or capricious facts, evidence or otherwise. The verdict was unanimous and consistent with the instructions of the Court. All twelve jurors signed the verdict forms and reaffirmed their verdicts orally.

THE COURT: Consistent with the fact, the Court would make a finding it's not disproportionate to the convictions found by the jury in the guilt/innocence phase of five deaths.

THE COURT: All right. Now, the record is closed. (Whereupon, Court's Exhibits 77, 81, 82, 86, 107, 126 through 130 were marked for identification only.) *** END OF REQUESTED TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD ***