Michael Manley– black, age 20 (re-sentencing after an appellate reversal)

Sentenced to death in Delaware

By: A judge, after an 11-1 recommendation of death by a jury

Date of crime: November 1995

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Manley and David Stevenson (see below) were originally convicted in 1996 for the murder of security officer Kristopher Heath in front of his apartment. The motive was to prevent Heath from testifying in a theft case. Manley was found to be the shooter, and Stevenson was the instigator. The defense argued that a gang member was the actual shooter.  The Delaware Supreme Court threw out the sentence in 2001 because the judge that presided over Stevenson’s theft case asked to be assigned to the murder case, which created an appearance of unfairness.

Prosecutor(s): Stuart E. Sklut, Mark H. Conner Defense lawyer(s): Joseph Bernstein, Joseph Gabay, Jerome Capone, Michael Heyden

Sources: The News Journal 12/6/05, 12/7/05

David Stevenson—black, age 20 (re-sentencing after appellate reversal)

Sentenced to death in Delaware

By: A judge after a 10-2 recommendation of death by a jury

Date of crime: November 1995

Prosecution’s case/defense response: See Michael Manley, above

Prosecutor(s): Stuart E. Sklut, Mark H. Conner Defense lawyer(s): Joseph Bernstein, Joseph Gabay, Jerome Capone, Michael Heyden

Sources: The News Journal 12/6/05, 12/7/05

Ambrose Sykes – black, age 32 

Sentenced to death in Kent County, Delaware

By: A judge, after a unanimous recommendation of death by a jury

Date of crime: November 7, 2004

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Sykes was convicted of the rape and murder of retired teacher Virginia Trimnell.  He then placed her bound and gagged body in a suitcase in the trunk of her car, and drove her car around for a few days before police pulled him over.  Sykes escaped, and eluded police for more than 3 weeks before he was captured.  Defense argued that there was no forced entry into the Trimnell apartment, nor did she have defensive wounds, thus suggesting that Sykes had a relationship with her.  In the penalty phase, defense presented evidence that Sykes did not have a violent criminal history.

Prosecutor(s): R. David Favata, Stephen Welch    Defense lawyer(s):  Christopher Tease, Tom Donovan

Sources: Dover Post 12/1/04, 6/14/06; Delaware State News 11/5/05, 6/30/06