Phillip Brown – black, age 21

Sentenced to death in Warren County, Kentucky

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

Date of crime: Jan. 12, 2001

Prosecution’s case/defense response:  Sherry Bland was beaten and stabbed to death in her apartment over a color television.  Brown was convicted of her murder in 2003, and received a life sentence without parole for at least 25 years.  He was also found guilty of robbery and burglary.  On appeal after the Kentucky Supreme Court threw out the conviction, the case was moved from Adair to Warren County, and the jury returned a guilty verdict, with a recommendation of death

Prosecutor(s): unknown Defense lawyer(s): unknown

Sources: ABC 13 WBKO 5/9/06; Associated Press 5/13/06; www.corrections.ky.gov/inmateinfo/deathrow.htm

James Hunt – white, age 56

Sentenced to death in Floyd County, Kentucky

By: A jury

Date of Crime:  11/30/04

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Hunt’s wife Betina was seeking a divorce.  He went to her apartment, shot the lock off the door, and then shot Betina to death as she was summoning help via a 911 call.

Prosecutor(s):  Defense Lawyer(s):  Harolyn Howard

Sources:  Lexington Herald-Leader 6/2/06 (2006 WLNR 9455125); AP Alert – Kentucky 7/29/06.

William Meece– white, age 19

Sentenced to death in Adair County, Kentucky

By: A jury

Date of crime: Feb. 26, 1993

Prosecution’s case/defense response: During a burglary of their home, Meece killed William and Beth Wellnitz, along with their son Dennis.  The daughter of the victims plotted with Meece to kill her family in order to get her inheritance.  She pleaded guilty and testified against Meece.  Meece had confessed to the murders, giving a detailed description of how he committed the crime.  Defense argued the confessions were a result of coercion by police because they offered him a plea agreement.  When he was indicted, Meece was in jail on a charge of agreeing to kill someone for $2,000.

Prosecutor(s): Brian Wright Defense lawyer(s): Vincent Yustas

Sources: Lexington Herald-Ledger 9/19/06 (Westlaw), 10/20/06 (2006 WLNR 18251039), 10/21/06 (2006 WLNR 18298060)

Shawn Windsor– white, age 40

Sentenced to death in Jefferson County, Kentucky

By: A judge, after a guilty plea by defendant

Date of crime: Dec. 28, 2003

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Windsor was convicted of beating and stabbing to death his estranged wife, Betty Jean, and their 8-year-old son Corey.  At the time of the killings, there was a valid domestic violence order in place.  He was on the run for seven months until a tip from “America’s Most Wanted” led to his arrest.  Windsor pleaded guilty to the murders, and also asked the judge to fire his attorneys and give him the death penalty.  During sentencing, defense argued Windsor was abused as a child and mistreated by his mother.  Windsor was outraged that his defense used his mother as a reason for why he committed the murders.  Windsor told police he committed the killings as part of a suicide pact.

Prosecutor(s): Carol Cobb Defense lawyer(s): Jay Lambert

Sources: The Kentucky Post 10/27/06 (2006 WLNR 18801796); Associated Press 11/17/06 (Westlaw), 11/17/06 (Westlaw)