Brutal Axe-Murderer Avoids Death

Deranged Killer Who Killed Elderly Man Is Spared Death Penalty
Re-printed from a story at WLWT Channel 5 on March 8thth 2012

A southwestern Ohio jury spares a brutal killer's life for chopping a 76-year-old man into bits.

A convicted killer apologized early in March of 2012 as he sought to escape the death penalty during the sentencing phase of his murder trial..

Victor Gantt was found guilty last week of murder for bludgeoning 75-year-old Leroy Jones in May of 2011 during a robbery at the man's Middletown home.

The 26-year-old Gantt called his actions "devilish" and "flat-out wrong," and he apologized to the victim and his wife, who testified during the trial about finding her husband's bloody body in their home.

"If there ever was a day ever I could take back," Gantt said, reading from a statement. "There is absolutely no excuse for what I have done, nor will I make any."

Prosecutors said Gantt spent the day of the slaying knocking on doors, asking to use the bathroom, as he tried to find someone to rob by going door-to-door in order to pay "unpaid child support". He broke into one home and stole an axe, which he used to kill Jones, and a pornographic video, which he watched afterward.

Gantt stole about $150 from Jones, mostly in coins, and ordered more pornographic movies on cable.

During the sentencing phase the defendant read this statement: "If there ever was a day ever I could take back," Gantt said. "There is absolutely no excuse for what I have done, nor will I make any."

Jurors deliberated on the sentence for about eight hours before recommending life in prison without parole for Victor Gantt.

References:
WCPO Channel 9, Axe Murderer Avoids Death Sentence
WLWT Channel 5, Axe Murderer Apologizes

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