Jury sends Corrothers to death row
Blog: A female juror openly wept as Circuit Court Judge Andrew Howorth read the jury’s verdict sentencing Caleb Corrothers to the death sentence.
Corrothers was convicted Thursday night of killing Frank and Taylor Clark and wounding Tonya Clark in July 2009 in the Clark’s home off Bell River Road.
Corrothers was out on parole for six weeks when he killed the Clarks, apparently over drugs and money. He has served 10 years in prison on four counts of armed robbery.
Defense attorneys tried to convince the jury that Corrothers’ bad childhood, living in poverty and without a father figure, set him on a path that led him to the courtroom facing the death penalty. The state told the jury it was just excuses and that Corrothers should be held responsible for the choices he’s made. (May 20, 2011)
Jury deliberates to decide sentence
Blog: The jury went into deliberations at about 5 p.m. and are still out deciding whether Caleb Corrothers will be put on death row or spend the rest of his life in prison.
The jury heard testimony from Corrother’s former teacher and a psychologist this afternoon before both sides rested around 3 p.m. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Howorth gave jury instructions and then Assistant District Attorney Ben Creekmore presented the closing arguments for the state while Kelsey L. Rushing with the Mississippi Office of the Capital Defense Counsel presented arguments for the defense. (May 20, 2011)
Corrother’s mother pleads for son’s life
Blog: Vonda Corrothers Agulanna asked the jury this morning to spare her son’s life during the sentencing phase of his trial. Caleb Corrothers was found guilty of two counts of capital murder Thursday night for shooting and killing Frank and Taylor Clark in July 2009.
Vonda told the jury she wasn’t able to do for her kids the way she would have liked due to a serious bought of depression when Caleb was a young child. She said Caleb’s father was never in the picture he grew up in a bad neighborhood around drug dealers with no father figure.
Caleb’s brother, Marcus Corrothers also spoke at the hearing. Marcus is serving a 20-year-sentence for armed robber. He made no pleas for his brother’s life. He said he felt Caleb followed in his footsteps and looked up to him since he was six years older than Caleb.
The state revealed Caleb has just gotten out of prison after a 10-year-sentence for armed robbery when he shot and killed the Clarks.
Tonya Clark, who was shot in the neck twice by Corrothers, said she has a large void in her life since losing her son and husband.
Both mothers cried openly while on the witness stand. Agulanna spoke to Tonya and the Clark family sitting in the courtroom. Sobbing, she said she was very sorry for what happened to them and empathized with Tonya about losing a son.
More testimony is expected this afternoon on Corrother’s past and personality. (May 20, 2011)
