Todd Pate has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 killing of his wife Melanie.Â
Pate s trial started last week. On Wednesday, both parties went rested their cases and made their closing arguments, and in the afternoon, visiting Judge Edward Lacey sent the jury into deliberation. The guilty verdict was read on Thursday afternoon.Â
A further weapons enhancement was added to the conviction by the prosecution. Pate is scheduled to return to court on Sep. 8 for sentencing.
More information on this verdict to come.Â
A murder case that started eight years ago has reached its conclusion with the conviction of Todd Pate for first-degree murder in Hanford.
On Thursday afternoon at the Kings County Superior Court, the jury delivered its verdict after entering into deliberation following the closing arguments on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Pateâs original trial was held in 2016, resulting in a hung jury when one juror felt that the murder qualified for a second-, but not a first-degree charge. The retrial was scheduled for 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Assistant District Attorney Phil Esbenshade led the prosecution, and was also the lead prosecutor in the 2016 trial.
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The Globe and Mail Brian Busby Published April 9, 2021
Tim Foran
Fraser Sutherland described himself as a “card-carrying cultural nationalist.” He remained so throughout his life, while becoming increasingly irritated by the paths followed by Canadian literature, criticism and publishing. A poet, editor, educator and lexicographer, he died on March 28 aged 74, at Toronto General Hospital as a result of complications from heart surgery.
Fraser Roderick Sutherland was born on Dec. 5, 1946 in Pictou County, N.S., the youngest child of Russell and Mary (née MacHardy). Raised on the family farm in Scotsburn with his older brothers, William and Hugh, he was not meant for farming life.