Kelly
A Helena jury returned the verdict after deliberating for approximately five hours Thursday afternoon. The verdict says the jury found the prosecution proved that Kelly caused the death of Luther. The jury also decided that Kelly was under severe emotional distress at the time of the killing.
Mitigated deliberate homicide is often punished less harshly than deliberate homicide, with a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and no less than two years. Lewis and Clark County District Judge Christopher Abbott set a sentencing date for Kelly on May 20 at 11 a.m.
Abbott also revoked Kelly s bail and ordered a presentence investigation.
Editor s note
This story is part of a 10-part series on the biggest local stories of 2020.
The year started off with the sentencing of Kyle Hamm and Journey Wienke. Both men were convicted in late 2019 in the killings of Helena Valley residents Charla Rae Taylor, 64, and David Muncie Taylor, 61. The killings were orchestrated by the couple s son Kaleb Taylor, and juries found that Hamm and Wienke were also responsible in the deaths of these individuals.
Hamm was sentenced to 80 years in prison and Wienke was sentenced to life. Kaleb Tayor was previously sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Journey Wienke, Kaleb Taylor and Kyle Hamm