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Show expires 013iZi8& . 1 r0NS BOOKBINDERY, INC. R Hf RfllLROftD STREET SPRINSPORT Vol. 7. No. 19 Wednesday, May 8, 1985 50 cents a single copy . , Rom Laffferty gt dlesitbEn pemialty Decision follows week of testimony in Provo courtroom ? ' ' ' By MARC HADDOCK Ronald Lafferty has been sent-enced to die before a firing squad at the Utah State Prison on July 2 The sentence was handed down Tuesday afternoon after a jury of jne men and three women deliberated for two hours in the penalty phase of the trial. The self-styl-e prophet was found mjlty Thursday of murdering his a Brenda Lafferty, and j baby daughter, Erica, in American Fork on July 24, 1984. Lafferty was also sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to in prison for aggravated charges and two con- - ijfe terms of one to 15 years in ' for charges of criminal conspiracy to commit homicide. The conspiracy charges involved a Ki plan to also kill Highland residents Chloe Low and Richard Stowe. After the jury's decision was read, Lafferty was given a choice by Utah Fourth District court Judge J. Robert Bullock between lethal iri- - jection or firing squad for his execution. Initially the defendant said he would not make the decision, but Bullock told Lafferty that if he didn't decide the court would mandate lethal injection. After a lengthy conference with his d attorney Richard Johnson, Lafferty told the court, "Your honor, I think I would prefer the firing squad." Lafferty also claimed again he had committed no crime as he told Bullock, "I would like to state for the record that the charges that I have been charged with are false charges. By asking for that mode of death or anything else I am not admitting to any guilt in these matters. " He said he felt the conspiracy charges, in particular, were not supported by the evidence presented in the trial. Following the sentencing, Chief Deputy Utah County Attorney Wayne B. Watson admitted that it could be years before Lafferty 's sentence is carried out. "This will be bumped around for years," Watson said. Watson said he was satisfied with the court decision and happythe case had ended. "I am tired. I am just glad to be done with it," the attorney said. He indicated the jury had addressed the issues and returned the verdict called for by law. He also intimated that some jurors in the trial of Dan Lafferty in January may have violated the oaths they took as jurors. Dan Lafferty was charged with bis brother for the July 24 murders and is currently serving consecutive terms of life at the Utah State Prison after the jury in that trial was unable to return a unanimous verdict of death. Johnson was unavailable for comment on Tuesday's decision. Lafferty's guilt verdict on Thursday followed some graphic testimony which shed new light on the deaths of Brenda and Erica Lafferty - and after the defendant himself put & stop to Johnson's at-tempts to effectively defend him during the course of the first phase of the trial. The jury deliberated about hours Thursday before returning a guilty verdict on all counts. The prosecution ended it's case on ' Wednesday with damaging testimony by Charles Alan "Chip" Carnes, who' along with Ricky Knapp was originally charged with the Laffertys for the murders, but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Carnes had recounted the events of July 24, 1984, twice before in court, but never so graphically as he did last week. He recounted how Lafferty described the murder scene as the four men drove from Highland to Wendover the day of the homicides. "Ron started bragging about how people's throats" while Claudine Lafferty sal nearby crocheting. Testifying Wednesday morning, Allen Lafferty, the husband and father of the victims, testified that his brother had blamed Brenda for his divorce, and for agitating his wife with constant telephone calls at a time when Ron and Diana Laf-ferty's marriage was failing. The younger brother said Lafferty also blamed Mrs. Low and Stowe for lending support to his wife, rather than encouraging her to follow her husband "as a patriarch." Allen said the last time he saw his brother, months before the deaths of Brenda and Erica, Ron told him "he was more or less worn out with people trying to meddle in his af-fairs." "The words that stick in my mind were, 'People aren't safe anymore trying to mess up my life,' " Allen Lafferty said. Stowe testified that he had given Diana Lafferty assistance through the LDS Church welfare program because she was not getting support from her husband .during divorce proceedings. Stuart Low, the husband of Mrs. Low and bishop of the LDS Ward where Lafferty was a first coun-selor, said Lafferty accused his wife of giving support to Diana. He said Lafferty held eccentric, but not improper religious beliefs all the time he knew, but that about three years ago Lafferty started to change. "He became more of a dictator in his home and in my opinion was exercising undue domination over his family," Low said. That led to the Lafferty's divorce in 1983. Mrs. Low told the court that Ron "said Brenda was the family trouble maker. That she kept all. lhe; other , wives stirred up." Thursday morning Watson rested his case, and Johnson began presenting his defense with testimony from Claudine Lafferty defendant's mother. Mrs. Lafferty contradicted Carnes's testimony about the Bible meeting the night before the mur-- ' der, but admitted she heard talk about sawing off a shotgun under intense n by Watson. However, Johnson's defense was cut short by Lafferty himself when Johnson tried to introduce evidence from psychiatrists to show that Lafferty was mentally ill when the crimes were committed. "It just seems to me to do something like that would be an admission of guilt, and I am not prepared to do that," Lafferty told the court, speaking openly for the first time since the proceedings began. Under orders from Bullock to follow the direction of his client, Johnson rested his case, although he had planned to call several more psychiatrists. In closing arguments during this first phase of the trial, Watson told the jurors, "He is not only the ' perpetrator. He is the worst kind of criminal because he solicits other people to do his dirty work for him." Johnson argued that Lafferty's acts were not those of a normal person, but he was once again stopped by Lafferty, who asked him to not follow the line of reasoning that might direct the jury towards a manslaughter rather than a first degree homicide verdict. The penalty phase of the trial, which began Monday, proved to be a battle of attorneys, as Watson at-tempted to demonstrate that the murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty were particularly brutal. Johnson, on the other hand, no longer bound by a requirement to follow his client's dirpction, argued throughout that Lafferty has d from a mental illness ever since his diyorce from his wife Diana in May of 1983, and possibly before. See LAFFKKTY on page 12 Ronald Lafferty is escorted into Utah County Courthouse during trial for deaths of Brenda, Erica Lafferty. he had beat the hell out of the girl," Carnes said. " 'I hit her so hard I put a knot on my hand, but I just couldn't put her down,' he said. Carnes said Ron described walking into the. home and finding Dan holding Brenda on the floor. "Brenda got up and tried to run for the door," Carnes said, then in Lafferty's own words: " 'I kept hitting., tier but she wouldn't. gi down.'- - . "They just kept hitting her in the face. Then Ron stopped Dan because there was blood splattering all over the house," Carnes said. He described how Dan held Brenda down while Ron cut the power cord from a vacuum cleaner, wrapped it around her neck and then held it tight until she went limp. " 'Then we pulled her head back and cut her throat from ear to ear,' " Carnes reported Lafferty saying. The testimony shook Johnson, who questioned Carnes as to why the 4saUs had. never..corne 011t.J3efore.in.. r court. Carnes also described a bizarre scene at the Lafferty family home the night before the murders with Ron and Dan holding a Bible meeting and "talking about slashing Lindon Council evaluates latest garbage technology By KALYN SECRETAN The Lindon City Council moved outside Wednesday, May 1, for a special demonstration. Mr. Scarpino of the Highland Disposal Company met with the council to demonstrate a new garbage pick-u- p system. The council and citizens were impressed with the new truck which has claws on the side. They pick up the special garbage container, lift it over the top of the truck. It is dumped and returned to the original spot. ' The 90 gallon capacity garbage container is made of special heavy plastic. Citizens roll their trash can which has wheels and is provided by the company. It is durable and will save customers buying garbage cans and sacks. The crowd was amazed when the driver jumped out. of the moving vehicle while it was in reverse gear. As the driver ran behind the truck, it immediately stopped and an alarm sounded. This is one of the safety features which reduces job related ac- - The police agree it is a problem. The new parking lot would provide parking for teachers and visiting PTA or parents. It was estimated the cost of. a parking lot would be $3000. The PTA would provide $1300. The council feels there is a need. They want to contact the Alpine School District about participation. A redevelopment resolution has been submitted by Lindon City to the Utah County Board of Health for approval of temporary sewage holding tanks to service property located in Lindon. There is presently no sanitary sewage system serving the redevelopment area adjacent to Geneva Road. By order of the Utah County Board of Health, no permanent sewage holding tanks may be in-stalled. However, Lindon City desires to have proposed developments proceed with tem-porary sewage holding tanks if necessary. Property owners and private developers are anxious to develop property in Lindon. Lindon City will legally bind itself to install permanent sanitary sewage facilities to replace tem-porary sewage holding tanks within one year of the installation of any temporary sewage holding tank. Duane Williams of Seagull Recycling returned to discuss recycling with the council. He met with Mr. Crabb at Timp Industries, and Mr. Crabb was really excited about participating in recycling. Timp Industry students need ways to make money and are anxious to begin. Residents who were willing would be ask to put newspapers, aluminum cans, cardboard and glass in separate containers or boxes for the students to collect. Timp Industries has the man power to sort it and feels like it is an opportunity. If the council agrees to the ser-vice, Seagull recycling will put stickers on all the garbage cans to inform residents. cidents. Benefits of the new system in-clude a lid which animals cannot tip or get into. The special finish repels insects and odor. Mr. Scarpino is meeting with all the communities in northern Utah County. The service cannot be provided unless all the cities sub-scribe due to the investment of the unique vehicle. Valerie Gibson, the Lindon Elementary PTA President met with the council. The PTA would like Lindon City to have a parking lot constructed on the south side of the school. The city does own the property and the PTA feels present parking is a safety hazard. Teachers need to use the curb for parking. As parents pick up their children they have to run across the street. The PTA would like to see the curb used for loading and unloading of students. M , " . m. - , f 1 - ' ' I h v .,, 1 . l , ifli . , - 1 ' , , 7 r - 1 - ' 'I !.. I tl 1 t 1 . i ' r 5 " d j f ' K i - i . ' ' if 1 kV . w-- v- f H Karen Schellenberg, holding son, Joseph, works with her children as they learn to play I; we violin and cello. L-- Elizabeth, Candice, Justin, Tammy, Kerri, Brenda and Bonnie, V Whlle Jonathan and Natalie watch from the floor. Si J An orchestrated mother 1 "yMARCELLA WALKER I is i.y.ou thlnk one screeching violin II iiJr, 3S a child lears to play the SnmeKnt'howdoyuthinkKaren her ,1 erS survives when seven of I nL , ren are Practicing? is the violin twonnv, ,r her chldren. Actually, rest 1 klds P'av the cello and the Pia V'0lin- The three who do not i I ens'mP'ytooyoungtodoso. ' urrgan toking violin lessons t Chill yearS ag0 and her oldest ith ho,61""' ,has taken lessos b si mther-Kare- decided that i ' learnt8 W3S the time for tne rest t ai CM0 1lay and if they do she m tra y have her own or- - She j: mm 'uat by the end of the s WeU ennnti6. pes tney can a11 Play I Hem"? tokeePthe effort going. S 'ayt0"eanfUme, she is looking for a S Cn 311 those instruments i age. ThA u6St child is 13 'ears 01 Shesaidsfabyislthanayear always wanted a large family as she came froma big family herself. There were nine children in her family and there were six children in her husband, Martin's, family. When asked how she manages with such a large brood, Karen says that it takes organization and with each new child she figures out a new organization plan. She said the latest plan she started last August and it is a menu organizational chart. She says that at least half of the things she serves now are new recipes. Karen noted that she felt she was in a rut and this has helped a great deal. She explained that she must do three to four loads of wash per day and she has the older children do their own washing. The older kids help a lot with the younger ones and Karen added that actually it is easier now with ten than it "was when she had five under age five and she had to do all the work herself. She said it is fun to dress the girls all alike and at Easter this year she made each of them a pink dress just alike. She made the dresses without a purchased pattern because it would be a savings. Now that she has done it, she said she may never use a pattern again. Doing things together as a family, such as the violin lessons, is a great joy to Karen, also. Sometimes they will have a laundry party and they all work together in the laundry room. She said the hardest thing about the large family is when they do not get along. When this happens she separates them for a while and this helps. She noted that it is hard to go places with the entire crew. Before they go they must count to make sure they have everyone. Karen spends a lot of time with the children, keeping them busy with arts and crafts and now the violin lessons and other activities. Rodeo queen contest slated for Saturday The Strawberry Days Rodeo Queen Contest will be held Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pleasant Grove Rodeo Grounds. Contestants should meet at the Rodeo Grounds at 5 p.m. for a tea. Those interested in competing for the title should contact Merrill Hone at 785-253- LaRaine Montgomery, 785-452- LeeAnn Schoonover, 785-420- or Jim Green, 785-283- All girls who have never been queen before and who are at least 16 years of age or older are eligible to try out. Contestants will be judged on personality, poise and hor-semanship. The winners will be participating in the Strawberry Days Horse Parade and the rodeo three nights, June 20, 21 and 22. The rodeo royalty will also travel throughout the county advertising Strawberry Days. City cleanup set for Saturday Pleasant Grove residents are urged to clean their yards of all debris and haul it off to the dump by Saturday and to give incentive for it being done the city will pay for a free pickup load of junk to be taken to the landfill in Lindon. Residents may use the stub for ( their April water bill as the permit for the free dump load. Those who are on the Manila Water System may come to city hall for their free permit. Neighbors may work together and that way have several pickup loads dumped free. The city council has promised that they will see to it that city property is cleaned up, also. If there are any questions please call the City Hall at 785-504- |