Jury Indictment Summary

My news article this week pertains to a grand jury indictment, and where a case will proceed from there. The article I chose has to do with Mark Anthony Carpenter, who was indicted by a grand jury on murder and burglary charges. He is accused of shooting and killing his landlords, Gary and Bonnie Cavish.

The next step in this case will be an arraignment in District Court. There, the charges against Mr. Carpenter will be read, and the judge will apprise him of his rights. He will then enter a plea. Mr. Carpenter has confessed to the killings, but that does not necessarily mean he will plead guilty.

If Mr. Carpenter enters a plea of not guilty his case will be bound over for trial, and a trial date may be set at this time. If his plea is guilty, the judge will inquire as to if he has knowingly and voluntarily given the plea. The judge will also determine if Carpenter understands the penalties he may face. …show more content…
If this were to become a death penalty case, a jury would have to be empaneled to decide the sentence. The jury would hear evidence of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. They may also hear victim impact statements, and Mr. Carpenter could testify on his own behalf. If this is not a death penalty case, a judge would hear the evidence, and he would make the final determination on the