The presiding juror in the Carnation killer's death penalty case is setting the record straight. Angela Morello-Williams says eight jurors wanted Joseph McEnroe sentenced to death. "Justice was not served in that courtroom.
"We did not send a message the death penalty is not wanted in Washington," Morello-Williams said.
She was so upset with the jury deliberations she considered recusing herself but chose not to -- there were no alternate jurors and she did not want a mistrial.
Joseph McEnroe was convicted of murdering six members of the Anderson family in Carnation on Christmas Eve in 2007. Morello-Williams says the jury deliberations focused on the evidence and was methodical. But when it was time to deliberate his punishment, she says the process quickly broke down.
The decision to put McEnroe to death had to be unanimous; by default, he got life in prison.
"It was a yes-or-no question. It was not a debate about the death penalty," said Morello-Williams, "When do you say enough is enough? When do you draw a line in the sand that says executing three generations, executing a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old, is not OK?"
Morello-Williams says two jurors would not even consider the death penalty and one even made speech to the jury against the death penalty.
According to Washington State law, anyone who refuses to deliberate based upon their personal, political or philosophical support of or opposition to the death penalty is not qualified to sit as a juror.
Three thousand potential jurors were summoned for the McEnroe murder trial; 700 jurors showed up and answered a very detailed questionnaire.
"I personally have never been a proponent of the death penalty but I put aside my personal beliefs, my religious beliefs, and my moral beliefs to take a look at this and do the job I was tasked with doing," said Morello-Williams.
She acknowledges with the current moratorium on the death penalty, McEnroe would likely sit on death row.
"Eight people said 'yes,' that Joe McEnroe deserved death. Would he have ever probably been put to death? Probably not, but it sends a statement," she said.
McEnroe will be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on Wednesday. Morello-Williams plans to attend the sentencing.
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