Hartford, CT -- April 7, 2000 -- Convicted serial killer Michael Ross edged closer to his execution when a jury reaffirmed, after a record nine days of deliberation, his death penalty for the murders of four teenage girls.
But in the end, it came down to answering just two questions: Were Ross' crimes particularly cruel, heinous and depraved? And if so, should the jury still show mercy because aspects of Ross' character or background warranted life imprisonment instead?
The jury had to answer those questions six times to correspond with each of the six counts of capital felony for which Ross was convicted in 1987.
Each time, the jurors found the crimes unusually cruel. Each time, they found no reason to show mercy.
The counts apply to the kidnap- murders of Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Lisbon; Robin Stavinsky, 19, of Norwich; April Brunais, 14; and Leslie Shelley, 14, both of Norwich. Two counts of rape-murder also were lodged.
But in the end, it came down to answering just two questions: Were Ross' crimes particularly cruel, heinous and depraved? And if so, should the jury still show mercy because aspects of Ross' character or background warranted life imprisonment instead?
The jury had to answer those questions six times to correspond with each of the six counts of capital felony for which Ross was convicted in 1987.
Each time, the jurors found the crimes unusually cruel. Each time, they found no reason to show mercy.
The counts apply to the kidnap- murders of Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Lisbon; Robin Stavinsky, 19, of Norwich; April Brunais, 14; and Leslie Shelley, 14, both of Norwich. Two counts of rape-murder also were lodged.
Hartford, CT -- April 7, 2000 -- Convicted serial killer Michael Ross edged closer to his execution when a jury reaffirmed, after a record nine days of deliberation, his death penalty for the murders of four teenage girls.
But in the end, it came down to answering just two questions: Were Ross' crimes particularly cruel, heinous and depraved? And if so, should the jury still show mercy because aspects of Ross' character or background warranted life imprisonment instead?
The jury had to answer those questions six times to correspond with each of the six counts of capital felony for which Ross was convicted in 1987.
Each time, the jurors found the crimes unusually cruel. Each time, they found no reason to show mercy.
The counts apply to the kidnap- murders of Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Lisbon; Robin Stavinsky, 19, of Norwich; April Brunais, 14; and Leslie Shelley, 14, both of Norwich. Two counts of rape-murder also were lodged.
But in the end, it came down to answering just two questions: Were Ross' crimes particularly cruel, heinous and depraved? And if so, should the jury still show mercy because aspects of Ross' character or background warranted life imprisonment instead?
The jury had to answer those questions six times to correspond with each of the six counts of capital felony for which Ross was convicted in 1987.
Each time, the jurors found the crimes unusually cruel. Each time, they found no reason to show mercy.
The counts apply to the kidnap- murders of Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Lisbon; Robin Stavinsky, 19, of Norwich; April Brunais, 14; and Leslie Shelley, 14, both of Norwich. Two counts of rape-murder also were lodged.
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