Man Convicted of Terrorist Act Appeals Murder Convictions in Attack on Muslim Family

LONDON, Ontario – Nathaniel Veltman, the man responsible for the brutal murder of four members of a Muslim family in a terror-driven attack, has filed an appeal seeking to overturn his convictions, according to his defense lawyer, Christopher Hicks. The “inmate notice of appeal” was submitted within the required 30-day window after Veltman’s sentencing. In February, Veltman received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years after being found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The charges stemmed from his deliberate act of driving his … Read more

Missouri Legislator Proposes Letting Juries Solely Decide Death Penalty for Convicted Murderers

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – A proposed bill in Missouri is seeking to change the way the death penalty is implemented in the state. Currently, if a jury cannot come to a unanimous decision on a prison sentence for someone convicted of first-degree murder, the trial judge has the authority to decide whether the person should be sentenced to death. However, Representative Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic, is sponsoring a bill that would only allow juries to make this decision, excluding the role of the judge. The bill aims to address concerns about the fairness … Read more

Convicted Murderer Alex Murdaugh Receives 40-Year Sentence for Financial Crimes in Federal Court

HAMPTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh was given a 40-year prison sentence on Monday by a federal judge, following his guilty plea to numerous financial crimes. These crimes included charges of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. The judge also ordered Murdaugh to pay over $8.7 million in restitution to his victims. This federal sentence will run concurrently with the 27-year sentence he is already serving for similar misconduct in state court. Murdaugh, a disbarred attorney, was found guilty in state court of defrauding his personal injury clients and law firm out of … Read more

Former Gang Member Convicted of Gang-Related First-Degree Murder in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – A former Watsonville man was found guilty of gang-related first-degree murder by a Santa Cruz County jury this week after an extensive trial and nearly three days of deliberation. The 29-year-old, Jason Cortez, was convicted for killing his Santa Cruz County Jail cellmate, German Carrillo, on October 13, 2022. Cortez’s conviction follows the separate trial and guilty verdict of another cellmate, Mario Lozano, who was sentenced to multiple life sentences for Carrillo’s murder, as well as an unrelated 2004 slaying in Watsonville. During the trial, Cortez took the stand in his … Read more