Sykes won’t face death penalty
Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Jerry Donald Sykes will not face the death penalty for the capital murder of his girlfriend last year, 4 th Judicial District Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matt Durrett said Monday.
Sykes' admissions to Washington County sheriff 's deputies on Sept. 30 should not be allowed at trial because Sykes invoked his right to remain silent and then asked for an attorney, according to a defense motion filed Monday.
Sykes, 54, faces charges of capital murder, kidnapping, robbery and theft in connection with the death of 56-year-old Sandra Stokes on March 2, 2007. Sykes is in the Washington County Detention Center. No bond has been set.
The case has been set for trial on June 4. A motions hearing is set for May 20.
Sykes is accused of using his dead girlfriend's money to flee the country after suffocating and kidnapping her. Stokes' 11-year-old daughter found her mother's body on the morning of March 2 inside her home on Shoreline Road in the Beav-ORama community in northeast Washington County.
Sykes was captured Sept. 19 near Tegucigalpa, Honduras, by Honduran officials and special agents of the U. S. State Department Office of Diplomatic Security. He was deported by the Honduran government and taken into custody by U. S. deputy marshals, who took him to Houston. He waived extradition and was sent to Washington County, where he was interrogated.
Miranda issues Sykes received his Miranda warning against selfincrimination and after about 22 minutes of interrogation told interrogators he wanted to remain silent, the defense motion claims. "You know man, I'd like to tell you this, okay ? I mean, I'd like to answer this to ya. I really would. You are very much on the right track, though, I'll go that far, all right ? But please tr y to understand. I don't, don't feel like that I need to be discussing this at all. I think it is plum, ignorant to answer any questions right now... "Sykes said, according to a interrogation transcript included in the motion.
The officer continued the interrogation, according to the transcript, and Sykes appeared to incriminate himself: "... I mean its pretty (inaudible ) evident that nobody was trying to kidnap her. What happened is beyond me. I will say this, okay ? The intent was not there. I mean I did not kill her and then tie her up. I actually resuscitated her, okay ? What I didn't do was I didn't... I didn't call 911. And at that right there man I've said a lot more than what I should have already probably said."
Next, the transcript stated, he asked for an attorney: "... I don't mind sitting here and talking to you about this. But still, it says right here that anything I say can and will be used against me in a court of law. So the best thing I can do for myself is shut the Hell up and not talk about this without first talking to a lawyer. And I don't have the funds or money for a lawyer. "The motions states that after a few minutes of back and forth, Sykes asked again for counsel," Right now what I need to do is sit down and talk to a lawyer first. "According to the motion, the questioner remained undaunted, saying that he'd "love to hear the whole story, I mean, from start to finish. "The motion states that "Sykes repeatedly noted that he'd only tell his story when he consulted with someone with legal expertise."
Death penalty Durrett said he disclosed his decision to defense attorneys Monday, but he did not comment on the reason for his decision. Death penalty sentences in capital murder cases are typically hard to win because specific criteria must be met. Last month, a death sentence was handed down in Washington County for the first time in more than 26 years. Gregory Decay, a New Orleans native, was convicted on two counts of capital murder for the shooting deaths of Kevin Jones and Kendall Rice, a young Fayetteville couple, in their apartment.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
