Before deliberation began in the murder trial of James Worley, the jury heard a detail which caught many off guard in the courtroom. In an attempt to spare Worley’s life, in his closing remarks, Worley’s attorney argued that Worley did not act alone in the murder of Sierah Joughin.
“What haunts me is that I think there was an accomplice,” said Defense Attorney, Mark Berling. It was a statement, a theory mentioned before the jury began discussing Worley’s sentence.
WTOL reports that defense attorneys suggested that Worley would have needed help digging the hole in a cornfield where Sierah’s body was found. The unknown DNA found under Sierah’s fingernails that was never identified was also questioned. The jury was warned that anything in closing arguments is not admissible as evidence or to be used during deliberation.
But without any member of law enforcement suggesting this in trial, it appeared it did not influence the jury’s decision to sentence Worley to death. Worley will be back at the Fulton County Courthouse in two weeks to be sentenced by the judge.
Media in this post courtesy of WTOL and 13abc. Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.
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