Jamiel Shaw Case Verdict
By: C. Temple - May 15, 2012
The mire fact that Jamiel Shaw’s parents are Companions, who succeeded in winning a murder case against a convicted gang banging killer, is just one factor of their strength as a Black American family. The Shaws are a family that stood against terrible odds and great negativity. They demonstrated to the Black Community that we can come together again and fight against evil and corruption which has taken over the state of California from the school house to the court house.
Is there an epidemic going around? Jamiel was walking down the street talking to his girlfriend on the phone when he was approached by Pedro Espinoza and killed. Trayvon Martin was walking down the street on his way from the store talking on the phone to his girlfriend and he was approached and killed. Does this mean that Black Americans are open targets walking down the streets while others are protected under the law?
According to recent articles – Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Pedro Espinoza, 23, who killed 17-year-old Jamiel Shaw Jr. on March 2, 2008. A penalty phase of trial will be held for jurors to recommend whether Espinoza should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Jurors deliberated for about four hours before reaching their verdict. The jury found true the special-circumstance allegation that Shaw’s killing was carried out to further the activities of a criminal street gang, along with an allegation that Espinoza personally and intentionally discharged a handgun.
“We are here today because on March 2nd, 2008, he chose to take the life of Jamiel Shaw II,” Deputy District Attorney Allyson Ostrowski told jurors during his closing argument, noting that the last thing the teenager heard before being shot in the abdomen and then in the head was the classic gang challenge, “Where are you from?”
“It was a cold-blooded murder. It was an execution,” the prosecutor said.
The Shaw family went through storms and trials but they remained intact and together. They never wavered or compromised their principles and morals. We all can learn a valuable lesson on the subject of Family Trials 101 from the Shaw Family.
In conclusion, people believe that the verdict in this case has restored faith back into the public eye and it exhibited that “Justice can and will Prevail!
