◼ Will the handling of convicted murderer Jacob Steele's jury trial work in his favor today?
This afternoon, there is a Franklin hearing/resentencing scheduled for Jacob Charles Steele. He was convicted of second degree murder of Jerry George in 2012. As of today, Steele is not eligible for parole until 2034....
◼ 'I was in shock': Alleged murderer Jacob Steele retakes the stand - TS - 2/2/12
Jacob Charles Steele testified Thursday that he didn't look at his friend Jerry George's body after shooting him in January 2010 and didn't know where the bullet struck but that he instantly assumed George was dead.◼ Richard: 'It was a stressful moment'; Jacob Steele's cousin offers gory rebuttal testimony in murder case - TS - 2/4/12
Taking the stand for the third consecutive day in his murder trial, Steele again testified that he feared for his life when he shot George in self-defense as the 29-year-old Louisiana native violently rushed at him on the night of Jan. 21, 2010. Steele said he raised his gun as George quickly approached and it went off -- possibly accidentally -- before he saw George fall to the ground.
Richard Steele also testified Friday that when he and his cousin returned to the apartment later that night to move George's body, the wound was more than apparent. He said while he and Jacob Steele were wrapping George in the tarp, he was initially wrapping George's upper body -- with Jacob Steele wrapping his legs -- when George's head flopped over to the right.
”When you went to wrap him up in the tarp, what happened?” Gallegos asked.
”For real?” Richard Steele asked in response, seeming unsure whether to answer.
”Yes,” Gallegos answered.
”His brains spilled out all over my hands,” Richard Steele testified, prompting George's sister to stand up and leave the courtroom.
”What did you do then?” Gallegos asked.
”I kind of freaked out and said, 'Jake, you got to take the head,'” Richard Steele testified.