Government argues for two lifetime sentences for Tedtaotao
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.9999990463257px; line-height: 13.7999992370605px;">On Wednesday morning before Supreme Court justices, the government made its case why the sentence should be reversed back to two lifetimes behind bars. </span>
October 29, 2014Updated: October 29, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - It was back in January Raymond Tedtaotao was handed down two life sentences for the Nimitz Hill home invasion only to have that sentence reduced to 55 years.
On Wednesday morning before Supreme Court justices, the government made its case why the sentence should be reversed back to two lifetimes behind bars. According to Assistant Attorney General Brian Gallagher, the initial sentence imposed was a legal sentence. The adjustment however was made after Judge Maria Cenzon ruled Tedtaotao didn't qualify for extended terms under Guam law.
In order to qualify for the extended sentence, the government needed to prove that Tedtaotao was a repeat offender, that the crime he committed was a violent crime, and that the defendant was over 21 years of age.
It was also argued whether or not an attempted murder conviction justifies a life sentence under Guam law. In Gallagher's argument he states Guam law states that an attempt should be punished as if it were a completed act. Defense attorney Sam Teker disagreed stating had the legislature intended attempted murder to be punishable by life imprisonment, they would have specified it.
The case was taken under advisement.
Guam - It was back in January Raymond Tedtaotao was handed down two life sentences for the Nimitz Hill home invasion only to have that sentence reduced to 55 years.
On Wednesday morning before Supreme Court justices, the government made its case why the sentence should be reversed back to two lifetimes behind bars. According to Assistant Attorney General Brian Gallagher, the initial sentence imposed was a legal sentence. The adjustment however was made after Judge Maria Cenzon ruled Tedtaotao didn't qualify for extended terms under Guam law.
In order to qualify for the extended sentence, the government needed to prove that Tedtaotao was a repeat offender, that the crime he committed was a violent crime, and that the defendant was over 21 years of age.
It was also argued whether or not an attempted murder conviction justifies a life sentence under Guam law. In Gallagher's argument he states Guam law states that an attempt should be punished as if it were a completed act. Defense attorney Sam Teker disagreed stating had the legislature intended attempted murder to be punishable by life imprisonment, they would have specified it.
The case was taken under advisement.