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UPDATED: Sentence announced in Rodney Strickland trial
Convicted murderer also faces charge of aggravated assault for seriously injuring stepdaughter
By VANESA BRASHIER
The jury in the Rodney Strickland murder trial has reached a decision as to what punishment Strickland now faces for his wife's murder.
Strickland was convicted on Friday for the Jan. 17, 2007 shooting death of Mary Bazzoon Strickland. Shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, it was announced that Strickland had been sentenced to 60 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The jury began their deliberations in the punishment phase of the trial on Monday, but were sent home that evening, unable to reach a consensus.
Strickland will have to serve a minimum of 30 years flat time (day for day) until he is even eligible for parole, according to Liberty County District Attorney Mike Little, who successfully prosecuted the case.
But Strickland will likely do much more of his sentence than 30 years.
“Violent offenders, such as those convicted of murder, are generally serving about 80 percent or more of their sentence before getting any serious parole consideration, so I expect that he will never be free again,” said Little.
Strickland also faces a charge of aggravated assault for injuries to his stepdaughter, Barbara McFarland. McFarland was shot in the abdomen and arm during the same incident in which her mother was fatally killed.
The trial was conducted in the 75th District Courtroom of Judge C.T. "Rusty" Hight in the Liberty County Courthouse.
More information on this story will be published in the next edition of the Cleveland Advocate.
Strickland was convicted on Friday for the Jan. 17, 2007 shooting death of Mary Bazzoon Strickland. Shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, it was announced that Strickland had been sentenced to 60 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The jury began their deliberations in the punishment phase of the trial on Monday, but were sent home that evening, unable to reach a consensus.
Strickland will have to serve a minimum of 30 years flat time (day for day) until he is even eligible for parole, according to Liberty County District Attorney Mike Little, who successfully prosecuted the case.
But Strickland will likely do much more of his sentence than 30 years.
“Violent offenders, such as those convicted of murder, are generally serving about 80 percent or more of their sentence before getting any serious parole consideration, so I expect that he will never be free again,” said Little.
Strickland also faces a charge of aggravated assault for injuries to his stepdaughter, Barbara McFarland. McFarland was shot in the abdomen and arm during the same incident in which her mother was fatally killed.
The trial was conducted in the 75th District Courtroom of Judge C.T. "Rusty" Hight in the Liberty County Courthouse.
More information on this story will be published in the next edition of the Cleveland Advocate.
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