Jury Reaches Verdict in Wright Case
The jury reaches a verdict in the three day trial of Dale Wright. Wright’s on trail for the murder of his five month old son Dash.
At 7:30 p.m. after two and a half hours of deliberating the jury returned a verdict in the case of Dale Wright. Finding him guilty of both murder and child endangering.
Wright only hung his head after the verdict was read while Dash’s mother, Wright’s girlfriend cried.
The final day of the trial included testimony from defense witness Dr. Mark Shuman from Miami, Florida. The doctor paid $7,000 for his research and testimony didn’t stand up when cross examined becoming flustered when questioned by Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch.
In closing arguments Welch asked jurors to use common sense when deciding the verdict and said there was no way a child described as playful and eating was suddenly dead, lifeless and limp.
"What does your common sense tell you happened," questioned Welch to the jurors. "That’s not factoring in any medical testimony. If you had a choice of who to believe who’s it going to be?"
Defense Attorney Mark Stubbins argues that all the doctors failed to agree equally on all issues and again placed some blame onto Rosemary Elson.
"Let me suggest something to you," said Stubbins. "If she’s the one that caused injury then she doesn’t hold him responsible for this, if she’s the one that did whatever why wouldn’t she still love him?"
While the jury may have found guilt for Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch it does not change the fact a child won’t have the opportunity to live.
"The verdict in this case doesn’t do sufficient justice for Dash," said a solemn Welch. "He’ll never have the opportunity to grow up and the fact someone’s been convicted of his murder while it’s a relief there will be some sense of justice. It’s not sufficient to replace what’s been lost."
The family of Rosemary Elson and Dale Wright declined to comment along with Defense Attorney Mark Stubbins. A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered in the case. Welch said Wright faces at least fifteen years in prison before going up for parole and could get up to life.
