Less than 24 hours to reach another guilty verdict. Jake Combs convicted, again, for killing Trevor Earley.
Minutes after their last note with clarifications on jury instructions about the special allegation. and just after 4 p.m., there was a verdict in the Jake Combs case. At 4:11 jurors entered the courtroom.
Katrina Earley burst into tears as the guilty verdict was read for first degree murder. The jurors also found the special allegation true that Combs personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the comission of the crime.
The foreperson was a female juror. 10 men and two women were on the jury.
At 4:23 jurors asked to step outside. On record, there was discussion about aggravated factors and two "bifurcated issues." Trevor Earley's age; he was 25 and whether the crime was vicious and cruel.
Combs waived his right to a court trial and bench trial on two issues of bifurcation. Judge Cockrum asked Combs about the waiver and confirmed," There will be no jury trial or Court trial about aggravating factors set by statute. "
Of course, outside the presence of the jurors, he mouthed off on the criminal justice system, "I want to waive the whole fucking thing. Your honor realistically, I just want this over."
Combs chose to go through this and put Trevor's family through this; again. He chose to go through a retrial and reject the People's offer. Combs was held accountable by a jury for the second time for murder and the second allegation. Combs can waive his right to appeal if he is really "sorry."
At 4:27 jurors came back in and were thanked and excused.
Preliminary hearing in the new case he picked up is May 27. Defense attorneys will reach out to Ms. Timm about a resolution.
Sentencing on this murder case is on July 31. A referral has been made to probation about the current sentence he is serving and the county.
When I shot him, I snapped." The moment Combs said this, I knew. When I watched Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm give her closing and then I looked at the jury, I knew.
I did not say anything until the verdict out of respect for the family.
None of the jurors waited around to speak with attorneys today. I understand why.
There was emotion in their eyes and as I left the courtroom, I too was emotional and shaken. For days, Katrina Earley was stoic. Surrounded by loved ones she had to endure a retrial from a selfish, unrepentant murderer. To hear a mother sob again, in pain was very difficult.
If you read my coverage on this retrial, I already said from the beginning that Combs would regret not taking the plea offer and that his public defenders were no match for Ms. Timm.
None of the jurors waited around to speak with attorneys today. I understand why.
I reported on Combs new case for possession of meth in jail and his prior felony conviction last August and was the first one months ago.
There were three extra bailiffs in the courtroom, in addition to the Courtroom 1 bailiff.
Only Times Standard and I were in court for the verdict.