edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,480 
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Post by edie3 on Nov 6, 2018 22:52:21 GMT
of wife, young daughters.
Christopher Watts, the Frederick man accused of killing his wife and young daughters, pleaded guilty to murder, the judge said on Tuesday.
He will avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty to the crimes. His plea includes the unlawful termination of pregnancy for the death of his unborn son, Nico.
Watts said in court he is satisfied with his defense representation and is knowingly accepting this plead deal.
He pleaded guilty to a total of nine counts for the murders of his wife, two daughters and unborn son less than three months after the crime took place. This happened very quickly by most legal standards.
The judge set sentencing for November 19 at 10 a.m. He will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Weld County district attorney charged Watts with the following counts on august 20:
5 counts of Murder in the First Degree
3 counts of Tampering with a Deceased Human Body
1 count of Unlawful Termination of Pregnancy
He faced the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
With the agreement of the victims’ family, District Attorney Michael Rourke eliminated the death penalty from consideration in exchange for pleading guilty to all nine counts.
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Post by lucyg on Nov 6, 2018 22:53:56 GMT
Why is it five counts of murder? Were there more victims?
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Post by sabrinae on Nov 6, 2018 22:56:27 GMT
Why is it five counts of murder? Were there more victims? I don’t know, but my educated guess is that they charged him with multiple counts of murder for the same victim(s) with alternative theories of how the deaths occurred. |
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QueenoftheSloths
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Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Nov 6, 2018 23:07:45 GMT
Is he the one that initially claimed the wife killed the daughters?
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Nov 6, 2018 23:15:27 GMT
Wow. Did not see that coming.
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,947
Location: North Idaho
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Post by Nink on Nov 6, 2018 23:18:07 GMT
Is he the one that initially claimed the wife killed the daughters? Yes. |
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Post by jennyap on Nov 6, 2018 23:36:18 GMT
Why is it five counts of murder? Were there more victims? From what I can find, there are two counts in relation to each of the daughters. One is first degree murder - deliberately taking a life; the other is first degree murder of a child under 12 while in a position of trust - which only seems to require knowingly causing their death, rather than deliberately. In my completely inexpert view, I’m slightly surprised that he could be guilty of both as they seem to cover different circumstances (I presume that both charges would have been brought against him to cover all the bases) but perhaps that was part of the deal to avoid the death penalty. |
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 7, 2018 0:46:25 GMT
Often people can be charged with multiple counts in relation to one murder.
From what I read, the ass didn't actually take responsibility, but still plead guilty.
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Post by mom on Nov 7, 2018 0:53:11 GMT
Often people can be charged with multiple counts in relation to one murder. From what I read, the ass didn't actually take responsibility, but still plead guilty.Yep, he's just trying to keep his ass from frying. Apparently the family agreed to the Plea Deal though, so... |
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
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Post by sassyangel on Nov 7, 2018 0:55:41 GMT
Often people can be charged with multiple counts in relation to one murder. From what I read, the ass didn't actually take responsibility, but still plead guilty. Yeah, to avoid the death penalty, I guess. Murderers with no respect for their victims lives, so intent on preserving their own, ugh. |
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Post by rockymtnpea on Nov 7, 2018 1:03:29 GMT
Maybe he does have a conscious somewhere in there.
Colorado has not actually utilized the death penalty since 1997 so odds were in his favor that even if sentenced to death it would never had happened.
His poor wife and daughters....
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,480
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Post by edie3 on Nov 7, 2018 1:14:33 GMT
I guess if her family is okay with it. Well, as okay as you can be.
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Post by magoosangel on Nov 7, 2018 1:23:57 GMT
So very sad. I am glad he admitted it; as I was very sad she couldn’t defend his claim she killed the children. All so very horrible. Thank you for the update.
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Post by nurseypants on Nov 7, 2018 1:57:09 GMT
I would really like to know the truth of what happened. I doubt he will ever say.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,036
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Post by used2scrap on Nov 7, 2018 1:59:33 GMT
Probably the best outcome for the families. Such a horrific case.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Nov 7, 2018 2:52:52 GMT
I still think he will kill himself somewhere down the line...I just don’t see him doing life.
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Post by Skellinton on Nov 7, 2018 3:16:18 GMT
I am just thankful his wife’s family will be spared the ordeal of a trial.
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Post by jumperhop on Nov 7, 2018 4:32:00 GMT
I didn’t see that coming. I am glad her family didn’t have to endure a trail, what a blessing.
Jen
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