Spared death: 7 reactions from family, experts, attorneys to life in prison for Timothy O'Reilly

Jonathan Oosting | By Jonathan Oosting |
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on August 26, 2010 at 7:59 AM, updated August 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Fox 2 Video: Victim's family members respond to life in prison for Timothy O'Reilly.
Timothy O'Reilly likely will spend the rest of his life in prison without the option of parole, but the 37-year-old Detroit resident will not face execution for his role in the 2001 murder of an armored car guard outside of the Dearborn Federal Credit Union.

O'Reilly was convicted earlier this month for his role in the $204,000 robbery, which involved five other men. Authorities said he shot Norman "Anthony" Stephens, who was already laying on the ground wounded, in the back during the heist.  And during the trial, prosecutors played a tape of O'Reilly laughing and bragging about the shooting during a secretly-recorded prison conversation.

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, argued O'Reilly was manipulated by the man who helped organize the heist, pointing out his death would only add to a tragic situation.

While Michigan's Constitution forbids the death penalty, it is allowed in federal cases provided jurors reach a unanimous decision.  They were unable to do so Wednesday, with one alternate suggesting only four of 12 jurors favored death, some still unsure O'Reilly actually pulled the trigger.

Family members of the victim say they're upset by the verdict, but experts say it makes sense.  Below, you'll find seven reactions to Wednesday's decision:

  • Robyn Stephens, victim's wife: "They've made their decision.  He'll never walk the streets again.  ...I'm not satisfied, because if I was the jury I would have gave it to him.  But I'm not the jury."

  • Norman Stephens Jr, victim's son: "He took my father.  He took other people's family members. He is a criminal.  He's supposed to be done."

  • Cass Allen, victim's niece: "A lot of criminals have put a lot of people in harm's way.  Death was the only way.  Death was the only way to keep people safe."

  • Norio Stephens, alternate juror (no relation to victim): "I believe he was guilty of murder. Cold-blooded murder. ...A lot of people couldn't make the decision of death."

  • Richard Kammen, defense attorney: "It would have been an enormous tragedy in our view had he received a death sentence.  And in saying that, I want to say that what happened to Mr. Stephens was an enormous tragedy as well."

  • Barbara McQuade, U.S. Attorney: "We respect the work of the jury, which carefully listened to all of the evidence in this case,” said United States Attorney Barbara McQuade. We hope that the Stephen’s family can take some comfort in knowing that the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of release."

  • Richard Jaffe, co-chair of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's Death Penalty Committee: "The death penalty is really reserved for the worst of the worst. ..."If they can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this person did the actual shooting, then how are they going to answer the question that death is required?"
Two other men involved in the heist -- 40-year-old Norman Duncan and 39-year-old Kevin Watson, both of Detroit -- face upcoming trails for their role in the heist and jurors could consider the death penalty for them as well.