Jesse James Hollywood Trial Finally Starts! (LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE)

[Roamer]

http://www.myfoxal.com/dpp/news/national/LongDelayed_Alpha_Dog_Murder_Trial_Begins_86082137

Don't know if any of you followed this, but Nick's mother, Susan, used to post with us on CTV.

Long-Delayed 'Alpha Dog'
Murder Trial Begins

Updated: Friday, 15 May 2009, 11:16 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 15 May 2009, 11:16 PM CDT

Jesse James Hollywood ordered the murder of a 15-year-old boy after kidnapping him to force the teen's half-brother to pay a $1,200 drug debt, a prosecutor contended in an opening statement on Friday.
The case gained notoriety after it became the basis for the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog."
Deputy District Attorney Joshua Lynn told the jury he will present evidence proving Hollywood was the mastermind behind the crimes.
Hollywood killed Nicholas Markowitz "like he pulled the trigger himself," Lynn said. "The evidence will show Mr. Hollywood is a ruthless coward."
Hollywood, 29, sat between his two defense attorneys wearing a black suit and red tie. His chestnut brown hair was combed back, and he often whispered in his lawyers' ears.
Hollywood has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
Susan Markowitz, the mother of the victim, also was in the packed courtroom.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
During his opening statement, defense attorney James Blatt said Nicholas could have walked away from his captors numerous times but chose to stay.
In addition, Hollywood didn't direct anyone to kill Nicholas and wasn't present when the teen was shot and buried near Santa Barbara, Blatt said.
"This case never involved a shred of evidence of extortion or ransom," he told jurors.
Opening statements concluded Friday, with testimony expected to begin Monday. The trial could last as long as six weeks.
Prosecutors contend that Hollywood decided to get rid of Nicholas after learning from an attorney that he could face life in prison for kidnapping.
Lynn likened Hollywood's role to a football offensive coordinator who sits far from the field and calls the plays.
Hollywood ate dinner with his girlfriend at a steakhouse in the Los Angeles area while Nicholas was murdered and buried, Lynn said.
Four co-defendants have been convicted, including gunman Ryan Hoyt, who was sentenced to death.
Hollywood fled after the killing and was finally captured more than four years later on a beach in Brazil.
The case stalled for years after it was learned that Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen had turned over probation reports, police files and other documents to Nick Cassavetes, who directed "Alpha Dog," starring Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake.
Zonen said in court documents that he gave the files to Cassavetes to help publicize the hunt for Hollywood.
An appeals court removed Zonen, but the state's highest court and the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that he and the district attorney's office could stay on the case. However, Lynn was assigned to take it over.

[packy]

Finally after all these years.

[Bayou Lass]

Finally! This has been a long wait for trial. "Defense attorney said Nicholas could have walked away numerous times"? What planet is he from???

[PatC]

Finally! This has been a long wait for trial. "Defense attorney said Nicholas could have walked away numerous times"? What planet is he from???

I was just going to quote that statement too! The defense is to attack the victim because he didn't get away? How ridiculous! If that's all he has for a defense, he might as well plead guilty, IMO.

[nanabillie]

I was thinking the exact same thing. That makes me so angry when they do that.
I didn't know about this one.

[Roamer]

They kidnapped a 15 yr old boy, nana, because his brother owed them drug money. The boy, Nick, was killed.

[Tracian]

I remember posting with Susan, my heart broke for her, and I was very impressed with her courage.

She is in my thoughts often, and with this trial finally moving forward, I know she is going to need all the support we can offer her.

Nick, yes, he 'could' have gotten away---but they also promised not to hurt him, he thought it was more or less an adventure, and IIRC, they told him it would 'help' his brother if he played along.

He was a trusting, loyal kid that was brutally murdered on the orders of a coward, followed through by conscienceless minions.

Even IF Nick stayed because he wanted to stay, even if he was rebelling, even if he was acting a bit punky...that is not an excuse for murder, nor will anyone believe his murder was his fault, as long as their IQ is above room temperature, that is.

[Roamer]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_en_ot/us_jesse_james_hollywood

Calif. jury gets 'Alpha Dog' kidnap-murder case

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/p/ap_logo_106.png (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/brand/SIG=br2v03/*http://www.ap.org)

Thu Jul 2, 1:41 am ET

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A jury is considering the case of Jesse James Hollywood, who is accused of kidnapping a teenager over a drug debt and then ordering his death in a case that inspired the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog."

The jurors began deliberating Wednesday after hearing more than a month of testimony about the August 2000 killing. They were expected to continue Thursday.

Hollywood faces the death penalty if convicted of kidnapping 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz because the boy's half-brother owed him money for marijuana. Hollywood has acknowledged taking the boy but denied having any role in the teen's death.

On Tuesday parents of the slain boy wept as photographs of his decomposed, duct-taped body were shown by the prosecution during closing arguments.

"Justice has waited nine years," prosecutor Joshua Lynn told the jurors. "The time has come."

Defense attorney Alex Kessel said Lynn was trying to manipulate the jury's emotions with the autopsy photos.
"You can't fill the void in the prosecution's case with pictures of Nick Markowitz in the grave," Kessel said.

Hollywood, 29, testified last week that he took Markowitz from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles on the spur of the moment because of a dispute with the teen's half brother, Ben Markowitz. Hollywood testified that he was afraid after Ben Markowitz left threatening messages, poisoned his dog and broke a window at his home hours before the abduction.

Prosecutors contend the kidnapping was aimed at getting Ben Markowitz to pay a drug debt variously put at $1,200 and $2,500.
In his closing argument, Kessel told jurors that Hollywood had $25,000 in the bank and had no reason to kill over such a small debt.

The boy was driven to Santa Barbara, where he spent a couple of days drinking, smoking marijuana and playing video games with his abductors.
The prosecution contends that Hollywood then ordered the boy's death because an attorney had informed him that he could face a life sentence for kidnapping. Hollywood testified that the gunman, Ryan Hoyt, acted on his own.

Hollywood said he thought that Markowitz was being driven home when Hoyt drove him away three days after the abduction.
In his closing arguments, the prosecutor claimed that Hollywood was the mastermind and provided the murder weapon to Hoyt.
"His method was to have other people do his dirty work for him," Lynn said.

Markowitz's body was later found in a grave in a hiking area in the Santa Barbara foothills. He had been shot nine times.
Hollywood fled after the killing and was arrested in 2005 in Brazil.
Hoyt was sentenced to death and three other men got lesser sentences.

[SteveG]

Doesn't the law say if you participate in a crime and a death occurs, your just as responsible for the death, even if you didn't commit the deed yourself?

He admits he took the young innocent Nicholas, therefore he is guilty for his death.

James, supposedly takes Nicholas because he's afraid of Ben? If he's afraid Ben has some grudge against him already and afraid of him (Ben) what the heck does he think Ben would do if he took his younger bro and then killed him?

So, he didn't kill him because of the money, but because he would get life for kidnapping, so instead he opts for the death penalty, amazing

What happens to this people that they have such a low or no regard for human life?

[LiveLaughLuv]

I remember watching this on Dateline or some true crime show..This was intentionall and deliberate. He took this boy's life because his brother owed drug money..

The boy was driven to Santa Barbara, where he spent a couple of days drinking, smoking marijuana and playing video games with his abductors.
The prosecution contends that Hollywood then ordered the boy's death because an attorney had informed him that he could face a life sentence for kidnapping. Hollywood testified that the gunman, Ryan Hoyt, acted on his own.

So since Hollywood felt he'd do life just for kidnapping, he figures, well, let's just kill him cause I'll get life anyways, right...How incredibly sad..the malignant mind is too hard for me to understand...:girl_sad:

[Pandabear]

I pray that Nicholas finally gets the justice that he deserves in this and that the jury does the right thing by him. His family is in my prayers.

[packy]

GUILTY

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12786835?nclick_check=1

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—Jesse James Hollywood has been convicted of the kidnap and murder of a 15-year-old boy that inspired the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog."
A Santa Barbara jury on Wednesday also found the 29-year-old guilty after deliberating for about four days.

Prosecutors say Hollywood orchestrated the kidnapping and eventual killing of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 because the teen's half brother owed a drug debt.

Nicholas was taken to Santa Barbara, held for several days, before he was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Four others have been convicted in connection with the crime.

[annalyzer]

Jesse James Hollywood convicted of murder, kidnap

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090709/capt.d2f97704a7c94ebe8ea894db16fed19b.jesse_james_ hollywood_la110.jpg?x=213&y=280&xc=1&yc=1&wc=311&hc=409&q=85&sig=Y8E5QbnBqZnd_Qag3sSKcw--
In this 2005 file photo released by Brazilian federal police, fugitive Jesse James Hollywood

1 hr 45 mins ago

SANTA BARBARA, California – Jesse James Hollywood was convicted Wednesday of the kidnap and murder of a 15-year-old boy that inspired the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog."

After deliberating about four days, a Santa Barbara Superior Court jury also found Hollywood, 29, guilty of the special circumstance allegation of being involved in a crime in which an assault weapon or machine gun was used, making him eligible for the death penalty.

Hollywood stared straight ahead as the verdict was read.

"I can't believe they found him guilty of that murder," his father, Jack Hollywood, said outside the courtroom.

The victim's parents said they were relieved but declined to comment further because of a gag order issued in the case.

The penalty phase of the case was scheduled to begin Monday.

Hollywood was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and eventual killing of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 because the teen's half brother owed a drug debt.

Nicholas was taken to Santa Barbara and held for several days before being shot and buried in a shallow grave. Four others have been convicted in connection with the crime.

Hollywood took the stand in his own defense, a move legal experts say is rare and potentially risky. He testified that he and two friends grabbed Markowitz off a street in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles but did not order the teen's murder.

He said the teen was taken in an escalating dispute between him and the boy's older half-brother, Ben Markowitz. Hollywood, an admitted marijuana dealer, said Ben Markowitz owed him a $2,500 drug debt — more than twice the amount prosecutors have cited.

Hollywood said he was afraid after Ben Markowitz left threatening messages, poisoned his dog and broke a window at his home, only hours before Nicholas was abducted. Hollywood called the taking of Nicholas irrational and not well-thought out.

Hollywood said Ryan Hoyt, the gunman who was convicted and sentenced to death, acted on his own because of concern about Ben Markowitz finding out about the abduction. Hollywood also said the gun used to kill Nicholas was once his but that he gave it to Hoyt months before the murder.

Prosecutors did not call Hoyt as a witness — the one person who could definitely say if Hollywood ordered the slaying. Also left out of Hollywood's trial were Jesse Rugge and William Skidmore, two others convicted in the case.

Prosecutors contend Hollywood decided to get rid of Nicholas after learning from an attorney that he could face life in prison for kidnapping. They also believe the murder was a way for Hoyt to settle his own drug debt with Hollywood.

Hollywood had pleaded not guilty to kidnap and murder in the case that inspired "Alpha Dog," which starred Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone and Emile Hirsch, who played "Johnny Truelove," a character based on Hollywood.

Hollywood fled after the slaying and later testified he had lived in Colorado, the Mojave Desert and various parts of Canada before he was captured in Brazil.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_en_ot/us_jesse_james_hollywood

[LiveLaughLuv]

:zm10: Glad he was convicted...

I remember watching Alpha Dog and what he did to that boy was horrendous...all for a drug debt allegedly owed by his brother...

Now for the penalty phase to begin...

[Roamer]

I think only if he gets the DP will there be justice for Nicholas' family.

[LiveLaughLuv]

Jury recommends life in 'Alpha Dog' slaying
Jesse James Hollywood could have gotten death for kidnap-murder of teen
updated 7:02 p.m. ET, Wed., July 15, 2009
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Jurors recommended a life sentence Wednesday for Jesse James Hollywood for orchestrating the kidnap-murder of a 15-year-old boy that inspired the movie "Alpha Dog."

Jurors deliberated about two days before recommending life without the possibility of parole instead of a death sentence.

Hollywood was convicted last week of the first-degree murder and kidnapping of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 over what prosecutors say was a drug debt owed by his half-brother.

Hollywood also was found guilty of the special circumstance allegations of being a principal in a murder committed in the course of a kidnapping and being involved in a crime in which an assault weapon or machine gun was used, which made him eligible for the death penalty.

Messages left for defense attorney James Blatt and Deputy District Attorney Joshua Lynn were not immediately returned.

more at the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31928867/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[LiveLaughLuv]

Hollywood also was found guilty of the special circumstance allegations of being a principal in a murder committed in the course of a kidnapping and being involved in a crime in which an assault weapon or machine gun was used, which made him eligible for the death penalty.

I wonder why those jurors opted for LWOP instead of the DP...:madranting94dp:

[Roamer]

Darned bleeding hearts. They were supposed to be death qualified.

[Louise]

He should have gotten the death penalty in my opinion. I hope Susan is handling this news okay? Does anyone here from the old CTV boards keep in touch with her at all?

[Roamer]

I used to have her email, Louise, but lost it when I got this new computer.

[Amusedtdth]

I agree, if ever someone deserved the DP..that movie haunted me for weeks thinking about how Nick was taken up into the hills and then begged for his life when he realized what was about to happen......Roamer, I'm with you, damned bleeding hearts......now if he was one of thiers...........

[Louise]

I used to have her email, Louise, but lost it when I got this new computer.

Okay, thanks Roamy. I just did a websearch on Nick and found this website which has a guestbook where you can leave messages for Susan and her family.

http://www.nicholasmarkowitz.com/

[Roamer]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100206/ap_en_ot/us_jesse_james_hollywood

Jesse James Hollywood gets life in murder case



http://d.yimg.com/a/p/losangeles/20100206/videolthumb.cafd24317d230d5911c37f5a0570d29c.jpg?x =213&y=160&xc=1&yc=1&wc=300&hc=225&q=85&sig=PQrtPVKIROllSjdA1uZZWA-- Play Video (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/cbs2_kcal9_la/av_cbs_la_2/858d43dbc275300e196f6f461e716660/35009187;_ylt=Aga37e.sk6QdYTrccQsiZy1Y24cA;_ylu=X3 oDMTE5ZnNtZWY0BHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9yX3RvcF92aWRlbwRz bGsDamVzc2VqYW1lc2hv/*http://news.yahoo.com/video/local-15749667/17997610)CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles (http://news.yahoo.com/video/local/los-angeles) – Jesse James Hollywood Gets Life Sentence


Fri Feb 5, 7:25 pm ET
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Jesse James Hollywood was sentenced to life in prison Friday for orchestrating the kidnap-murder of a teenager, ending a 10-year legal odyssey that included an international manhunt and a movie inspired by the high-profile crime.

Superior Court Judge Brian Hill sentenced Hollywood, 30, to life without the possibility of parole in a Santa Barbara courtroom after denying a defense motion for a new trial.

Hollywood had faced a possible death penalty, but jurors recommended life after finding him guilty in July of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said Prosecutors said Hollywood ordered the killing of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 over a $1,200 drug debt owed by the victim's half-brother.

The case drew national interest because of the brazen daylight kidnapping of Markowitz from a San Fernando Valley street, the details of his murder and Hollywood's notorious name.

It also captured the attention of producers who made the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog," with Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake and Emile Hirsch, who played "Johnny Truelove," a character based on Hollywood.

"I feel strongly that my client could not receive a fair trial because of the movie and the pretrial publicity," argued defense attorney James Blatt, who said Hollywood's case was the first ever in the U.S. depicted in a movie released prior to trial.

Four other defendants have been convicted in the killing, including the gunman, who was sentenced to death.

Hollywood fled after the slaying and testified at his trial he lived in Colorado, the Mojave Desert and various parts of Canada before he was captured in Brazil in 2005. He claimed he didn't order the murder and was not present when Nicholas was shot and buried in a shallow grave in the hills above Santa Barbara.

The case stalled for years after it was learned that Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen had turned over probation reports, police files and other documents to "Alpha Dog" director Nick Cassavetes.

Zonen said in court documents that he gave the files to Cassavetes to help publicize the hunt for Hollywood. An appeals court removed Zonen from the case, but the state's highest court and the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that he and the district attorney's office could stay on the case.