Before Darren Mack entered his guilty plea for the shooting of Judge Chuck Weller he made sure of one thing.
"It
was informed to me that you at my sentencing that I will have all the
time I need, because there are some very important things I would like
to share. I have remained quiet thru this whole thing and now I would
like to come forward and speak and it was represented that I would have
that with your honor."
Giving
Mack plenty of time to tell the court why he took a shot at family
court judge Chuck Weller will be top priority according to the judge.
That's one reason for the additional time....but there will also be time for others.
"My family and people of that nature can come and testify on my behalf."
Psychiatrists may also take the stand for the defense.
But
the hearing won't be one sided. Soorya Townley--Charla's mother may
also take the stand about the impact her daughter's murder has had on
her....Judge Chuck Weller could make an impact statement as well.
Prosecutor Robert Daskas gave a hint as to who he might call during the sentencing phase of the case.
"
It was our intent in rebuttal to call a Lucien Haag to the stand. He is
a renown fire arms expert and he will provide testimony regarding
velocity of that .243 caliber cartridge the fact the bullet entered
double pane glass and that certainly the defendant could not take those
things into consideration and then suggest to the jury he didn't intend
to kill."
Washoe District Court Judge Janet Berry says even a defedant with no prior record still faces tremendous scrunity.
"
If they have never been in trouble in their life and they come in big
time, like murder, rape robbery--horrible crime. Then oftentimes those
sentencing can depend upon victim impact statements the facts of the
case, and really to the passion of the case and the arguments of
counsel. But there are just certain things that we as citizens and
humans just won't tolerate and even if you have never been in trouble
in your life. You can end up serving a lot of prison time."
