The life of Naeem Williams is in the hands of the same 12 U.S. District Court jurors who found him guilty of capital murder for killing his 5-year-old daughter, Talia, and also found him eligible for the death penalty.
The jurors heard closing arguments Friday in the sentencing phase of Williams’ trial, during which one defense lawyer pleaded for mercy for the former Schofield Barracks soldier while the prosecutor argued for "the ultimate punishment." The jurors will return to court Thursday to begin their deliberation on whether Williams, 34, will get the death penalty or spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Federal prosecutor Steven Mellin told the jurors that Williams deserves death for what he did to the girl.
"Life in prison is simply not sufficient for killing your daughter," he said.
The jury found Williams guilty of capital murder for killing his daughter through child abuse in their military family quarters at Wheeler Army Airfield in 2005. Also, it found him guilty of a capital murder offense for killing her after months of torture.
During the eligibility phase, jurors found that the crimes were made worse because of the especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner involved in the torture and that the girl was particularly vulnerable because of her age.
Defense lawyer Michael Burt told the jurors there are many factors that explain, but not excuse, the crimes and weigh in favor of keeping Williams alive.
"We’re not asking that you forgive and forget," Burt said. "Under the law you’re entitled to exercise mercy. Mercy is not something that is earned; it is bestowed. I’m asking you please to extend mercy to Naeem Williams."
In addition to the two aggravating factors the jurors found when they deemed Williams eligible for death, the government presented seven more for them to consider. They include Williams’ waiting two hours before seeking medical help for the girl on the day she died; washing the blood off her bedroom walls from previous beatings; lying to law enforcement officers; instructing his wife, Delilah, to also lie; refusing to relinquish custody of the girl; his daughter’s vulnerability because of developmental delays and asthma; and the harm and loss her death caused her mother, Tarshia Williams.
Defense lawyers presented the jury with 149 factors they believe weigh in favor of sparing Williams’ life. They include those spelled out in the law, such as whether Williams has impaired mental capacity, was under duress and has no prior criminal record and that his wife, Delilah Williams — Talia’s stepmother — is equally culpable but is not getting a death sentence.
Other factors Williams wants the jury to consider include his own childhood abuse, military service, connection with his family, acceptance of responsibility, good conduct in jail for the past nine years and Delilah Williams’ misconduct over the same period.
There are four possible outcomes from the jury’s deliberation. Three would result in a life prison sentence. That outcome would result when aggravating factors are not sufficient for death or do not outweigh the mitigating factors, aggravating and mitigating factors are equal, or that jurors are unable to achieve a unanimous verdict.
Only a unanimous vote in favor of death will result in a death sentence.
