Most Leaky Verdict: Man Who Shot Johnny Cash Water Tower Found Guilty of Criminal Mischief
Timothy Sled, of Arkansas, was found guilty of “impairing the operation of a vital public facility” and criminal mischief after he shot a hole in a local water tower constructed in honor of Johnny Cash, according to an article from KARC.com, an NBC affiliate. The hole was shot so as to make it appear a silhouette of the music icon imprinted on the tower was relieving himself. As much as 30,000 gallons of water spilled out each day until the hole was repaired.
Most Non-Capital Verdict: Manhattan Bike Path Killer Sayfullo Saipov Avoids Death Sentence
Sayfullo Saipov will spend the rest of his life in prison after jury deliberations did not unanimously yield a death penalty sentence, according to an article from the Death Penalty Information Center. Saipov was found guilty of intentionally driving his truck into a bike path and killing eight people five years ago. The last state-based execution in New York took place in 1963.
Most Podcasted Verdict: Murder Conviction Reinstated After Judge Finds Victim’s Brother Not Given Chance To Be Heard
A Maryland appeals court has reinstated Adnan Syed’s murder conviction after ruling the trial court violated the rights of the victim’s family, according to an article from The New York Times. Syed, who rose to notoriety after being the subject of the popular “Serial” podcast, was imprisoned for 23 years before winning his freedom. As a result of the ruling, Hae Min Lee, the brother of Syed’s deceased girlfriend, will be afforded a chance to speak at the upcoming redo hearing pertaining to Syed’s release.
Most Record-Setting Verdict: Family of 4 Year Old Killed in Car Crash Awarded Record Amount in Damages
The parents of Katie Grantham, who was killed by a Stuart Petroleum Testers driver in a 2017 car crash, were each awarded more than $200 million, according to an article from KSLA News 12. An additional $4,122.013 in punitive damages was assessed. The record-setting figure in the Louisiana civil suit included damages for injuries to Grantham’s family as well as punitive damages. The incident sparked new legislation to expand drug testing at the scene of a car crash even when no fatality occurs immediately as a result of an accident.
Most Awaited Verdict: Florida Ice Cream Guilty in Long-running Murder Case
Michael Keetley, a well-known neighborhood ice cream man, was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Juan and Sergio Guitron 12 years ago, according to an article from Tampa Bay Times. The verdict comes after two separate trials related to a 2010 incident that saw six individuals shot. The decision puts a close to Hillsborough County’s “longest-running criminal case.”