Recently in Gatewood Category

During a long and emotional sentencing hearing today, family of the former couple known as Lavell and Denise Gatewood cried over the wreckage that is their lives since Gatewood tried to kill Mrs. Gatewood in December 2006. His family maintains he is a good but troubled man who had no intention to kill his wife of 20 years. She and her family mourned the man they once knew as loving and kind, and spoke of how his three children are left fatherless - and praised God that they still have their mother.

Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link, a veteran of these types of cases, said the thought this was the "saddest" sentencing she'd ever seen. More than one family member lamented the fact that there are "no winners" here. Defense attorney Winston McKesson asked Torrance Superior Court Judge James Brandlin to reduce the conviction to assault, but Brandlin said the verdict is supported by the evidence.

Brandlin sentenced Gatewood to 29 years to life in prison - a few years shy of the maximum prescribed by law.

Denise Gatewood has learned some lessons. After spending 20 years with a man who cheated on her then tried to kill her, she knows now that it's not worth trying to keep a family together when there's so much pain. "You should have the strength to walk away," she said moments after her estranged husband, Lavell Gatewood, was convicted of attempted murder for shooting her on Dec. 8, 2006, outside their Gardena home.

The jury, which deliberated about four hours, also found true allegations that Gatewood, 42, caused great bodily injury and used a handgun. Once all is tallied, Gatewood is looking at spending the rest of his life in prison. He returns to Torrance Superior Court Judge James Brandlin's courtroom May 29 for sentencing.

Look for the full story on the verdict in tomorrow's Daily Breeze and online at dailybreeze.com.

Previously on the the Crime & Courts Blog:

http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2008/04/update-gardena-attempted-murde.html

http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2008/04/gardena-man-kissed-wife-before.html

http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2008/04/gardena-attempted-murder-trial.html

Denise Gatewood just seemed emotionally spent as she quietly testified for most of Monday afternoon in her former husband's attempted murder trial. The trial will continue today with police officers and paramedics taking the witness stand, and the prosecution will probably rest tomorrow. It looks likely that Lavell Gatewood, 42, will have to testify in his own defense because he wants the jury to believe he was despondent and lacked the mental capacity to form the intent needed to commit attempted murder.

My story for today's editions of the Daily Breeze is here.

This morning was opening statements and the first three witnesses in the Torrance Superior Court trial of People v. Lavell Gatewood. Gatewood is accused of shooting and injuring his wife, Denise Gatewood, during a dispute at their home in the 2700 block of West 147th Street in Gardena on Dec. 8, 2006.

Before the trial even began, though, one juror had to be dismissed. Juror #3 sent a note to Judge James Brandlin that said serving her civic duty on the one-week trial would be a hardship for her because of her work and because she needed to drive her 13-year-old daughter to extracurricular activities. Defense attorney Winston McKesson didn't want a disgruntled juror, and asked for her dismissal outright. Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link agreed with Brandlin that they should have a discussion with Juror #3. Link added that the juror's husband was employed as a geneticist and they live in Palos Verdes Estates - suggesting money was probably not much of an issue. The judge and both attorneys were miffed that the juror didn't disclose her hardship during the hardship part of jury questioning last week.

After a discussion at sidebar, the judge and attorneys agreed she could not be fair and was incapable of performing her duties. She was dismissed and replaced by an alternate.

While Mrs. Gatewood is expected to take the witness stand this afternoon, the panel of six men and six women heard from her neighbors this morning. Kennedy Blackwell, 12, told the jury she was asleep when she heard Mrs. Gatewood yelling: "Don't do it! I won't leave you! Think of the kids!" Kennedy, a very mature girl who was more composed on the witness stand than many adults who testify, also said she heard gunshots that she originally thought were firecrackers.

McKesson didn't deny during opening statements that his client, in a bad place emotionally, shot his wife. However, McKesson said the evidence will show Gatewood did not have the intent to kill Mrs. Gatewood and that the gun accidentally fired. The couple had been together for about 20 years and have three children.

Gatewood is charged with attempted murder causing great bodily injury under domestic violence circumstances. If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to Link.