Live from the courtroom: A jury has decided to spare the life of Samuel Dieteman, the second gunman in the Serial Shooter killing spree, for his role in the murders of Claudia Gutierrez-Cruz and Robin Blasnek.
The jury decided that Dieteman deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of release as long as he is alive.
Dieteman pleaded guilty to the 2006 murders but agreed to help authorities convict his co-conspirator, Dale Hausner, who was convicted and received six death sentences earlier this year.
The announcement by the 12-person jury in Maricopa County Superior Court drew an emotional response from Dieteman’s attorney and his mother, who both could be seen crying afterward.
“Justice has been served,” his attorney, Maria Schaffer, said following the verdict. “Sam has always been prepared to accept whatever sentence was presented by the jury.”