Death penalty phase opens in torture-murder
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GREENSBURG – The death penalty phase of a trial has opened for a Western Pennsylvania man found guilty of orchestrating the torture and killing of a mentally disabled woman three years ago.
Prosecutors say Tuesday that life in prison would be “woefully inadequate” for 26-year-old Ricky Smyrnes. He was convicted of first-degree murder last week and now faces either the death penalty or life in prison.
But defense attorney Terrance Faye says Smyrnes doesn’t deserve to die because he suffers from mental illness.
The victim, 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty of Mt. Pleasant, was beaten, humiliated and abused by a group of people, including one already serving a life sentence and another on death row.
Three people remain charged and have not gone on trial.