Teen who raped and killed MA teacher faces life imprisonment sentence in January

Philip Chism, convicted for the rape, murder and robbery of his Algebra teacher, was convicted and is facing a scheduled January 29, 2016 sentencing. He is facing life in prison but will be eligible for parole after 15 to 25 years.

According to the Boston Herald, 16-year old Philip Chism has been convicted and is facing a January 29, 2016 trial for the aggravated rape, armed robbery and murder of Danvers High School math teacher Colleen Ritzer back in 2013.

A judge ruled that Ritzer's family and friends may wear pink during Chism's sentencing, as pink was Ritzer's favorite color. It barred prosecution and law enforcement from wearing the color, however, since the defense's request for "fair and even justice" won out.

On October 22, 2013, Chism followed Ritzer into a school restroom where he punched her and stabbed her to death with a box cutter. She was also sexually assaulted with an object during the attack. Her body was discovered in a recycling bin behind the school campus.

According to the Times Colonist, Chism's lawyers admitted that their client killed Ritzer but defended that he did so because he was suffering from severe mental illness. They challenged that the teenager could not comprehend right from wrong and that he should not be held responsible for his actions and the consequences of those actions. Prosecutors, however, believed otherwise and said that Ritzer's murder was premeditated since Chism deliberately brought a box cutter, gloves , hooded sweatshirkt and other paraphernalia to school.

Another article by CBS news reported that a jury consisting of eight men and four women deliberated over Chism's case for more than three hours on December 14 and continued deliberating on December 15 until they reached a decision. Chism reportedly showed no emotion when the guilty verdict was read.

Chism was a juvenile when the crime was committed but recently tried as an adult. He will reportedly face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 to 25 years.

Tags

Legal News, Legal Updates, Juvenile Court, U.S. Hearing, U.S. Legal Case, Philip Chism Case, Colleen Ritzer Murder Case

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