Ryan's case goes to the jury

CHESAPEAKE -- Jury deliberations were expected to begin Tuesday in the Ryan Frederick murder trial.

The prosection wrapped up its closing argument Monday afternoon, ending by showing the jury a close-up of Det. Jarrod Shivers' face after the January 2008 shooting.

The defense then made its final case, arguing Frederick didn't know an officer was at his door on that night.

Frederick's charged with capital murder in Shivers' death.

The judge Monday gave given the jury six options to weigh in the case -- capital murder, first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and acquittal.

Police say Shivers and other officers were serving a warrant to investigate a reported marijuana grow operation at Frederick's Redstart Avenue home.

Frederick says he opened fire not knowing police were at the door. He says he believed intruders had returned after breaking into his home several days earlier.

Judge gave six different charge, only goes to prove how desperate they are to convict this man for the mistakes made my the whole damn Chesapeake Pd, that only choice is an Acquittal..

Mobley praised for integrity, Ryan Frederick case

Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Earle Mobley (left) got a public pat on the back Saturday from columnist Roger Chesley at The Virginian-Pilot.

The piece highlight’s Mobley’s unsolicited telephone call to lawyers in a high-profile murder trial underway in nearby Chesapeake. In that case, special prosecutor Roger Ebert put a jailhouse snitch named Jamaal Skeeter (we couldn’t make this up) on the stand to tell a jury that the defendant had incriminated himself.

When Mobley heard that Skeeter was testifying, he called both the prosecution and the defense to clue them to Skeeter’s reputation. It seems that Skeeter has snitched (or tried to snitch) on nearly everybody in Tidewater, including Michael Vick. His word was considered so unreliable that Mobley’s office refused to use him in any case.

Skeeter testified, but his credibility was undermined by a vigorous cross-examination by defense lawyers.

Writer Chesley takes the opportunity to herald Mobley’s willingness to call out bad practice, even when it means criticizing fellow law enforcement figures.

Meanwhile, the Chespeake trial of accused cop-killer Ryan Frederick continues today with closing arguments.

By Peter Vieth