Bell Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Life

Photo by Heather Spencer

I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but knowing that Spencer took that picture does something to me. I mean, that's how she saw him, and in that picture, he looks like a nice person.

ironically enough, this is the one guy a Hinds County jury would probably give the death penalty.

Well, Rex, he's got some fine, and connected, attorneys behind him, that's for sure. Who knows? But I wouldn't put him in front of a jury if I could help it.

And I hear you, L.W. That's why we like to use Heather's photos from myspace. They stand alone.

It's cases like this that make it very hard to consistently oppose the death penalty--but I guess at least Heather Spencer's family will be spared what would have been a protracted, and no doubt extremely painful, trial.

Amen, Tom. He'll meet his Maker soon enough.

Heather's mother said at the sentensing hearing that she did not want the death penalty for Bell. She stated, "That would be too easy...I want him to suffer....."

It is so sad that this situation progressed to the point of a beautiful young talented woman losing her life.

Did anyone else see Robert Smith on the WLBT news commenting on the case as if his office had something to do with it? I guess he got this tactic from FM. FM is famous for showing up at a crime scene or arrest and parading in front of the cameras to give the impression that he actually had something to do with the case. In actuality Jim Hood's office and the JPD did the work on this case. Smith had nothing to do with it. So far it appears that Smith is a chip off the old Melton rock.

The death of Heather Spencer was one of the worst events of last year. This news brings closure of a sort. I appreciate the comments from her mother. Thank you for this story.

Bell is a clear reason why men shouldn't cry in public. Boy, wasn't he ugly and pretentious. We just don't cry as pretty as women do. Glad the case got resolved short of death. Glad the family was smart enough to know killing in return didn't solve anything or punish deeply. I hope they can soon move on with their lives. God bless them and I'm sorry for their loss.

clarkkent, his office did have something to do with it; they negotiated the plea bargain. We can't turn around and say that criticisms of Peterson (based on her pleading out cases) are unfair, then make the same criticism of Smith. Presumably one of the reasons Bell plead out was because he knew he'd be looking at a capital case if he didn't.

It is interesting to note that, during Peterson's time as D.A., the practice of getting people to plead to life increased. Of course, her haters reduced that into her pleading too often. I don't hear them saying that now.

To his credit, during his campaign, Smith made it clear that the criticism of Peterson's office for plea bargains was naive and unfair.

There is hope for Jackson after all. Kudos to CCCJudge Kidd.

Tom Head, you are mistaken. Spencer's family requested that Hood's office handle the case. The Spencer family was concered about Smith's affiliation with Ed Peters, who is good friends with Tom Royals and Tommy Mayfield. Mayfield's wife, Clara, presently serves as Robert Smith's office manager. Hood's office handled the negotiations as well as the actual plea. Neither Smith nor his staff had anything to do with Bell's plea. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS/802050375/1001 Smith's office is handling the case against Bell's mother. I will be interested to see how his office handles this case.

clarkkent, I thought that was true, too, but wasn't certain so I didn't say anything, yet.

Oh, and complete the thought for those who might miss it: Tom Royals is George Bell's attorney.

I suspect we'll see lots of situations like these with both Smith's connection with Peters and Melton (remember that Melton told me on the eve of the Batman trial that Smith was "one of mine"), not to mention all the perennial bad boyz he has represented as a defense attorney. We've always wondered how efficient his office could be if he had to hand off so much, but all of that didn't seem to resonate with voters last fall. He certainly had good PR, helped along by Peters, on his side.

As a complete aside, Peters and Tommy Mayfield came up in this discussion, which originated on Folo.

Small county, eh?

Donna, we both failed to mention that both Royals and Tommy Mayfield were present at the plea this morning. Mayfield left the DA's office to become Royals' partner in his law firm. By the way, Royals and Smith have worked together in the past. Royals and Smith each represented one of the Brooks brothers. They were the brothers that were convicted of murdering their father, Rufus Brooks, Sr., around Easter two years ago. You may recall Rufus Brooks, Sr. served as an associate minister at Greater Bethlehem Temple in Jackson.

Even though Mayfield's wife works for Smith, an obvious conflict, Smith did not ask Hood's office to handle the case. Smith was going to HANDLE it himself. It was only after Spencer's family approached Hood about prosecuting the case that Smith relinquished. I can only imagine what type of DEAL Smith would have fashioned for Royals & Mayfield had he been allowed to prosecute the case.

th Royals and Tommy Mayfield were present at the plea this morning.

Yes, I noticed that photo in the corporate daily.