A jury sentenced a man convicted in the beating death of a popular Arkansas TV personality to life in prison on Thursday, sparing him the death penalty after hearing testimony about his rocky upbringing by an abusive, drug-addicted mother.
Jurors deliberated less than three hours before recommending that Curtis Lavelle Vance, 29, be sentenced to life in prison without parole for the death of Anne Pressly. The jury also handed down a life sentence for rape, 20 years for burglary and 10 years for theft.
Pressly, 26, was an anchor on KATV’s Daybreak program and had a bit part in the US President George W. Bush biopic W. Pressly died on Oct. 25, last year, five days after a brutal assault that crushed her face and left her gasping for air.
Under state law, jurors had to select either the death penalty or a life sentence.
Vance’s mother testified on Thursday that she was an abusive mother, and a doctor said Vance showed signs of paranoia. Pressly’s mother, Patti Cannady, told jurors on Wednesday what it was like to lose an only child.
After the verdict was read, Cannady mouthed, “It’s OK,” to prosecutor Larry Jegley, nodded, and tucked her hands over her heart. As she left the courtroom, however, Cannady stopped and turned at the door.
She leaned toward the defense attorneys and said: “You protected someone who should have never been protected.”
Vance showed no emotion as the verdict was read.
Earlier on Thursday, Vance’s mother, Jacqueline Vance Burnett, told jurors she was an abusive mother who had a number of crack-fueled run-ins with the law.
Burnett said she worked as a prostitute to earn money for drugs and once snapped after a “date” fell through. She said Vance had been left in charge of a younger brother and that when she returned, the brother was smearing feces on a wall. Burnett said she threw Vance into a brick wall several times until he nearly passed out.
She also told jurors she would buy drugs with money her children received from government benefits after their fathers died and that she had spent time in prison for burglary, forgery and theft.
Vance’s mother said she has since gone through rehab.
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