CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A trial for Jerome Jenkins, a man found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery in connection to the 2015 Sunhouse robberies, moved into the sentencing phase Monday.
Both sides made their opening statements, and the state called several witnesses to the stand to testify in the sentencing phase of Jerome Jenkins’s trial.
During the state’s opening statement, they revealed the other two robberies and murder of Trisha Stull to the jury, and Jenkins’s involvement in those crimes.
While others previously testified that two guns were used during the January 2, 2015 robbery and murder of store clerk, Bala Paruchuri, Lt. Peter Cestare with the Horry County Police Department testified seeing only one gun in surveillance video from the January 25, 2015 robbery and murder of store clerk, Trisha Stull.
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During the state’s opening statement, they told the jury Jenkins was the one who fired that gun, ultimately killing Stull.
The state called Horry County clerk of court to testify that Jenkins had a criminal record prior to the 2015 robberies and murders. According to the testimony, Jenkins was charged with second-degree non-violent burglary and grand larceny in 2011, and distribution of cocaine in 2013.
During the defense’s opening statement, they told the jury that the crimes committed were terrible, however, they asked the jury to consider other aspects of Jenkins’s life before determining their client’s sentence, including his diagnosis with an intellectual disorder he received at a young age. The defense said there “is more in this case than meets the eye.”
The state will call more witnesses to the stand Tuesday as the trial continues, including testimony from correctional officers who say Jenkins stabbed them and threw feces at them at the maximum security facility where he was held while awaiting his trial.
Count on News13 to be inside the courtroom to bring you the latest information from the trial.
