The Arapahoe County District Attorney will not seek the death penalty against one of three men accused of killing a witness and his fiancee two years ago.
In March, a doctor at the state mental hospital ruled that Parish Carter, 25, was competent to stand trial in the killing of witness Javad Marshall-Fields and his fiancée, Vivian Wolfe.
District Attorney spokeswoman Kathleen Walsh said the DA will formally announce its decision not to seek the death penalty at a hearing Wednesday morning. She could not comment further because there is a gag order in the case.
It was unclear Tuesday whether the DA had cut a deal with Carter to testify, even though he was found competent to stand trial.
Carter’s attorney, Randy Canney, declined to comment today except to say that it was his understanding that the DA would not seek the death penalty. He also said he will not contest the court’s findings that his client was ruled competent to stand trial.
At a previous hearing, Carter’s attorney, Randy Canney, said his client has an IQ of 64 and has been classified as being “mentally retarded” based on testing in high school.
Carter, Sir Mario Owens and Robert Ray face murder charges in the death of Marshall-Fields and Vivian Wolfe. The couple were killed in June 2005 as they were driving down an Aurora street. Marshall-Fields was set to testify against Ray and Owens in a killing at a park a year earlier.
District Attorney Carol Chambers has said if convicted, she will seek the death penalty against Owens and Ray. Ray and Owens are currently serving long prison sentences for the shooting death of Gregory Vann at Lowry Park on July 4, 2004.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
