Lawrence Colwell, Jr. - Conviction, Sentencing and Execution

Conviction, Sentencing and Execution

Colwell and Paul left Las Vegas and went to Palm Springs, California where they met Kenneth Abell. Colwell told Abell about killing Rosenstock. Using Abell's car, Colwell and Paul next drove to Oregon where Paul turned herself in to the authorities and eventually entered into a plea agreement with the State whereby she agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder and testify against Colwell. In exchange for her plea agreement, the State would recommend a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

Colwell was soon arrested and arraigned. The State informed the court it would not be seeking the death penalty. However, Colwell desired to represent himself and so a hearing was held to determine if he was intelligently and voluntarily choosing to do so. Prior to this hearing, Colwell had agreed with the State to plead guilty to all charges on the condition that the State change its position and diligently seek the death penalty. So the district court filed notice of its intent to seek the death penalty.

Colwell was canvassed and allowed to represent himself although the court appointed standby counsel for him. Colwell was allowed to plead guilty to one count of murder in the first-degree and one count of robbery of a victim 65 years of age or older after which Colwell requested that the penalty hearing be conducted as soon as possible.

During the two-day penalty hearing before a three-judge panel, Colwell failed to conduct meaningful cross-examination and in fact attempted to bring out damaging evidence that the prosecution had failed to address. In addition, Colwell made no objections to the State's evidence, and because he failed to make any objections, the three-judge panel felt compelled to comment about his defense. Colwell also refused to introduce any mitigating evidence. His closing argument was a plea that he be put to death, and by unanimous vote the panel complied with his request.

Colwell was executed on 26 March 2004, his last meal was a grilled cheeseburger with onions, pickle and tomatoes, French fries, 3 slices of cheese-and-pepperoni pizza, 3 pints of vanilla, chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream, water, a 20-ounce Coke, a 20-ounce Pepsi and fruit, including an apple, banana and orange. He offered no last words.

Accomplice Paul was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole; on May 21, 2004, and May 16, 2007, she was denied parole.