Man asks judge for death penalty
BURLINGTON, Kentucky (AP) -- A man accused of stabbing two boys to death and attacking their mother and sister pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of murder and asked a judge to sentence him to death.
"For what I did to the Marksberrys, my death is some way of redemption to them," Marco Allen Chapman said. "My life has never been worth much, I'll give it freely to them."
Attorneys said it is not known how many people have pleaded guilty to a capital offense and asked for a death sentence. They said Chapman's guilty plea and request for a death sentence are unusual, but not without precedent.
Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Tally Smith said she had never seen a case like Chapman's.
"In 10 years of doing this, I've not met anybody as contrite as he is," Smith said.
The judge found Chapman, 32, competent to enter the guilty plea after hearing testimony from a state psychologist who said he was depressed but competent to make his own legal decisions.
"The court finds Mr. Chapman's eyes are wide open to his choices," said Judge Tony Frolich.
Frolich allowed Chapman to fire his attorneys, but promptly appointed the two men to serve as his legal advisers.
"I don't want to help him commit suicide, and I don't want to help the state commit a murder," said John Delaney, one of the lawyers.
Chapman was charged with the fatal stabbings of 6-year-old Cody Sharon and 7-year-old Chelbi Sharon in the small town of Warsaw in August 2002. He also was charged with attacking their mother, Carolyn Marksberry, and their 10-year-old sister.
Authorities said Chapman was upset because Marksberry told his girlfriend to end a relationship with him.
Marksberry and the girl left Tuesday's hearing without commenting.
The judge set a sentencing date for December 14. He said he would review a presentencing report before deciding whether to grant Chapman's request for a death sentence.
Smith said it could be a year or more before Chapman would be executed, pending an automatic review and likely appeals from the state Department of Public Advocacy.
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