Case Histories and Results - William F. Nimmo

Murder - ritual killing - 61 stab wounds

A 55 year old woman was stabbed 61 times in ritual fashion at her quiet residential neighborhood home. Three teenagers were charged with first degree murder.

Two of the teens (a 16 year old boy and his 15 year old girlfriend) entered the house on a ruse and stabbed the woman over 60 times. Many of the wounds were after death and were cut strangely as to suggest an enjoyment of the act. The client was charged with felony murder for being the lookout. The client also entered the house and rode away in the dead woman's car. Her home was ransacked.

All three teenagers made incriminating statements about themselves and each other, including the client. In statements to the police the client said he understood what they were going to do in the house. By his own statements he held the murder weapon in his hand over the victim's body.

Nimmo strongly contended that the client did not comprehend that the other two teens involved were actually serious about killing someone, despite his own incriminating statements to the police. The defense further illustrated to the court that the defendant was a nice, very naïve young man who didn't truly know what was going on in the minds of the killers. Mr. Nimmo successfully demonstrated that the client believed that the boy would kill him if he didn't hold the knife and go along with them in the car. Nimmo's closing argument lasted 5 hours. The jury found the defendant not guilty of the murder.