Prosecutor: 'Thrill kill' led teens to murder, decapitate man
2-22-2008 Michigan:
DETROIT -- Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry today shot down several motions by attorneys for Jean Pierre Orlewicz, who is accused of helping to burn, kill and behead a man.
Orlewicz, a 17-year-old Plymouth Township resident, and Alexander Letkemann, an 18-year-old Westland resident, are charged with the Nov. 7 slaying of Daniel Sorenson, 26, of River Rouge.
Sorenson was burned and beheaded in a case that has drawn national attention.
Orlewicz' defense attorneys asked Berry to not admit searches and evidence seized at the Canton Township home of Orlewicz' grandfather in the upcoming trial.
They also asked Berry to ban Wayne County prosecutors from referring to Sorenson as a victim or from using terms like "horrific" or "thrill kill" to describe the slaying.
Berry ruled that Sorenson will be referred to as an alleged victim. She also ruled the prosecution and defense can use whatever language is appropriate to make their cases, but should be ready to back up statements with evidence or risk losing juries.
"Are you going to base it on that emotion or on evidence?" she asked. "You can argue what you want to argue as long as you back it up."
Defense attorneys felt that witness identification of Orlewicz was unreliable. The attorneys said police telling at least one witness that a suspect in the slaying was going to be in a lineup prejudiced the process. Berry ruled the identification was admissible.
Letkemann told Berry last week that his constitutional rights were violated when police tricked him into making a detailed statement about the slaying. Berry cited a police video in which Letkemann was taped stating he understood his rights in denying Letkemann's bid to get the statement excluded.
The case still is in the discovery process, with the prosecution awaiting lab tests they promised to share with the defense when completed.
Berry has issued a gag order in the case and reminded attorneys of it this morning as they provided the spellings of their names for a reporter. The judge did not have a problem with the attorneys identifying themselves. ..more.. by Santiago Esparza at (313) 222-2127 or sesparza@detnews.com.
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