Marcus Wesson Watch.....

[Stan]

FRESNO, Calif. Attorneys for Marcus Wesson -- the Fresno man accused of killing nine of his children -- say their client can't get a fair trial in Fresno County.

In court papers filed yesterday seeking a change of venue, Wesson's attorneys contend that sensationalized media coverage has poisoned the jury pool.In trying to get the trial moved out of Fresno County, Wesson's attorneys say news reports have compared him to convicted killers John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.Wesson's attorneys also contend that 98 percent of prospective jurors have read or heard about the case.The 58-year-old Wesson is charged with killing nine of his children last year. He's also facing multiple charges of sexual abuse.Wesson has pleaded innocent to all charges Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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[Stan]

New Book Looks at Wesson Family

February 26, 2005 - A local author gave Action News an exclusive look at her book that delves into the world of mass murder suspect Marcus Wesson.

While writing a book about the Wesson family, Julia Dudley Najieb says she couldn't understand the crimes herself.

"Why would they allow this to happen? What was going? Why weren't they remorseful about their children, they're own children?"

After spending time with Wesson's wife and children, Dudley Najieb says it's clear that Wesson manipulated the family through religion, teaching them that he was their god and savior. source

[Stan]

Man may face death penalty after conviction

by Associated Press

June 20, 2005

FRESNO, Calif. - A man who lived a bizarre life of polygamy and incest has been convicted of murdering nine of his children, whose bodies were found last year in a bloody pile, each with a gunshot wound through the eye.

Marcus Wesson, 58, could get the death penalty.

The jury took more than two weeks to find Wesson guilty on nine counts of first-degree murder. He was also convicted on all 14 counts of raping and molesting seven of his underage daughters and nieces.

Many of Wesson’s surviving family members still support him and stifled sobs as a clerk read the verdicts. Wesson remained quiet and still.

The defense had argued that 25-year-old Sebhrenah Wesson – the oldest to die – killed herself as well as her siblings and the 1-year-old son she had with her father.

Prosecutors said Marcus Wesson was the triggerman, but they also argued that even if Sebhrenah did the shooting, her father should still be found guilty if he encouraged her to kill.

The jurors accepted the prosecution’s second theory: They found Wesson guilty even though they decided the government did not prove he pulled the trigger.

Several witnesses testified that Wesson repeatedly coached the children to be ready to kill each other and themselves if authorities ever threatened to break up the clan.

After the verdict, the home’s front yard stood barren behind green-and-black tape – a stark contrast to the mounds of teddy bears, statuettes and flowers left immediately after the murders.

Neighbors said they were glad to see Wesson held responsible.

“He was in that house when shots were fired. He’s still living, all of them are dead,” said Linda Morales, who lives across the street. “If he didn’t pull that trigger, he certainly didn’t do anything to prevent it.”

The jury will return on Wednesday for the penalty phase.

Calls to defense attorneys were not immediately answered. The Fresno County District Attorney’s office issued a brief statement saying prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

The slayings were the worst murder case ever seen in this agricultural town in the heart of California’s Central Valley.

Officers were summoned to Wesson’s rundown home on March 12, 2004, after two of Wesson’s nieces who had escaped from the home went back to try to get their children.

Wesson talked with officers at the front door, then stepped backward and disappeared into the back bedroom as the nieces screamed, begging officers to intervene and save their children. About an hour and 20 minutes later, he emerged, blood on his clothing, and turned himself in.

In the bedroom was a bloody pile of corpses. Officers pulled out the bodies of Sebhrenah Wesson and the eight others, ranging in age from 1 to 17. The nieces’ children were among the dead.

No fingerprints or gunshot residue indicated who fired the murder weapon. But Wesson’s surviving children testified that he wielded a high degree of control over his large clan: He preached to the family daily, weaving a dogma of polygamy and incest from his interpretations of the Bible and Seventh Day Adventist beliefs.

He was particularly severe with the young women, who testified they were home-schooled and had almost no contact with anyone outside the family.