Family: Justice comes at last for Leah
11 years after her disappearance and death, the family of Leah Freeman says justice has come at last for the Coquille teen. A nine woman, three man, jury returned a Guilty verdict, but not for Murder.
Family and friends of both Freeman and her accused killer, Nick McGuffin, were called to Judge Richard Barron's courtroom just before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, as the jury reached a verdict in the case.
After a misstep in how they filled-out their paperwork, the jury returned a second time to the courtroom with a verdict. By matching 10-2 votes, Not Guilty of Murder...but Guilty of Manslaughter.
In a Press Conference afterwards, Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier thanked all of the many, many law enforcement officers and investigators who have worked on the case since the 15-year-old Freeman went missing in June of 2000. All of which led to the conviction of her then-boyfriend Nick McGuffin.
He particularly singled-out former Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels, who re-opened the case...and re-organized it...soon after he became Chief in 2008.
As for the verdict, Frasier says he is pleased that the jury convicted of First Degree Manslaughter. "Again, like I said in my closing argument, I really do not believe Nick McGuffin woke up that morning and said 'I'm gonna go kill Leah Freeman.' I think what happened was, like I said in argument, is just an unfortunate set of circumstances came together and Leah ends up dead."
As for the woman who made it her crusade to get justice for her daughter, Cory Courtright says it wasn't about getting closure. It was about Leah Freeman, and doing what was right.
"Nothing, nothing, will ever bring Leah back. But, nobody should get away with what happened to her. Nobody. Nobody should get away with it, and it's just ate at me, and ate at me, and ate at me, for over 11 years now. I fought the fight, and it's over now. Leah Freeman has her justice now."
Sentencing for McGuffin has been set for August 1, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
Family and friends of both Freeman and her accused killer, Nick McGuffin, were called to Judge Richard Barron's courtroom just before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, as the jury reached a verdict in the case.
After a misstep in how they filled-out their paperwork, the jury returned a second time to the courtroom with a verdict. By matching 10-2 votes, Not Guilty of Murder...but Guilty of Manslaughter.
In a Press Conference afterwards, Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier thanked all of the many, many law enforcement officers and investigators who have worked on the case since the 15-year-old Freeman went missing in June of 2000. All of which led to the conviction of her then-boyfriend Nick McGuffin.
He particularly singled-out former Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels, who re-opened the case...and re-organized it...soon after he became Chief in 2008.
As for the verdict, Frasier says he is pleased that the jury convicted of First Degree Manslaughter. "Again, like I said in my closing argument, I really do not believe Nick McGuffin woke up that morning and said 'I'm gonna go kill Leah Freeman.' I think what happened was, like I said in argument, is just an unfortunate set of circumstances came together and Leah ends up dead."
As for the woman who made it her crusade to get justice for her daughter, Cory Courtright says it wasn't about getting closure. It was about Leah Freeman, and doing what was right.
"Nothing, nothing, will ever bring Leah back. But, nobody should get away with what happened to her. Nobody. Nobody should get away with it, and it's just ate at me, and ate at me, and ate at me, for over 11 years now. I fought the fight, and it's over now. Leah Freeman has her justice now."
Sentencing for McGuffin has been set for August 1, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
