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Published Thursday, October 02, 2008 in Local
Jury finds Thomas guilty of murder
The Times-Herald
Roderick Calvin Thomas was found guilty Thursday evening in Coweta Superior Court of 24 criminal charges stemming from a March 30, 2004, botched home invasion robbery in which Thomas shot three people, fatally wounding 17-year-old Heather Rhodes.
Upon the reading of the verdict, Rhodes' family and friends -- along with the other victims who were terrorized that evening -- erupted in tears of relief.
Thomas was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, nine counts aggravated assault, two counts burglary, two counts armed robbery, terroristic threats, five counts kidnapping and three counts possession of a gun during the commission of a crime.
Thomas' sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. today at the Coweta Justice Center, and will be handed out by Judge Quillian Baldwin. Baldwin has the option of sentencing Thomas to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Thomas' defense agreed before the start of trial to leave that sentencing option on the table so long as the state agreed not to seek the death penalty.
After sentencing, the victims, Rhodes' family and Thomas will be permitted to make statements to the court.
Earlier in the day Thursday, during closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Lynda Caldwell walked jurors through the 24 counts in the case and what actions constituted each count under the law.
Thomas' defense attorney, Jim Berry, summed up the prosecution's presentation as a "circumstantial evidence case" -- discrediting the direct testimony of Thomas' codefendants, Anricus Rayshawn "Peanut" Holston and Marquis Damon Cannon.
While Berry admitted it is a "tragic case where a young woman lost her life," he pointed out that, to the jury, it's not about emotion, "it's about evidence."
Berry said there was physical evidence found at the scene of the incident, but after testing by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, none of it linked Thomas to the crime. Berry added that more should have been done in the investigation, rather than people "rushing to judgment."
Caldwell wrapped up closing arguments by holding up a picture of Rhodes lying dead on the floor of the Lakeside apartment with the inflicted gunshot wound and asking jury members, "Who is responsible for this?"
Caldwell reminded jurors that the evidence in the case included the testimony of Cannon and Holston. She reminded that two independent witnesses testified they saw Thomas in the area the night of the incident. Thomas was arrested on May 4, 2004, hiding from police in a closet wearing white tennis shoes with blood on them. Thomas' girlfriend had a shotgun that matched the description of the one used in the attack, and now it's missing, said Caldwell. Finally, the assistant district attorney added that all the witnesses gave descriptions of the gunman that fit Thomas' appearance.
Caldwell urged the jury to believe Cannon's testimony, saying he told the truth for exactly the reason he said -- "self-preservation." A few of the victims from the apartment that night had testified that the intruder without the gun was wearing glasses, and Cannon has to wear his glasses at all times, he testified.
She said Holston was trustworthy because he obviously didn't want to be testifying against his cousin, Thomas. And the victims, who knew Holston, all said that neither of the intruders were Holston.
Caldwell understood why the jury might have a hard time believing Cannon and Holston.
"When you're trying the devil, you have to go and get your witnesses from hell," she said. But, she added, "You know [Thomas] did this."