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Home Kenny Richey The Case The State's Theory The State's Theory
Wednesday, 21 April 2004
According to Prosecutor Basinger, Kenny is a calculating murderer.
- The prosecution contended that, after Kenny picked himself up from the bush he collapsed in, he did not walk to his father's flat and go to sleep as Kenny claimed, but broke into a commercial greenhouse that stood one hundred yards from the apartment complex.
- There, the State asserted that Kenny stole cans of petrol and paint-thinner. Kenny then allegedly returned to the front of Hope Collins' building.
- A utility shed stood below Hope's living-room balcony, and the prosecution insisted that Kenny silently climbed upon this shed, gaining access to Hope's balcony and into her living-room. Once inside, the prosecution claimed Kenny "splashed" petrol and paint-thinner throughout the living room then set it alight before escaping back over the balcony with the empty cans.
The Motive
Below Hope's flat resided Kenny's former girlfriend, who was sleeping with her new boyfriend.
Prosecutor Basinger contended that, in a jealous rage, Kenny set Hope's flat on fire to burn his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in the flat below.
The Evidence
- Forensic tests performed on the carpet allegedly revealed traces of petrol and paint thinner.
- The smoke detector had been disconnected, preventing an early warning of the fire.
- Witnesses stated that they heard Kenny threaten to "blow up" or "burn" the apartment building.
- A witness claimed that, after the fire, she heard Kenny brag, "I did a good job, didn't I?"
It is the "theory", "motive" and the "evidence" presented by the prosecution that led the three judge panel to find Kenny guilty and sentence him to die in the electric chair.