Florida jury finds millionaire guilty of wife's murder

[alp227]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- A Florida jury on Saturday found a millionaire guilty of murdering his wife in their upscale home.

Diane Ward was shot dead in 2009 in the house she shared with her husband, James "Bob" Ward, in the Orlando suburb of Windermere. Two years later -- and following a week-long trial and deliberations that stretched into a second day -- he was convicted of second-degree murder.

Soon after entering the Orlando courtroom late Saturday morning, Ward went to a back row and sat between his two visibly distraught daughters, one of whom had testified that she detected no animosity between her parents. He put one arm around both in order to comfort them for several minutes, before heading to his regular seat for the jury's verdict.

When the verdict was read, the 63-year-old Ward showed little evident emotion, though his daughters continued to cry.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/24/justice/florida-millionaire-murder/index.html

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Interesting. In Florida, Casey Anthony is middle-class yet was acquitted of killing her child, yet this millionaire man is convicted of murdering his wife. Both were from the Orlando area.

[Warpy]

1. This has nothing to do with the Anthony trial

so why did you bring it up?

I do find it troubling that a jury took his "demeanor" into account equally with the forensic evidence. Some of us are more stoic than others.

[alp227]

2. how likely are millionaires like Ward to get reduced sentences or even acquittals

compared with the rest of us? 3 months ago central Florida experienced a grave miscarriage of justice to that nobody Casey Anthony whose case attracted so much media attention an impartial trial was impossible anywhere in the country. And now an unlikely conviction of a rich person.

[DonCoquixote]

3. If this guy was Black

They would not be able to get the gurney ready fast enough. But he will probably get out of jail, keep his mansion, and run for an office.

[undeterred]

4. Poor daughters, lost both parents.

[Zorro]

5. Not a surprising verdict

when you're on the 911 tape stating you shot your wife.