Convicted Killer May Face Death Penalty

DETROIT - A convicted killer could face the death penalty here in Michigan. Our state banned capital punishment in the 1800s, but a death sentence is still possible for certain, federal crimes.

30-year-old Norman Anthony Stephens, a husband and father of six, was shot and killed in December of 2001 after gunmen ambushed guards unloading money from an armored car in Dearborn. The thugs took off with $200,000.

"That was his job. That wasn't his money. That was his job, and they killed him. They took his life, Robin Stephens, Norman's widow, told us nearly nine years ago.

A federal jury has now convicted 37-year-old Timothy O'Reilly in the robbery and murder, and his life is on the line.

"The... death penalty is authorized as a potential penalty in federal court for a number of offenses where there has been a murder in connection with a federal offense," said Harold Gurewitz, O'Reilly's attorney.

Gurewitz did not want to talk about any specifics of the case, which moves into the penalty phase next week. The same twelve jurors, who found O'Reilly guilty, will now have to decide whether he gets the death penalty; a decision that must be unanimous.

Gurewitz says back when the jury was selected for this case jurors were asked up front about their feelings on the death penalty, and everyone who was chosen for the panel is comfortable with capital punishment to some degree.

"Obviously, it's a great responsibility," Gurewitz said.

The other two suspects accused of being part of the robbery and murder could also face the death penalty at their upcoming trials. O'Reilly's attorneys have argued one of them actually pulled the trigger.

No one's been executed in Michigan since 1938, although another Michigan man did get a death sentence in 2002. That sentence is being appealed.