A jury in the killing of a Hmong couple and their Latino neighbor in Milwaukee voted 10-2 that a 41-year old White man is mentally ill, but could have controlled his actions, reports WISN
The mixed message delivered in the Insanity phase of the trial appeared to leave Judge Jeffrey Conen perplexed. He said he needed more time to research the verdict and ordered Dan Popp back to jail.
Popp pleaded no contest to the killing of Phia and Mai Vue and their neighbor Jesus Manso-Perez, but also entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The judge must decide if Popp will be sent for treatment to a mental institute or to prison, possibly for life.
The Hmong community had asked that Popp face hate crime charges.
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“I don’t know much about the trial, verdicts and lawyers” said the couple’s daughter, Isbel Vue. “But I do know no matter what happened today, nothing can ever bring my mom and dad back.”
The confusing jury decision upset both sides of this case. The family said it wanted closure. The defense attorney, who at first thought he had won the case, now doesn’t know what to think.
“I don’t see how we go from winning to losing in five minutes,” said Christopher Hartley to JSOnline.
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