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May 9, 2002
Contact:
Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025
BARNUM PLEADS
GUILTY
28-year-old
Jeremiah Barnum (DOB: 10-9-73) appeared in Denver District Court
this morning and pleaded guilty in connection with the 1997
murder of Oumar Dia and the attempted murder of Jeannie
VanVelkinburgh.
Barnum pleaded
guilty to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder
(F4).
A Denver jury
convicted Barnum of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree
murder, assault and ethnic intimidation in 1999. However, a
second trial judge granted Barnum’s motion for a new trial. The
Colorado Court of Appeals upheld that decision in favor of
Barnum and that ruling stood when a Colorado Supreme Court
review ended in a tie.
After considering
many factors, including consideration for the surviving victim,
Jeannie VanVelkinburgh, the trauma of another trial, and the
status of our evidence after 4˝ years, the decision to pursue
the plea arrangement was made. Under the provisions of the
plea, Barnum will be sentenced under the aggravated range to the
maximum the law allows – 12 years in prison – when he is
sentenced June 18, 2002.
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