Charge against Virginia Tech murder suspect moves forward:

The man accused of decapitating Yang Xin in a Virginia Tech cafe has had his trial date set.

If you’ll recall Zhu Haiyang stabbed and decapitated Ms. Yang in front of horrified onlookers.

The trial date has been set for November 16th.

Life in prison for James Zarate:

4 years and a day after her murder James Zarate was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and dismemberment of 16-year-old Jennifer Parks. Zarate helped his older brother JOnathan, who was also convicted and sentenced to life, in killing Jennifer, dismembering her body and tryoing to dispose of it by throwing her into the Pasaic River.

Before sentencing Zarate tried giving a sob story of how rough he had it growing up but luckily the jury didn't buy it.

Zarate has to serve at least 76 years before he's eligible for parole. That would make him 94.

Let's hear from Jennifer's family...

David Parks referred to Zarate only as ''it'' or ''a jackal,'' in his statement, while Laurie Parks called him ''pure evil.'' David Parks said he wished the death penalty was available as punishment for the brothers.

''We can never forgive or forget what you did to our Jen,'' Laurie Parks said.

''Jennifer's life was worth so little to him but, for me, she was worth the world,'' David Parks said.

And the prosecutor...

"For the rest of his life he's going to live in a 12' x 12' prison cell for the vicious cold-blooded murder of a sweet trusting girl who couldn't have imagined the evil intentions James and Jonathan Zarate planned to unleash the night she was lured over to their house," Morris County Prosecutor Robert A Bianchi said following the sentencing hearing.

I wish I could say this was the end. However if history has taught me anything there will be appeals. Not successful ones mind you but there will be appeals.

Hopefully the Park family can rest a little bit now knowing that both of her daughter's killers are in prison forever.

Md. girl, 16, convicted of soliciting dad's murder:

16-year-old Danielle Black of Hagerstown, Maryland was convicted today for soliciting the murder of her father 47-year-old Billy Lee Black.

Mr. Black was stabbed to death the morning of Halloween 2008. Danielle Black was accused of trying to solicit a classmate of hers to kill Mr. Black claiming that she was abusing her even though there was no evidence of abuse. The strange part was that the boy she solicited didn't kill Black but another man, 19-year-old Alec Eger was the one who allegedly committed the actual murder. The real motive may have been that Billy lee Black didn't like Danielle hanging out with her goth friends who may or may not have been involved with blood drinking.

Danielle Black was tried as an adult and faces a life sentence.

(Originally posted by Bonnie)

Well, people are getting more creative these days, I'm telling you! Albert Parker has been charged with attempted murder for stabbing his girlfriend with a branch cutter (yes, the one used to trim trees). He also beat the hell out of her, as she has a lot of bruising and lacerations from the beating as well. She is in the hospital in serious, but stable condition after being stabbed. And the wonderful boyfriend was already on parole for another domestic violence incident (I do not know if she was the victim in that one as well). I sure hope that this girlfriend realizes that it will not get any better with him. Drop kick his ass out into the street. Although, since he is in jail and probably will be for a while, I guess that is kinda moot now, huh?

Man Stabs Girlfriend With Branch Cutter
Man stabs girlfriend with gardening tool

(Trench's Edit: Don't forget to check out Bonnie's Blog of Crime)

Jury finds James Zarate guilty of all counts in slaying of 16-year-old Randolph girl:

In their second day of deliberation the Morris County jury found James Zarate guilty in the 2005 murder and dismemberment of Jennifer Parks. James' brother, Jonathan Zarate, was sentenced to life for the same murder back in December.

James Zarate was 14 at the time of Jennifer's murder and was tried as an adult.

I honestly thought this one could go either way but I'm glad to see that justice was served.

No word yet on when sentencing will be.

UPDATE: James Zarate will be sentenced July 31st. 4 years and a day after Jennifer's murder.

Jury begins deliberations tomorrow in 2nd Zarate murder trial:

Today both the prosecution and the defense gave their closing arguments in th etrial of James Zarate who is accused of helping his brother Jonathan Zarate kill and dismember Jennifer Parks in 2005.

Morris County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert Lane argued that James Zarate had the motive to kill Jennifer since she had previously gotten him at trouble at school for bullying. He also argued that it was no coincidence that on the first time he had seen her in 2 years that she ended up murdered. Lane also argued that the forensic evidence shows that Jennifer was killed by two people.

Defense attorney Joseph Ferrante argued that the coroner missed a lot of evidence during the Jennifer's initial autopsy and picked apart the testimony of Vladimir Basilio the witness who tried to help the Zarate brothers dump Jennifer's body into the Passaic River.

Honestly I don't know how this one is going to go. Since James Zarate isn't a raving psychopath like his convicted brother it's hard to tell which way the jury is going to go on this one. I honestly believe that James Zarate had a hand in the murder of Jennifer Parks but I have to admit that it seems like there is reasonable doubt with some of the testimony given.

The jury begins deliberations tomorrow.

Prosecution, defense rest in James Zarate murder trial:

The prosecution rested its case against James Zarate this past Thursday. Zarate as I'm sure you know is standing trial for the 2005 murder and dismemberment of Jennifer Parks. His older brother Jonathan has already been convicted and sentenced to life.

The prosecution also rested without calling a single witness and Zarate did not testify on his own behalf.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.