As the jury’s foreperson handed the verdict to Judge Vernon Perez to read aloud, Joyner Sked wiped tears from her face, awaiting her fate. Judge Perez read the decision aloud, “I will now publish the verdict of the jury. For the charge of murder, we the jury, in the above-entitled action, find the defendant Joyner Scott Sked guilty of the offense of murder. The jury finds the defendant Joyner Scott Sked guilty of the special allegation in possession or use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony. Verdict form two: The jury has found Joyner Scott Sked guilty of aggravated assault as a second-degree felony. The jury has found Joyner Scott Sked guilty of the special allegation in possession or use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony.”
Judge Perez polled the jury and one by one they affirmed their independent decisions to find Ms. Sked guilty of murdering former Umatac mayor Daniel Sanchez. Ms. Sked’s attorney, Terrence Timblin, expressed his defendant’s wish to waive her right to a speedy sentencing. Judge Perez then announced, “My intention is to await the ensuing or following trial. Additionally, probation will be directed perhaps depending on how we’ll probably have a hearing afterwards to determine whether she wants to assert her right to a speedy sentencing but for now it’s waived until the completion of the other trial.”
The ‘other trial’ is that of Sked’s boyfriend, Rudy Quinata, who also was indicted for murdering Mr. Sanchez. The trial will begin March 15, when jury selection will start.
Mr. Timblin, when asked his reaction to the verdict said he was, “Disappointed.” Kandit inquired whether Ms. Sked intends to fight the decision and Timblin said, “There’ll probably be an appeal somewhere down the road. We have to see what happens with the trial or Mr. Quinata’s disposition. He may or may not say something that would constitute newly discovered evidence which would be a basis for me filing a motion for a new trial. Right now, I have no idea. We got to wait and see what happens with him.”
Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas came out of the courtroom and said about the verdict, “I told the family I’m really glad they were here all the time. It felt like Daniel was here also. It felt like he was there helping us, supporting us, and we feel that we clearly had the evidence to prove and show that she was in the house. And she was involved in the killing of Daniel. I’m happy for the verdict in the sense that now we have someone who is being held responsible for it but again someone died. We still have the other defendant to deal with.”
