BENTONVILLE — Broderick Laswell will spend the rest of his life in prison.
A jury spared Laswell’s life Friday when it recommended he serve life in prison without the benefit of parole for his role in the murder of Randall Walker. The seven men and five women also recommended Laswell serve 60 years in prison for aggravated robbery.
Laswell, 22, was found guilty Feb. 8 of capital murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Walker’s 2007 murder. Laswell was 19 when the crime happened.
Walker’s burned body was found in the bedroom of his home on Beaver Hollow Road in Garfield Aug. 30, 2007.
Brandon Lacy, 31, of Rogers was tried and sentenced to death for his actions in Walker’s murder.
Laswell sat at the table with his attorneys as Circuit Judge Robin Green read the verdicts. Laswell showed no emotion.
“I’ve never been happier with a life sentence,” Tim Buckley, one of Laswell’s attorneys, said afterward.
Buckley said Laswell was relieved the jury did not impose a death sentence.
The jury foreman told Green the life sentence vote was not unanimous. It was not disclosed what the vote was.
Green talked with the attorneys at the bench before sentencing Laswell.
“I am going to run your sentence of 60 years consecutively to the life term,” Green told Laswell.
Laswell declined an opportunity to address the court.
Sheriff’s deputies allowed Laswell to have few moments with his mother and family before taking him from the courthouse.
“We are pleased with the jury’s decision,” Kent McLemore, Laswell’s other attorney, said. “The jury system works.”
Randall Walker II, Walker’s son, said he was pleased with the verdict and understood why some jurors did not want to impose a death sentence.
“He will be put in prison and never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else like they did to my father,” said Walker, 27.
Walker said the only thing he wanted to know from Lacy or Laswell is “why my father?”
“He would have given them anything they wanted,” Walker said. “They did not have to kill him.”
Walker said it was tough hearing how his father died, but his father can now “rest in peace” with Laswell’s conviction.
“My dad would give anyone the shirt off his back,” said Cheron Rohrbough, Walker’s daughter. “He was an amazing guy.”
Van Stone, Benton County prosecutor believed the case needed to be decided by a jury.
“It was a savage, brutal murder committed against an innocent, disabled man in his own home,” Stone said.
McLemore placed much of the blame for the murder on Lacy during his closing statement to jurors. McLemore also focused on his client’s immaturity and background.
“There’s no question that Mr. Walker is an undeserving victim and he did not deserve this terrible death,” McLemore said.
McLemore implored jurors to separate his client’s actions from those of Lacy.
“Brandon Lacy was the one that began the savage attack on Mr. Walker with a fireplace poker while he was sitting in a chair,” McLemore said.
McLemore said Lacy was the one who forced Walker into his bedroom in an effort to retrieve a gun.
Lacy was the one who retrieved the knife and stabbed Walker in the chest, McLemore said.
“Brandon Lacy slit his throat from ear to ear,” McLemore said.
Laswell was outside when Lacy set Walker on fire, McLemore said.
Laswell did hit Walker on the head with the weight bar, McLemore said.
McLemore also said Laswell’s mother failed to teach her son basic skills to prepare him for life.
“He’s made choices that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life,” McLemore said as he urged jurors to return with a life sentence. “He’s 22 and will never be free again.”
Stone asked jurors to think about Walker’s physical condition as result of his multiple sclerosis. Stone said Laswell had to know something was physically wrong with Walker because of his speech impediment and a limp he had.
“This is not a quick death,” Stone said in his closing statements. “This is an agonizing, prolonged death.”
Stone said Laswell made the choice to murder an innocent and disabled man.
“Randy Walker got his teeth crushed into his own throat,” Stone said. “He was lying on the bedroom floor choking on his own teeth. That’s why the death penalty is appropriate.”