By C1 Staff
MIAMI — A man convicted of murdering two people dared a judge to give him the death penalty at his sentencing hearing Friday, after stating that he did not believe the Supreme Court would allow an innocent man to die.
NY Daily News reports that James Herard, 25, told the judge to “do what you gotta do. I pretty much dare you to give me the death sentence because I’m innocent.”
Herard was convicted of the 2008 murder of 39-year-old Eric Jean-Pierre by coercing Tharod Bell to kill him. He continues to deny the charge.
“I’m actually hoping you give me the death penalty because I know the Supreme Court won’t allow me to die for something I didn’t commit. They’re claiming I encouraged Tharod Bell to shoot someone, and how I did that, I don’t know.”
Prosecutors allege that Herard is a member of a violent gang whose members had a body count competition.
He did receive life in prison for his conviction of the 2008 murder of Kiem Hynh during a string of violent Dunkin’ Doughnuts robberies.