Family Reacts To Guilty Verdict For Son Convicted In Mom's Murder
PONTIAC (WWJ) -It's a case that's been in the national news spotlight ... a 22-year old Highland Township man has been found guilty of second degree murder in the death of his mother.
An Oakland County Circuit Court jury found the University of Michigan student and former valedictorian Jeffrey Pyne guilty in the beating and stabbing death of Ruth Pyne.
James Champion was the defense attorney in the case:
"We both had every reason to believe that we were going to prevail and ... we always said failure is not an option so we totally expected to walk out of here today," said Champion. "Without that second degree - obstruction - I think we would have prevailed."
Jeffrey Pyne shook his head in disbelief as the guilty verdict was delivered.
The emotionally charged trial pitted family members against each other. Ruth Pyne's sister, Linda Jarve, who was in the courtroom, said her sister was the victim and that justice was served.
"Some justice was served in the courtroom today, I am deeply saddened by ... my sister Ruth's senseless death. This was a senseless death, Ruth Pyne was a victim," Jarve said.
Ruth Pyne was found dead in her home in May of 2011.
Ruth's husband and father to defendant, Bernie Pyne, supported his son throughout the trial.
"I wasn't there to protect my wife when I needed to be, and I wasn't able to get my son -- first of all -- I believe in my son's innocence," said Bernie Pyne.
Bernie Pyne has maintained that someone else was responsible for the murder of his wife.
