Brandon Hein (Life pt 1)

Summary

This story follows the case of Brandon Hine and his friends, sentenced to life for a murder they didn't commit under California's controversial felony murder rule. In 1995, the group, which had no intention to kill anyone, was involved in a chaotic altercation that led to a stabbing. Despite one person being directly responsible for the death, all were convicted of murder, a result of a law that holds participants in felonies accountable for unintended killings. The case raises questions about justice, accountability, and the consequences of this harsh rule.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story revolves around three young men serving life sentences for a murder, though only one of them committed the act.
• 😀 The felony murder rule holds everyone involved in a felony responsible for any murder that occurs, even if they didn’t directly commit it.
• 😀 Brandon Hine, sentenced to life in prison, was part of a group of teenagers involved in a fist fight, which escalated when one of the teens, Jason Holland, stabbed someone.
• 😀 The felony murder rule has been criticized and is the subject of ongoing debate, with cases like Brandon Hine's drawing attention to its potential injustices.
• 😀 Brandon Hine and his friends were guilty under the felony murder rule despite not intending to commit murder, and in some cases, not even knowing there was a weapon involved.
• 😀 The incident began with a minor crime (snatching an empty wallet), which escalated when the group tried to buy marijuana and got into a violent altercation.
• 😀 The altercation turned deadly when Jason Holland, in a struggle, fatally stabbed Mike McLaren, a friend of the drug dealer.
• 😀 The prosecutors argued that the felony murder rule applied because the group’s initial crime (stealing the wallet) was an indication of intent to rob.
• 😀 Jason Holland, the only one who testified, admitted to stabbing McLaren but claimed it was in defense of his brother and that they didn’t plan to rob anyone.
• 😀 All defendants were sentenced to life without parole (or significant prison terms) based on the felony murder rule, despite some of them having minimal involvement in the fatal event.
• 😀 The case raised questions about the fairness of the felony murder rule, with families of the convicted arguing that the punishment was disproportionate to their involvement.

Q & A

What is the felony murder rule?

The felony murder rule is a legal doctrine stating that if two or more people are involved in committing a felony and one of them commits a murder, all participants are guilty of murder, even if they did not directly commit the killing or know that a weapon would be used.

Why was Brandon Hine sentenced to life in prison, even though he did not commit the murder?

Brandon Hine was sentenced to life in prison under the felony murder rule. Although he did not directly kill anyone, he was involved in the events leading to the death of Jimmy Ferris, and prosecutors argued that the group’s actions were part of a robbery, making them all responsible for the murder.

What was the initial crime that led to the murder?

The initial crime was a group of teenagers attempting to steal marijuana from a local drug dealer, Mike McLen. During a confrontation at McLen's property, a fight broke out, and one of the boys, Jason Holland, stabbed Mike McLen and his friend, Jimmy Ferris. Jimmy Ferris died from the stabbing.

What were the defenses raised by the defendants in the case?

The defendants, including Brandon Hine, argued that they did not go to the drug dealer's property to rob anyone, but rather to buy marijuana and party. They denied knowing that a weapon would be used or that a murder would occur. They claimed they were not involved in planning or committing the murder.

How did the prosecution justify the felony murder charges?

The prosecution argued that the group of teenagers' earlier criminal actions, such as snatching a wallet and attempting to rob the marijuana dealer, proved they were involved in a felony, which justified the felony murder charges. They emphasized that all defendants, even those not directly involved in the killing, were guilty because they participated in the felony.

What was the outcome of the trial for the defendants?

Jason Holland and Brandon Hine were convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Jason’s 15-year-old brother, Micah, was sentenced to 29 years to life, and the fourth defendant, Anthony Milati, also received life without parole. A fifth teenager, who stayed with the truck, pled guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to 9 years.

How did the victim’s family react to the verdict?

The victim's family expressed profound grief over Jimmy Ferris’s death, and Jimmy’s mother was particularly emotional, highlighting that her son’s loss left her with nothing but memories. Despite their loss, the families of the defendants, including Brandon’s father and mother, also expressed deep sorrow over the sentences, feeling the punishment was too severe.

What was Brandon Hine's father’s perspective on the case?

Brandon Hine's father, Jane Hind, expressed that he was deeply saddened by the loss of Jimmy Ferris, but he also questioned why his son should be imprisoned for life for something he did not do. He highlighted the injustice of Brandon being sentenced to life without parole when he did not directly cause the murder.

How did the prosecutor defend the use of the felony murder rule in this case?

Prosecutor Jeff Simo defended the use of the felony murder rule by arguing that the group’s involvement in the robbery created the conditions for the murder. He stressed that the presence of multiple participants emboldened the one who actually committed the stabbing, making everyone responsible for the outcome.

What impact did the case have on the families of the defendants?

The case had a lasting emotional impact on the families of the defendants. They expressed deep sorrow over the crime, but also frustration at the severe punishments, especially since many of the boys were not directly involved in the killing. Several family members, including the mothers, feared that such a case could happen to any troubled teenager, leading to lifelong consequences.