Jury Gives Addison Death

28 year old Michael Addison did not appear to react as the verdict was read.

He kept his head back slightly as each juror individually confirmed the decision.

Maryanne Briggs, Officer Michael Briggs’ mother appeared to wipe away tears in the packed courtroom.

She had attended the trial everyday.

And after the verdict she addressed the media.

BRIGGS: My family is just just so happy. And this is all for Mike. Let us not forget Michael, Officer Michael Briggs. It's all for Michael. Justice has been done.

Her husband, Lee Briggs, said he hoped the verdict would deter anyone from hurting police officers.

Lee Briggs: My son is looking down saying that you did a good job, Dad -- and everybody. Okay?

The jury -- six men and six women -- deliberated for about 13 hours over three days.
The defense, which admitted the killing, had asked for life in prison instead of death.
They argued that Addison's upbringing -- including an alcoholic mother and drug dealing father– was a mitigating factor.

The state argued that Addison was responsible for his decisions and that he had led a life a crime before killing Michael Briggs.

In arriving at the death sentence, the jury unanimously found that the aggravating factors had outweighed those in favor of life in prison.

Attorney General Kelley Ayotte:

AYOTTE: I think this verdict sends a strong message that the people of NH support law enforcement and recognize the difficult and dangerous job that they do every day, going out to protect each of us. I also hope this verdict sends a strong message of deterrence to other criminals, that if you harm a police officer, that the state of NH is going to seek the harshest penalties available under our law.

Briggs's bike patrol partner Officer John Breckinridge was on the scene when Briggs was shot.

Breckinridge praised the verdict and said he hoped it would bring some closure to Briggs's family.

Breckinridge: I think the verdict from the jury, the conviction for the charge, was the big one, because to me that validated Mike's life. And I think the penalty was kind of secondary. I don't know, maybe I'm shallow. I'm real happy with it. But it is what it is.

Manchester police chief David Mara called the jury's decision just.

MARA: He got nine weeks to have a jury deliberate whether or not he should have a death sentence. Michael Briggs didn't get that. He was just doing his job. He didn't get that same courtesy, that same opportunity. And as a result, his family also got a sentence; they got a sentence of life without a father, life without a brother, life without a son, life without a husband.

In Concord, Governor John Lynch also called the verdict a just one.

And he added that capital murder is an appropriate charge for, in his words, such a heinous and cowardly crime.

But Bishop John McCormack, with the Manchester Catholic Diocese, released a statement saying Addison should not be executed but should spend the rest of his life in prison.

After the verdict, Defense attorney Richard Guerriero, looking somber, spoke briefly to the press.

Guerriero: Obviously we're very disappointed in the jury's verdict. However, we continue to believe that the objections we made before the trial regarding this process are valid, especially objections regarding the location of the trial and the comparison of this case to other cases. We will pursue those objections on appeal. We continue to believe that the death penalty is wrong. And we'll continue to fight against it.

The defense had argued that Addison could not get a fair trial in Manchester for several reasons.

One was due to the strong feelings in the city in support of Briggs and against Addison.

The other was due to the lack of racial diversity among the jury pool.

It has been about 70 years since the state of New Hampshire has put anyone to death.

On Monday, Judge Kathleen McGuire is scheduled to formally announce that Michael Addison could be next.

For NHPR News, I'm Ellen Grimm.