Convicted Man Faces Death Penalty
DENVER, 8:37 p.m. MST February 14, 2001 -- Lawyers for a former halfway house resident
facing the death penalty want a new trial based on newly
discovered evidence of their client's alleged treatment as a child.
The death-penalty hearing for Donta Page is set for Feb.
20. A ruling on the motion for a new trial is expected this week.
The 24-year-old Page was convicted last November of first-degree
murder in the death of Peyton Tuthill (pictured, right), 24, who lived two doors away
from the halfway house where Page had been staying.
Page admitted raping and stabbing Tuthill on February 24,
1999, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His lawyers
argued he was left brain damaged by beatings from his mother.
A Denver District Court jury convicted Page (pictured, left), but a three-judge
panel will consider sentencing him to death or life in prison with
no chance of parole.
Defense lawyers said documents they recently received from the
Children's National Medical Center in Washington prove how
brutal his childhood beatings were.
The 24-year-old Page was convicted last November of first-degree
murder in the death of Peyton Tuthill (pictured, right), 24, who lived two doors away
from the halfway house where Page had been staying.
Page admitted raping and stabbing Tuthill on February 24,
1999, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His lawyers
argued he was left brain damaged by beatings from his mother.
A Denver District Court jury convicted Page (pictured, left), but a three-judge
panel will consider sentencing him to death or life in prison with
no chance of parole.
Defense lawyers said documents they recently received from the
Children's National Medical Center in Washington prove how
brutal his childhood beatings were.
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
