Hamilton man asks jury to spare his life

Less than 24 hours after finding Michael Grevious II guilty of aggravated murder, the jury returned to the courtroom for the sentencing phase of the trial. Grevious began crying in court today while looking at a photo of his young son. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Less than 24 hours after finding Michael Grevious II guilty of aggravated murder, the jury returned to the courtroom for the sentencing phase of the trial. Grevious began crying in court today while looking at a photo of his young son. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Michael Grevious II cried as he asked a Butler County jury today to spare his life.

He was the last person to sit in the witness box after seven days of testimony in a trial ended with Grevious being convicted for aggravated murder and facing the death penalty.

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After Grevious’ older and younger sisters told the jury how much they love him and how much more he has to offer, it was his turn to face the jury.

“I want to one day be a better father to my child,” Grevious told the jury.

The statement was unsworn as part of the mitigation phase of the trial, meaning prosecutors could not cross examine Grevious.

While in the witness box, he turned to the families of Orlando Gilbert and Todd Berus, the two men who were killed in the August 2016 drive-by shooting that he orchestrated, and offered an apology.

“I want you to know that I am truly sorry,” he said.

Grevious also offered an apology to his family as his sisters sobbed.

Then to the jury he said, “I have got much more to offer … I made a mistake, I am not perfect … I ask you to spare my life.”

The jury will hear closing arguments from the mitigation phase Friday morning and begin deliberation on Grevious’ sentence — life or death.

The jury has four sentencing options, according to Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.

Those options are:

  • Life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years served
  • Life in prison with parole eligibility after 30 years
  • Life in prison without the possibility of parole
  • Death

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