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April 9, 2008 Beheading and self-defensePosted: 12:13 PM ET
DETROIT, Michigan – It is hard to imagine being Daniel Sorensen's parents. On November 8, Jim and Kim Sorensen learned their son had been stabbed multiple times, decapitated and burned over 80 percent of his body. ![]() Shortly after that, their son's friend J.P. Orlewicz and another young man were charged with the murder. The pain must still be so fresh with them both. I met Kim Sorensen today and told her I was very sorry for her loss. She smiled but seemed on the verge of great emotion. From a legal standpoint, it will be be very interesting to watch the defense in this case. The claim is that Orlewicz acted in lawful self defense, that the defendant honestly and reasonably believed that he was in danger of being killed. Even if it turned out later that he was wrong, if Orlewicz’s belief was honest and reasonable he can be found not guilty of the crime of murder. So far, we’ve heard from schoolmate Alex Mullins, who testified that on November 6 he helped Orlewicz put tarps up on the windows of his grandfather's garage and across the floor. He told the jury Orlewicz told him he was going to kill Sorensen because he didn't like him. He told the jury he wanted no part of it, and didn’t participate. Watch his testimony Lisa Chen, a cashier from ACO Hardware Store, testified that the day before Orlewicz purchased one bottle of Drano mid-afternoon, then he came back through about an hour later and bought three more bottles. The prosecution is trying to show through this evidence the premeditation and planning that went into the execution of this crime. I see where the defense will be going with regard to the Drano. Those containers of Drano were later found in Orlewciz's truck after it was impounded. On cross-examination, the defense questioned Detective William Helke: "You don't know if those containers were ever even opened." But how will the defense get around the tarps? We will all watch that together. If you think this is a slam dunk case for the prosecution, think again. Do you remember the Robert Durst case in Galveston, Texas? Morris Black, the victim, was shot to death and his body was then mutilated just like the body of Daniel Sorensen. The defense in that case was the same. Durst himself took the stand and told the jury of the struggle he had with Black that he was in fear for his life and consequently shot Black dead. Durst also admitted he panicked after killing Black and so he cut up the body. The jury found Durst not guilty of the murder, but guilty for desecration of the body. He served a relatively short prison term, which included time already served, and was released (only to go back to prison for a parole violation). If this case parallels Durst, then Orlewicz will take the stand. Only time will tell, but this young defendant's state of mind is critical to the defense case. – Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent Filed under: Trials |
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