Antwan Anthony outburst haults cross examination testimony in sentencing

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Mar 24, 2016
18 min read

There was another outburst from convicted triple murderer Antwan Anthony in court today.

It came during the testimony of a Yale University human rights worker who was called by the defense.

The Pitt County man was convicted on Monday for the murders of three Hustle Mart employees and they're now conducting the sentencing phase of the capital murder trial.

Today's outburst came during the state's cross examination of the human rights worker when Anthony started mumbling.

Jurors were removed from the courtroom and then Anthony then said "Tie your a** up and beat you for eight years, how would you feel?", among other things.

One of his lawyers was able to calm Anthony down, and unlike other times, he was not removed from the courtroom.

Prosecutors want the death penalty for Anthony, while his lawyers say the man's life should be spared because he is mentally ill.

March 22 Story

The state has rested their case for why triple murder suspect Antwan Anthony should face the death penalty, and now it's the defense's turn to argue that he should be spared.

No cameras were allowed Tuesday as the state rested it's case.

Antwan Anthony was found guilty of three counts of first degree murder.

Those in the courtroom yesterday heard impact statements from family members of those Anthony plead guilty to killing.

The defense will again point to what it says are mental health issues that caused Anthony to commit the crimes.

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State prosecutors took less than a day to present their evidence as to why jurors should sentence Antwan Anthony to death.

It took the same jurors less than an hour on Monday to convict the man for killing three convenience store employees nearly four years ago outside of Farmville.

Because this is a death penalty case, jurors are now hearing additional testimony from both the state and defense.

The first witness call by prosecutors was Ahmed Almanjanahi, the brother of Nabil Almajanahi.

Anthony is also convicted in the homicide of an Edgecombe County couple that happened three weeks before the Hustle Mart murders. Family members from that double homicide also testified about their loss.

Anthony's defense will likely continue to say their client is mentally ill and shouldn't be put to death. That will begin Wednesday morning.

The jury in the Antwan Anthony triple murder case has found him guilty on three counts of first degree murder.

Jurors took less than one hour to reach their unanimous verdict. The defendant looked at the court clerk with no emotion as the verdict was announced.

Anthony has been on trial for killing three Hustle Mart employees in Farmville in 2012. After nearly a month of picking a jury, testimony in the case began on March 8th.

Defense lawyers admitted Anthony pulled the trigger, but asked jurors to find him guilty of second degree murder in an effort to keep him from receiving the death penalty.

With the verdict, jurors apparently did not believe Anythony's lawyers who said he was mentally ill at the time of the killings.

The trial will now move to the sentencing phase Tuesday morning. Lawyers from both sides will present evidence to the same jury who will then decide whether Anthony should receive the death penalty or life in prison for the murders.

The jury has begun their deliberations in the capital murder trial of Antwan Anthony.

A lawyer for Anthony asked jurors this morning to find him guilty of second degree murder.

The state wrapped up rebuttal testimony Friday, while Anthony's defense team finished their testimony Thursday morning.

Anthony is accused of killing three Hustle Mart employees in Farmville in 2012.

Defense attorney Phil Lane said Anthony was severely mentally ill at 4 years old, mentally ill the day he shot the three workers and mentally ill now.

Lane told jurors that after Anthony talked with doctors, he expressed remorse for what happened.

His lawyers have admitted that their client killed the three, but are trying to keep him off death row.

Assistant D.A. Clark Everette started his closing by showing jurors photos of the victims. When speaking about the deaths, Everette showed still photographs from the store surveillance of the murders and how Anthony shot the 16-year-old first.

He asked jurors to find Anthony guilty of first degree murder.

Jurors got the case around 2:30 p.m.

Triple murder suspect Antwan Anthony was removed from a Pitt County courtroom this afternoon after an outburst.

It happened after testimony had been completed and jurors were already sent home for the day.

Anthony, who is accused of killing three Hustle Mart employees nearly four years ago, was apparently upset about some evidence. He knocked papers and water off the defense table. Officers immediately surrounded and handcuffed him.

Anthony was removed from the courtroom, while one of his attorneys went back to a holding cell to talk with him. When he returned about 10 minutes later, some eight deputies were in close proximity to him.

Court continued for another 30 minutes without any disruption.

Testimony is now finished in the trial against Antwan Anthony.

Jurors Friday morning heard recordings of jail house telephone calls as the state is wrapping up rebuttal testimony in the capital murder trial.

Anthony's defense team wrapped up their case Thursday morning, putting on more than three days of testimony from experts in an attempt to keep the man off death row.

Anthony is accused of being the triggerman in the 2012 murders at the Hustle Mart in Farmville.

His attorneys acknowledge that their client killed the three workers at the store, including a teenager, but they say he suffers from mental illness.

Jurors were told to report back Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. to hear closing arguments from both sides before they start deliberating.

As part of the state's rebuttal evidence, a therapist who performed an assessment of Anthony just a month before the murders says the man admitted he was having a hard time adjusting to life out of prison, and that Anthony said he was capable of easily harming others, if he chose to.

The therapist testified that Anthony knew exactly who he was, and that he was capable of understanding what was going on. Under cross examination, the defense asked the therapist why Anthony wasn't sent to an inpatient facility on the day of the assessment. The therapist said the normal procedure would be to refer the patient to a psychiatrist or medical doctor, something he did do.

The defense has rested their case in the Antwan Anthony triple murder trial.

Anthony is accused of being the triggerman in the 2012 murders at the Hustle Mart in Farmville.

His defense team has spent the past three and a half days presenting expert testimony with the goal of keeping Anthony off death row.

His attorneys acknowledge that the man killed the three workers at the store, including a teenager, but they say he suffers from mental illness.

Prosecutors are now presenting rebuttal witnesses in the case.

Attorneys for a triple murder suspect continued to present their case Wednesday.

After the first day of trial -- cameras have not been allowed inside the court room in the trial of Antwan Anthony in Pitt County.

An expert psychologist, Dan Chartier, took the stand Wednesday. This comes after psychiatrist, Doctor Jennifer Sapia, was called to the stand on Monday.

Anthony's attorneys say he is the triggerman in the Hustle Mart murders in Farmville, but has been dealing with mental illness since he was a child and has been institutionalized in the past.

We'll continue following this case for you here on at witn.com.

Antwan Anthony's defense team called its first witness in the triple murder trial Monday.

The defense called Doctor Jennifer Sapia, a psychiatrist, to the stand.

Earlier in the trial, Attorney Phil Lane said Anthony is the triggerman, but doesn't have the mental capacity to commit this crime without being told to or being under treatment for his mental issues. Lane said Anthony has been dealing with mental illness since he was a child and had been institutionalized in the past.

The state rested its case last Thursday.

After a three-day break, the trial of Antwan Anthony, accused of being the triggerman in the triple murder at the Hustle Mart in Farmville nearly four years ago, will resume. His defense team begins presenting their case Monday with the goal of keeping Anthony off death row.

His attorneys acknowledge that Anthony killed the three workers at the store, including a teenager, but they say he suffers from mental illness.

The prosecution laid out their case over three days last week, putting two co-defendants on the stand and showing jurors the surveillance video of the execution-style murders.

We'll keep you posted on what happens in court.

The state has rested its case in the Antwan Anthony murder trial after two co-defendants testified against him.

Raekwon Blount waived his 5th Amendment right not to testify before taking the witness stand. He said it was Anthony's idea to rob the Hustle Mart.

Anthony is standing trial for killing three employees back on April 1st, 2012. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Anthony.

On the witness stand, Blount said Anthony got out of the car first and he followed. When they went inside, Anthony told workers to get down.

Blount said he had a revolver, while Anthony was armed with a 9mm semi-automatic. When he heard the shot and saw the first victim fall, Blount says he ran out of the store and got back in the car.

Blount, who was 14 years old at the time, said he needed money and that's why he helped rob the store.

Under cross examination, Blount said he didn't recall saying that co-defendant Willie Whitehead was a "wolf" that made Anthony do whatever he told him to do.

During the testimony, at times Anthony looked at Blount, but mainly stared straight ahead.

Xavier Shamble was the next witness. He testified as they were leaving the robbery, someone asked Anthony if he shot all the people inside. Anthony said "yes", and then he told them not to say anything about what happened.

Shamble told jurors they didn't plan to kill the employees. In court he read a letter that he had written to the victims' families. Shamble said that he was truly sorry for what happened, and that if he could take it all back, he would.

Both men said they received no promises from the state in exchange for their testimony.

After the state rested, the defense moved to dismiss all charges. Judge Robert Hobgood did dismiss three kidnapping charges, but will allow the remaining charges to remain.

Defense lawyers plan to start presenting their case on Monday.

A capital murder case in Pitt County has ended early its second day of testimony.

Antwan Anthony is accused in the April 2012 triple murders at the Hustle Mart outside of Farmville.

On Tuesday, his defense lawyer told jurors in opening statements that they don't deny Anthony killed the three workers, but said they will question his mental capacity. If convicted, prosecutors want to seek the death penalty.

The trial had been held in the main courtroom at the courthouse, but on Wednesday it moved to a smaller courtroom. Because of the change, cameras will not be allowed inside the courtroom.

Wednesday morning a Pitt County crime scene investigator testified that the murder weapon, a 9mm, was found in Anthony's home. Also, the medical examiner told jurors that all three victims received devastating head injuries which none of them would have survived.

Because the next witness wasn't immediately available, jurors were sent home just before noon. They will return Thursday morning at 9:30.

Graphic surveillance footage and witness testimony from one of the first people to enter the store following a triple murder, marked the first day in the trial of Antwan Anthony.

The day began with opening statements from Anthony's defense attorney, Phil Lane, saying that his client is responsible for the murder of 26-year-old Nabil Almajanahi, his nephew, 16-year-old Mokbel Almajanahi, and 24-year-old David Alawi inside the Hustle Mart near Farmville in 2012. Lane says his client suffers from mental illness and violent tendencies stretching back to when he was 4-years-old.

After surveillance footage was shown to the jury, Pitt County Sgt. Shannon Stuart testified how Anthony walked behind the counter and shot the 16-year-old at point blank range as he knelt on the floor with his hands behind his head. The other two victims, were shot one by one in the head as well.

By the afternoon, Cierra Washington took the stand, talking about how after the murders, one of the co-defendants, Willie Whitehead and one of her friends dropped Anthony off at her home in Farmville, where she asked if he committed the murders.

"He says he didn't do anything that he didn't kill those people," said Washington on the stand.

Arice Barrett, who was the first person to find the bodies also testified

"I saw him on the floor with a gunshot wound to the face," said Barrett referring to one of the victims.

Barrett, who's been waiting to give his account of what happened for almost four years, says it's taken its toll on him.

"Some nightmares, restless sleep, just a lot of things I don't want to mention, just want to put everthing in perspective again," said Barrett being interviewed following his testimony.

Anthony could face the death penalty if convicted.

The lawyer for a man who is accused of killing three convenience store employees admits his client pulled the trigger.

Testimony began this morning in the capital murder case of Antwan Anthony, who is on trial for the murders at the Hustle Mart back in April 2012.

Anthony's lawyer, Phil Lane, told jurors in opening statements that his client walked into the store and shot three people. But in trying to keep his client off death row, Lane questioned Anthony's mental capacity and what he called his unpredictable behavior that caused him to do violent things unprovoked.

Lane says since Anthony was four years old he has had violent tendencies.

The state's first witness was Ahmed Almanganhi, a family member of the three victims.

In the afternoon, jurors were shown surveillance video of the murders. The video showed two of the victims being shot in the back of the head while kneeling on the floor of the business.

The third victim was also shot in the head, according to the video.

The trial is expected to last another month.

Previous Story Opening statements from attorneys are expected this morning in the capital murder case of a man accused of killing three convenience store workers nearly four years ago.

Anthony faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted for the murders of three Hustle Mart convenience store workers near Farmville back in 2012. Anthony is the suspected gunman, although three others are charged in the crime. Two are slated to testify against him.

It took lawyers a month to select 12 jurors and three alternates to hear the case. That process was completed on Monday.

The trial itself is expected to take a month to complete.

All jurors in the Antwan Anthony capital murder trial have now been selected.

The final alternate juror was picked Monday morning in a process that began a month ago.

The actual trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at 9:30.

The 12th juror in the Antwan Anthony capital murder trial was selected Wednesday morning.

Jury selection began February 8th. Lawyers must now pick three alternate jurors before testimony can actually begin.

The trial is expected to last another month.

We now have 11 jurors seated in the Antwan Anthony capital murder trial in Pitt County.

Both sides agreed to seat two more women on the panel on Monday.

Jury selection began February 8th. Last Wednesday they ran out of potential jurors, so another pool was brought in Monday morning.

Lawyers have to select one more juror, and then decide with the judge on how many alternate jurors to seat.

Seven jurors are now seated in the Antwan Anthony capital murder trial in Pitt County.

On Wednesday, lawyers agreed to add two more men as jurors. There are now three women and four men on the panel.

The process to pick a jury began on February 8th.

On the fourth day of jury selection in the Antwan Anthony capital murder trial, two more jurors have been picked.

Anthony faces the death penalty for the murders of three convenience store workers near Farmville back in 2012. Anthony is the suspected gunman, although three others are charged in the crime. Two are slated to testify against him.

Anthony's trial in Pitt County is expected to last several weeks, with jury selection going for two or three more weeks.

So far, lawyers have agreed on two men and three women to serve as jurors. They have to select 12 main jurors, plus several alternates before actual testimony in the trial can begin.

Another juror has been seated in a triple murder case in Pitt County.

Antwan Anthony faces the death penalty for the murders of three convenience store workers near Farmville back in 2012. Anthony is the suspected gunman, although three others are charged in the crime. Two are slated to testify against him.

Anthony's trial is expected to last several weeks, with jury selection going for two or three more weeks.

Since Monday, the prosecutor and the defense have agreed on two men as jurors, and Wednesday morning they selected a woman as juror number three.

Jury selection has begun for the accused triggerman in a triple murder in Farmville nearly four years ago.

Antwan Anthony has pleaded not guilty to the Hustle Mart murders. 26-year-old Nabil Almajanahi, 16-year-old Mokbel Almajanahi, and 24-year-old David Alawi were shot during a robbery as they worked at the store on April 1, 2012.

Lead defense attorney Terry Alford says he expects the jury selection process for the death penalty case to take two to three weeks, and actual testimony to take that long as well.

Judge Robert Hobgood from Franklin County is hearing this death penalty case.

Anthony was brought into the courtroom after the pool of potential jurors was confirmed. He was not restrained, and is wearing a dress shirt and dress pants.

Security is tight at the courthouse. There are multiple deputies inside the courtroom as well as around the interior of the courthouse.

Cameras are not permitted in this portion of the trial.

A man who is suspected of killing three convenience store workers was returned to the Pitt County Detention Center Friday.

Antwan Anthony was transferred from Central Prison in Raleigh to Greenville where he will stand trial Monday.

Anthony is the suspected trigger-man in the Hustle Mart murders that happened nearly four years ago in Farmville.

Stay with WITN for continuing coverage of Anthony's trial.

The final pre-trial hearing for a man suspected of killing three convenience store workers is complete, despite another delay.

The second day of the hearing for Antwan Anthony was supposed to start at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Pitt County Courthouse.

But court officials say there was a delay in Anthony's arrival from Central Prison in Raleigh. They say he was disruptive at the prison, which delayed them from leaving for Greenville.

On Monday, the hearing got sidetracked after prosecutors say Anthony kicked a deputy sheriff and spit on a state corrections officer.

One matter coming up on Tuesday was whether defense lawyers could have a taped telephone conversation between Anthony and his mother professionally transcribed. The sheriff's office had already transcribed the conversation, while prosecutors say they had no problem with it being done by a certified transcriptionist.

Anthony is the suspected trigger-man in the Hustle Mart murders that happened nearly four years ago in Farmville.

Ahmed Almajanahi, the victim's relative and a family spokesman, says after four years, they are glad it's getting closer to trial.

"It takes what it takes. I'm very satisfied with what they're doing right now, and we long already but it's getting closer."

Lead defense attorney Terry Alford says Anthony will be brought to the Pitt County Detention Center two days before jury selection is to begin on February 8. Alford expects the selection process for the death penalty case to take two to three weeks, and actual testimony to take that long as well.

The judge in the Antwan Anthony case says surveillance video of the triple murders will be shown to jurors, with modifications.

Anthony is the suspected trigger-man in the Hustle Mart murders that happened nearly four years ago.

Monday's proceeding at the Pitt County Courthouse is supposed to be the final hearing before Anthony stands trial next month.

The judge spent most of the day reviewing store surveillance video to see if it was admissible during the trial

The judge ruled that prosecutors will be able to show the actual shootings, and they will be allowed to edit out long periods of inactivity as events transpired.

There were seven cameras inside the store that authorities obtained video from. Jurors will also be shown video of a man coming into the store earlier in the day and getting a drink. Prosecutors say Anthony was that man in the video.

Defense lawyers argued that it would be prejudicial to their client for jurors to see the victims being removed over and over again by emergency workers.

The judge is also allowing surveillance video from Walmart that prosecutors say shows Anthony and two others buying ammunition the day before and the day after the murders.

The hearing was delayed after prosecutors say Anthony kicked a deputy and spit in the face of a Department of Corrections officer. He was eventually brought back into court heavily shackled and wearing a spit guard on his head.

Anthony, who could face the death penalty, will go on trial next month.

The hearing will continue Tuesday morning.

The pre-trial hearing for a man accused of killing three convenience workers has resumed with a combative defendant in court.

Antwan Anthony is the suspected trigger-man in the Hustle Mart murders that happened nearly four years ago.

Today's proceeding at the Pitt County Courthouse is supposed to be the final hearing before Anthony stands trial next month.

The judge had been reviewing store surveillance video to see if it was admissible during the trial, but during a late morning recess there was a disruption of some type prior to Anthony being brought back into court.

The judge wanted Anthony brought back in so they could complete the proceedings, but bailiffs were not able to calm him down.

Anthony remained in an upstairs hold cell and those in the courtroom could hear him banging from within his cell.

Around 1:30 p.m., the defendant was brought back inside the courtroom, heavily shackled and a spit guard covering his entire head.

Anthony was cursing and combative, and quickly pulled off the spit guard once he was seated in the courtroom.

The judge is not allowing cameras inside for this hearing.

During the last pre-trial hearing, the judge ruled that Anthony was mentally competent to stand trial. That trial is scheduled for February 8th.

A judge could decide today whether jurors will be able to see surveillance video that shows moments before and after three store employees were gunned down.

The final pre-trial hearing for Antwan Anthony is underway this morning in a Pitt County courtroom

Anthony is the suspected trigger-man in the April 2012 murders of the three Hustle Mart employees.

Prosecutors say they plan to show images from seven surveillance cameras from within the store, showing video from shortly before and shortly after the murders.

But defense lawyers are concerned that how the video is shown may be prejudicial to their client. Portions of the video prosecutors want jurors to see is being shown during the hearing.

A clean-cut Anthony is in court today, dressed in a striped shirt instead of an orange prison jumpsuit. Cameras are not allowed inside the courtroom for this hearing.

During the last pre-trial hearing, the judge ruled that Anthony was mentally competent to stand trial. That trial is scheduled for February 8th.

A final pre-trial court appearance for the alleged triggerman in the triple murder at the Farmville Hustle Mart is underway this morning.

Antwan Anthony is less than one month away from standing trial for the murders of three people at the convenience store in April 2012. Last month, a judge ruled Anthony is competent to stand trial. Doctors who evaluated the defendant told the judge they believe he is fabricating his claim of mental illness.

Anthony's trial is scheduled for February 8.

In a court hearing this morning, a Pitt County judge read the findings of a mental evaluation for Antwan Anthony, the suspected triggerman in the Hustle Mart triple murder in April of 2012.

The judge says the evaluation shows Anthony is competent to stand trial beyond a reasonable doubt. The report also says doctors who evaluated Anthony believe he is fabricating his claim of mental illness.

The judge ruled that Anthony is competent to stand trial and ordered him transported to Central Prison's mental health unit where his medication will be monitored.

The judge set Anthony's trial date for February 8, 2016.

Anthony pleaded not guilty to killing 3 men at the Hustle Mart in Farmville on April 1st, 2012.

The suspected triggerman in a triple murder will not stand trial on Monday as planned.

The trial for Antwan Anthony was supposed to begin at the Pitt County Courthouse next week, but District Attorney Kimberly Robb says it has been temporarily postponed.

This, as the status of Anthony's mental capacity is still in question.

Earlier this week, court documents showed Anthony was refusing to talk with his defense attorneys and psychiatrist.

A judge ordered a mental evaluation last month for the man accused of killing three employees at the Hustle Mart in 2012.

Those results were supposed to be back last week, but since Anthony refused that evaluation, the judge ordered he be transferred to a state hospital for observation.

Robb says at this time there is no new date scheduled for his trial.

The status of a defendant's mental capacity is still in question when it come to a three year old triple murder case in Pitt County.

We went through court documents Monday and found that Antwan Anthony has refused to talk to his defense attorneys, or his psychiatrist.

Anthony is charged with killing three people back in April of 2012 at the Hustle Mart near Farmville.

A judge ordered the evaluation after lawyers for Anthony made a motion that the case be declared non-capital because they claim their client is mentally ill.

Those results were expected ten days ago, but because he refused that evaluation, Judge Robert Hobgood ordered Anthony be transferred to a state hospital in Butner for observation--up to 60 days.

His trial date is scheduled for the end of the month, but it's unclear if this could delay that.

A man accused in a triple murder in Pitt County has refused to take a mental evaluation that could decide whether he becomes eligible for the death penalty.

The results of a mental evaluation for Antwan Anthony were due today, but the Pitt County Clerk of Court says Anthony refused that evaluation.

The court has ordered Anthony have another evaluation, but at this time its not clear when it will be done.

A judge ordered the evaluation after lawyers for Anthony made a motion that the case be declared non-capital because they claim their client is mentally ill.

Anthony pleaded not guilty to killing 3 men at the Hustle Mart on April 1st, 2012.

A Superior Court judge will keep Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb on a high profile triple murder case.

After a 45 minute hearing in the Pitt County Detention Center, Willie Whitehead's lawyers lost their bid to remove Robb from the upcoming capital murder case.

Judge Marvin Blount ruled that having Robb prosecute Whitehead was not a conflict.

Three employees of the Hustle Mart outside of Farmville were murdered in April 2012 during a robbery.

Whitehead is also accused of trying to hire someone to kill Sheriff Neil Elks and his wife, along with kidnapping Robb's daughter in a scheme to get out of jail.

Whitehead's lawyers argued that it would be unfair for Robb and her staff to prosecute the man because of the other pending charges.

Last month, another judge ruled he would not remove Robb from co-defendant Antwan Anthony's trial. Anthony's attorneys contended that Robb and her staff should step away from the case because they could be witnesses in Whitehead's trial.

"The Minority Voice News "

Antwan Anthony outburst haults cross examination testimony in sentencing

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