No death penalty for Chauncey Sterling. Cold blooded murder during the commission of premeditated robbery is not a capital offense. Not in Meckelnburg County.
Also got to wonder what role bumbling Rodney Monroe played in the decision not to seek the death penalty. It was, after all, Monroe who incoherently — but on the record — claimed that Sterling’s was a random act of violence. No way.
Sterling — who had bonded out on a previous charge contrary to the spin that he had a spotless record — was doubtless in a cash bind do to his legal troubles. This is a standard motivation for property crime in Mecklenburg — to pay off previous bonds/fines. I believe he went to South Charlotte in search of burglary oppotunities, but forgot that Friday, April 22nd was Good Friday. Hence homes were occupied and neighborhoods full. Robert Barber then walked by as the next best target of opportunity — older, white, alone.
I predict Sterling will be out of prison by the time he is 35. Robert Barber will still be dead.
Bonus Observation: Not to pick on a guy just finding his legs in a difficult field, but if WBT’s Vince Coakley spends a second on Casey Anthony and ignores this case — listeners should burn their radios and not look back.
