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Hear more from Donnisha Hill's father and prosecutors.
Addonis Hill, father of murder victim Donnisha Hill, reacts to David Damm's conviction for the 2006 crime Thursday. (Jeff Reinitz/Courier Staff Writer)
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DAMM FOUND GUILTY: Murdered girl's father has had fill of Damm
By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer
GALENA, Ill. --- Adonnis Hill said he didn’t bother to glance in David Damm’s direction after an Illinois jury found Damm guilty of murdering his daughter Thursday.
"No reason to look at him. I looked at him for the last two years," he said.
David Damm was found guilty on all counts in the murder of Donnisha Hill Thursday afternoon after one hour and 40 minutes of jury delibrations.
Damm, 60, of Waterloo, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Hill, 13, of Waterloo two years ago.
The conviction means the case will continue to the eligibility phase, where the panel will determine if it meets the criteria for the death penalty.
"We are very pleased with the verdict. We believe justice was served, and we look forward to the next stage," said Jo Daviess County States Attorney Terry Kurt.
Jurors began deliberations at 3:10 p.m. Thursday.
Damm was accused of hiring Bruce Burt to kill Hill to keep her from testifying in a sexual abuse investigation.
Burt, who testified for prosecutors as part of a plea deal, admitted he drove the girl to Illinois and beat her to death with a hammer and said Damm paid him a $2,000 installment of a $5,000 agreement to do it.
Damm's attorneys said murder was never part of the plan. They said Damm wanted to help the girl run away, and Burt killed her on his own after she resisted his sexual advances.
The state and defense delivered their closing arguments before breaking for lunch. The state will start its rebuttal arguments this afternoon.
Prosecutor Steven Nate with the Illinois Attorney General’s office said even though Damm didn't swing the hammer, he is still accountable for Hill’s death
“You can put his hand right on that handle as well,” Nate said. He said Damm is accountable because he asked Burt to carry out the crime, agreed to pay him for it, delivered the girl to Burt and provided money for gas, and for a camera to prove the murder had been carried out.
“He’s bankrolling the whole operation … he’s the one calling all the shots. … He planned it. He paid for it. He executed it,” Nate said.
Nate said jurors not only got to see the weapon that killed Donnisha Hill, they got to hear the weapon speak when Burt took the stand.
Defense attorney Stephen Richards started his closings.
"Bruce Burt is not a murder weapon. He is a murderer," Richards said. "And he murdered Donnisha Hill for his own reasons ... because when he tried to seduce or rape her, she fought."
Although Damm may be morally responsible for arranging to have Burt help Hill run away, Damm isn't guilty of a crime, Richards said.
"David Damm is not guilty of first-degree murder. He is innocent," Richard said.
Richards said Burt's account can't be believed because of the deal he struck with prosecutors to avoid death row. He said it was like putting a gun to someone's head and saying do what we want or we'll pull the trigger.
During this phase of the trial, jurors will consider guilt, but not punishment. If convicted of first-degree murder Damm could face the death penalty. Jurors will decide punishment following further proceedings.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
"No reason to look at him. I looked at him for the last two years," he said.
David Damm was found guilty on all counts in the murder of Donnisha Hill Thursday afternoon after one hour and 40 minutes of jury delibrations.
Damm, 60, of Waterloo, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Hill, 13, of Waterloo two years ago.
The conviction means the case will continue to the eligibility phase, where the panel will determine if it meets the criteria for the death penalty.
"We are very pleased with the verdict. We believe justice was served, and we look forward to the next stage," said Jo Daviess County States Attorney Terry Kurt.
Jurors began deliberations at 3:10 p.m. Thursday.
Damm was accused of hiring Bruce Burt to kill Hill to keep her from testifying in a sexual abuse investigation.
Burt, who testified for prosecutors as part of a plea deal, admitted he drove the girl to Illinois and beat her to death with a hammer and said Damm paid him a $2,000 installment of a $5,000 agreement to do it.
Damm's attorneys said murder was never part of the plan. They said Damm wanted to help the girl run away, and Burt killed her on his own after she resisted his sexual advances.
The state and defense delivered their closing arguments before breaking for lunch. The state will start its rebuttal arguments this afternoon.
Prosecutor Steven Nate with the Illinois Attorney General’s office said even though Damm didn't swing the hammer, he is still accountable for Hill’s death
“You can put his hand right on that handle as well,” Nate said. He said Damm is accountable because he asked Burt to carry out the crime, agreed to pay him for it, delivered the girl to Burt and provided money for gas, and for a camera to prove the murder had been carried out.
“He’s bankrolling the whole operation … he’s the one calling all the shots. … He planned it. He paid for it. He executed it,” Nate said.
Nate said jurors not only got to see the weapon that killed Donnisha Hill, they got to hear the weapon speak when Burt took the stand.
Defense attorney Stephen Richards started his closings.
"Bruce Burt is not a murder weapon. He is a murderer," Richards said. "And he murdered Donnisha Hill for his own reasons ... because when he tried to seduce or rape her, she fought."
Although Damm may be morally responsible for arranging to have Burt help Hill run away, Damm isn't guilty of a crime, Richards said.
"David Damm is not guilty of first-degree murder. He is innocent," Richard said.
Richards said Burt's account can't be believed because of the deal he struck with prosecutors to avoid death row. He said it was like putting a gun to someone's head and saying do what we want or we'll pull the trigger.
During this phase of the trial, jurors will consider guilt, but not punishment. If convicted of first-degree murder Damm could face the death penalty. Jurors will decide punishment following further proceedings.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
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capslock wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:43 PM:
" I wonder if he'll stand up straight in prison or still be bent over? "
91306missu wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:53 PM:
" my son anthony maring was murdered in galena on 9-13-06 not to long before donnisha. i 100% understand then pain they feel. my thought and prayers go out to them.the pain is always there and never goes away. i am glad they get to put this man away. as i never got that chance. "
sumner wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:43 PM:
" Justice is served!!
I use to work with one of Danisha's parents and have really felt their pain. Maybe it was all the publicity or maybe it was because I'm a parent myself and would never want to loose any of my kids. Being in the courtroom took courage and the composure to not want to harm the guilty as well. No parent should ever have to re-live the graphic tragedy that occurred to their baby.
Please know that I pray for peace in Danisha's family and ask for the grace of God to warm their hearts. "
I use to work with one of Danisha's parents and have really felt their pain. Maybe it was all the publicity or maybe it was because I'm a parent myself and would never want to loose any of my kids. Being in the courtroom took courage and the composure to not want to harm the guilty as well. No parent should ever have to re-live the graphic tragedy that occurred to their baby.
Please know that I pray for peace in Danisha's family and ask for the grace of God to warm their hearts. "
joyce wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:29 PM:
" He can call it what ever he wants but the jurors knew he needed to be taken off the streets once and for all.Thank God they saw him for what he really is. "
ladylee50701 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:29 AM:
" I think They Should let the Hill Family put this loser out of his misery! He Knows HE IS GUILTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTG JURY "
Momma wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:07 AM:
" This man is evil incarnate. Reading the daily accounts with details of this horrendous crime have sickened me. Let this be a warning to all parents: we worry about registered sex offenders. But it is the ones who haven't been convicted, who live among us, who should truly concern us. Be vigilant and do whatever it takes to protect your children. God bless these parents and help them heal. "
RIP_Jr_2007 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:32 AM:
" I am so glad that this is FINALLY over for you Laneaka, Adonis & Family. The healing process can begin now and Donnisha can REST IN PEACE. We have been praying for you all constantly and have had faith that this day would come. God brought it to you and took you through it....THANK YOU JESUS! Now he is going to make sure that DAMM gets exactly what he deserves because no man should walk this earth after committing such a horrible crime. Let's just call his punishment the DAMM Death Penalty....sounds good to me. Now relax and let the kids know that Donnisha if off to do what Angels do and that is watch over you all. Keep the faith and everything will be alright. "
janekay wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:21 AM:
" This was so awful, a young girl killed. Justice served to a point. Who actually took the girl and slashed her throat and hid her???? What is happening to actual murderer...? No one mentioned the guy who did the killing, that seems weird to me. I guess it's our justice system.Woe is the future. "
janekay wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:28 AM:
" now what will happen to man who actually did the horrible murder? "
rhino2640 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:15 AM:
" What a shady charater this David Damm is, I hope he gets what he has coming. ... His whole life seems a little off to me. My heart goes out to Donnisha's family, this is far from over for them. All they can do now is live each day as it comes and pray justice is served to those they took it upon themselve to take their childs life! "
lovinmother wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:47 AM:
" The guy that did the killing is getting life in prison. They are not giving him death because a plea he made. I think that they should take Damm to the same place and beat him with a hammer too. Life in Prison is not good enough for either of these two guys. They both should be put to death.(After they keep them in prison for a while. You know half the people in prison's do not like child beaters or killers. Hopefully they will get beat everyday of their life untill death. Justice for Donnisha. Rest in peace. "
jjmom9497 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:56 AM:
" I have no idea why they wasted time on a trial anyhow. We all knew the "man" was guilty. "
chatty1 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:36 PM:
" I thought I read that some of Burt's testimony on the stand didn't match up to the cell phone records. Didn't he have to get up there and tell the truth for his plea deal??? Maybe they can go back on him for that! He deserves the death sentence just as much as Damm does! "
CINDR wrote on Oct 20, 2008 4:23 AM:
" People vicious like David Damm and his partner in crime get fair trials. Abusers, predators, and perpetrators like David Damn refuse to show any mercy to their victim/target. And there are plenty of them around. We all know that a number of those into criminal activity who never do see a day in prison or the mental ward. They brag that they are untouchable and it will be their word against our supporters and us.
For decades, I have known that some criminals do not always do his/her own dirty work. The elephant in the room is so huge that it cannot be denied any longer. "Forensic Science" reveals the truth. As the raging bull attacks victims/targets have every right to fight back in self-defense. There are red flags all over the state of Illinois.
Yet, when it comes to victims/targets/"Victims of Violent Crime everything is done "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Chicago Way". "
For decades, I have known that some criminals do not always do his/her own dirty work. The elephant in the room is so huge that it cannot be denied any longer. "Forensic Science" reveals the truth. As the raging bull attacks victims/targets have every right to fight back in self-defense. There are red flags all over the state of Illinois.
Yet, when it comes to victims/targets/"Victims of Violent Crime everything is done "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Chicago Way". "
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aknkamom wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:45 PM: