Dickerson guilty on all counts
Charleston jury convicts William O. Dickerson in torture-killing of one-time friend
By Robert Behre
William O. Dickerson told a Charleston County jury "I'm not a bad guy" Thursday. But after deliberating for almost five hours, the jury agreed he did some very bad things.
The Post and Courier
William Dickerson speaks to the jury during closing arguments in his death penalty trial Thursday. The jury that found him guilty of murder, kidnapping and sexual assault in the death of Gerard Roper will decide if he should receive the death penalty.
The 12-member jury found Dickerson guilty of murder, kidnapping and sexual assault in the 2006 death of one-time friend Gerard Roper, whose death even Dickerson's attorney described as a horror.
The guilty verdicts mean that the jury and Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis will begin a second phase of the death-penalty trial Monday.
While Dickerson did not testify, and was not subject to cross examination, he addressed the jury for about five minutes using a loud voice and waving his arms.
"I left Charleston, South Carolina, in fear for my life. If I'm guilty of anything, why would I come back?" he asked. "How could I do all this by myself? How could I?"
He then told the jury he knew Roper and his mother and has eaten at their home. "If I did this, I will make amends."
He also thanked the jury: "My life is on the line. Please look me in the eye. I'm a man."
The state's case was based on witnesses' testimony, blood and other evidence found at the scene, cell phone records and a recording of a phone call in which Dickerson talked about hurting Roper.
Previous stories
Police catch final suspect in slaying, published 03/01/2008
More suspects arrested in 2006 torture-murder, published 02/27/08
Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson suggested Dickerson could have acted out of anger because he found a video on his cell phone of his girlfriend having sex with another man, but the motive in the 18-hour-long torture-killing never became clear.
"We may never know exactly why. We're here to figure out who and what," Wilson said. "Don't get bogged down in the whys. ... These people lived in a haze of cocaine."
She replayed an audiotape made of Dickerson talking about his torture of Roper, which included sodomizing him. "Gerard is worse than beat up," Dickerson said on the tape.
Jeff Bloom, one of Dickerson's defense lawyers, accepted the jurors' verdicts. "They have perhaps the hardest job in the whole courtroom," he said. "We've accepted their decision, and we're ready to move on."
Three others, including Dickerson's half-brother, also face charges in the case, but Wilson told the jury, "It doesn't matter who struck the fatal blow. ... This is not their day in court. This is William Dickerson's day in court."
His attorneys cast doubt on some of the evidence and questioned whether Dickerson was more at fault than the others who went in and out of the James Island apartment.
"William Dickerson was handed to law enforcement as the sole actor in this kidnapping, beating and ultimately killing," defense attorney Andrew Carroll said. "Folks, this case is absolutely riveted with reasonable doubt."
The punishment phase of Charleston County's first death penalty case since 2002 is expected to take most of next week.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
spengler (anonymous) says...
don't forget one fact- you can't get it back- cocaine.
May 1, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Not a "bad" man?...yeah, that and evil to boot.
May 1, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nighteyes (anonymous) says...
see ya in the chair... :)
May 1, 2009 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BootstrapRed (anonymous) says...
"I left Charleston, South Carolina, in fear for my life."
Why is it that those who offer no mercy are always the first to seek it? This cowardly POS deserves to be tortured in the same manner he tortured that poor man. He does not deserve to breathe the same air as civilized people do. I say execute his sorry azz now!
May 1, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
highclass (anonymous) says...
His rap sheet says it all. Time to go back to your "homeboys"
May 1, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigSargeofSC (anonymous) says...
Can we skip the formalities and just move on to the hanging in a public square?
May 1, 2009 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
torde2u (anonymous) says...
What incredible arrogance and blinding self-delusion of this criminal. After the things he did, the "sizzler" is the best place for it and I don't mean the steak house folks.
May 1, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tfroncek (anonymous) says...
Scarlett Wilson, Esq. is one tough cookie---she actually tried this case, She not a politico--shes a real prosecutor. You are lucky to have her
May 1, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CWL922 (anonymous) says...
BigSargeofSC, I agree with you 100%. It would cut down on so much of the crime.
May 1, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Two_Sheds (anonymous) says...
"I'm not a bad guy...I just pulled his teeth out, raped him with a gun and a broomstick, then strangled him over the course of 18 hours."
May 1, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCHoser (anonymous) says...
Gee two sheds, you make that sound like a bad thing...
May 1, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CageFighter (anonymous) says...
Scarlett Wilson, Esq. is one tough cookie---she actually tried this case, She not a politico--shes a real prosecutor. You are lucky to have her
Really? Daniel Hanf ring a bell? Maybe Joseph Harriott? She replayed an audiotape made of Dickerson talking about his torture of Roper, which included sodomizing him. "Gerard is worse than beat up," Dickerson said on the tape. Even SHE couldn't screw that one up.
May 1, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
malthus (anonymous) says...
Beat me to it Cage, you're right this was so open and shut even she couldn't pass the opportunity to snag an easy conviction. Let's wait to see how the next phase goes and how she handles the co-defendants before making a decision. Wilson's track record is really soft on crime if you look under the surface and she is part of the reason for repeat offenders.
May 1, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I'll 2nd that cage & malthus.
May 1, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
Take him out and shoot him. One more killer that tax payers would not have to feed. then call in the next muderer.If found guilty he too shall be taken out and shot.The word would get around,if you comit murder you will pay for it with your life after trial,not in 10 years but after the trial.
May 3, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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