Father and Son Receive Death Sentences

The Republic, from Salem Oregon, has reported that Bruce Turnidge, 59, and his son Joshua Turnidge, 34, have been convicted and sentenced to death for planting a bomb that killed two Oregon police officers.

The two maintain their innocence and have called the trial unfair.

Bruce Turnidge, while mostly looking at the journalists present, told the courtroom, "We know the jury didn't look at any of the evidence. They were not supposed to make up their mind until they got in that room and went over all the evidence."

The father and son duo were convicted in December for both building, and planting, a bomb that went off in Woodburn's West Coast Bank branch two years ago.

The trial was four months long and jurors took a little less than five hours to deliberate.  They were unanimous in their decision, and found both men guilty of all 18 counts.  Judge Tom Hart was obligated to impose the death sentence that all nine women and three men recommended.

As well as the death sentence, the judge tacked on two consecutive 10-year terms for the attempted murder of the others that were injured in the explosion.

In response to Bruce Turnidge, Judge Hart said, "It's easy to step up now when you're not under oath and address the media ... and pontificate about how somehow you were not treated fairly.  Those of you who weren't here, there was plenty of evidence."

Joshua Turnidge, in also arguing that he was innocent said, "Once in a while, innocent people are sent to prison.  Unfortunately, I am one of those people."

There are 34 other people on Oregon's death row and the Oregon Supreme Court reviews every death sentence automatically.

Prosecutors had contended that the two men, in their hatred of President Barack Obama and the possibility of having their rights to carry guns taken away, dreamed up the idea of building bombs to rob banks and starting an anti-government militia.  They also thought they could use the stolen money to keep their poorly maintained biodiesel company running.

The father and son turned on each other during the trial to lay blame for the bombing.

The explosion killed a state police bomb technician, William Hakim, while he was attempting to dismantle it.  At his side, to assist him, Woodburn Captain Tom Tennant was also killed.  A third victim, the town's police chief Scott Russell, lost his leg in the blast.

Russell spoke to the judge about surviving the attack and his subsequent challenges to be able to swim, run and walk.  His prosthetic leg makes walking on uneven surfaces problematic.  His pride in being as physically capable as other police officers is irrevocably damaged.

Mary Tennant, the widow of Captain Tennant said, "Tom did not deserve to die in the manner in which he did, nobody deserves to die that way."

Terri Hakim, technician William Hakim's widow, told the Turnidges, "Bill will be known for being and dying an honorable man, you will be known for dying as cowards."

Contact a criminal defense attorney from our directory if you have been charged with a crime.  Mounting your defense is paramount to your case.