Man serving life for 1996 decapitation to get resentencing
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A western Michigan man serving life in prison without parole for killing and decapitating a teen in 1996 and mutilating the head in front of a video camera is getting a chance at a new sentence.
Federico Cruz, who was 16 at the time of the killing, was convicted of murder and got the mandatory sentence after a jury rejected an insanity defense in the slaying of 17-year-old David Crawford. Cruz suffocated Crawford. He cut off the victim’s head, took it home and mutilated it.
Cruz, now 39, asked Judge Dennis Leiber on Monday for an eventual chance at parole. Leiber plans to decide Wednesday.
Cruz and many Michigan juvenile lifers who are serving no-parole sentences are eligible for a new hearing because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
MSU College of Law commits to full integration with university
On Wednesday, Oct. 31, the governing Board of Trustees at Michigan State University College of Law voted unanimously for a merger of the College of Law into Michigan State University. The approval followed a similar vote in support of the merger from MSU’s Board of Trustees on Friday, Oct. 26.
Currently, the two institutions operate as close affiliates, with the College of Law maintaining its status as a private, independent law school on the campus of a Big Ten university. The merger is subject to approval by accrediting authorities, as well as other legal requirements.
Full integration will support a high-quality education for law students while enhancing administrative services. It will also promote greater opportunities for collaboration between the faculty and students of the College of Law and MSU’s highly-ranked academic programs.
“Since the original affiliation 23 years ago, the law school has become ever more tightly integrated into MSU. Full consolidation is the next logical step, and one that will benefit both institutions by creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary programs, initiatives, and research,” said Lawrence Ponoroff, dean of MSU College of Law.
MSU College of Law was founded in 1891 as the Detroit College of Law and became affiliated with MSU in 1995.
Jury selection kicks off trial in Michigan airport stabbing
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Jury selection started in the trial of a man charged with terrorism in the stabbing of a Michigan airport police officer.
Amor Ftouhi is accused in the stabbing of Lt. Jeff Neville while yelling “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great.” Neville survived the June 2017 attack inside the Flint airport.
The jury process began Tuesday in federal court in Flint.
Ftouhi is charged with three crimes, including an act of terrorism.
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