Bill would allow crimes to be punished as separate offenses

The Senate is chagrined that the Utah Supreme Court recently ruled that a convicted killer should serve only one life sentence instead of two for murdering his ex-girlfriend and trying to kill her current boyfriend.

So it tentatively approved on Tuesday SB150, sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, to make clear that such crimes occurring at the same time can be punished as separate offenses.

The action arises out of a November ruling in the case of Trovon Donta Ross, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Annie Christensen, in June 2003. Her boyfriend at the time, James May, also was shot.

The Utah Supreme Court ruled Ross should not have been charged with a second count of attempted aggravated murder over the shooting of the boyfriend because the evidence in that count was an aggravating predicate to the first count of aggravated murder.

The bill would allow two separate charges in such cases. Also, if the primary murder charge were ever overturned on appeal, the other offense would still stand under provisions of the bill, Jenkins said.

He also said the bill would help victims feel that crimes against them do not go unpunished.

The bill passed on a 26-0 vote on second reading. The bill still faces a third reading before it is sent to the House for consideration.