I poked my head in Department 8 this morning. It seems like so long ago that I spent 15 hour days at the Superior Courthouse covering the Brothers quintple murder trial. Not much has changed. Judge Michael Bush was waiting around for someone to show up so he could wrap up a procedural issue on another case. His bailiff and court clerk were waiting it out, too. In two days, Brothers will be back in court to learn his fate. What say Judge Bush: life or death? The jury has already recommended death. We'll be covering things live once again. Expect complete coverage from us. But can we expect closure? Probably not. If the sentence is death, it goes up for automatic appeal. And I'm not sure it's any more settling for those who knew the Harper family for the case to be over. Yes, over for now. When we talked to Eddie Harper about what he wanted to see happen, he said he'll agree with whatever the jury decides. Mr. Harper is a profoundly spiritual man. In fact, he's a pastor. And in person, he's preternaturallypatient and kind. Just how does someone overcome the murder of their relatives? In Mr. Harper's case, deep-seated convictions, I suppose.
So will we find out Mr. Brothers' fate on Thursday? If everything goes as scheduled. But the motive behind the murders of which Brotehrs is now convicted may never be clear.
