Death penalty off the table for Lori Vallow Daybell

SALT LAKE CITY — The judge in Lori Daybell’s case has taken the death penalty off the table.

East Idaho News reports the judge granted a motion to remove the possibility of the death penalty.

Lori Daybell and her husband Chad are accused of the murders of her two children.

An earlier decision determined they would have separate trials on those charges. Lori’s trial is expected to begin with jury selection in just a few days.

If she’s found guilty, the judge will determine her sentence. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas told Utah’s Noon News that will make the whole trial move faster.

Skordas said death penalty cases have more extensive appeals, and often go into the federal court system.

“But those are all off the table. I’m actually surprised that the state ever thought that this would be a death penalty case given her age and lack of criminal history,” Skordas added.

And it also streamlines the process of the verdict and sentencing phases.

“In most cases in America, the judge decides the punishment but in death penalty cases the jury does. Having that now taken off the table, the jury doesn’t have to make that determination. And that will shorten the trial by quite a bit.”

More on the Daybell case:

• Here’s why separate trials for Chad and Lori Daybell is significant
• Attorneys for Lori Vallow Daybell file motion for her to meet with husband
• Lori Vallow Daybell deemed competent to stand trial