Killing suspect could face death penalty

By Tasha Kates

Published: August 25, 2008

A man charged with capital murder in the death of a young Charlottesville woman last year could face the death penalty if convicted, a prosecutor said Monday.

Claude V. Worrell II, the city’s deputy commonwealth’s attorney, said in court that his office would offer the jury the option of death for William Douglas Gentry if Gentry were found guilty. The prosecutor, Gentry and his attorneys were in court to start hearing defense motions.

Gentry, 22, and his cousin, Michael Pritchett, 19, were charged last year with capital murder in connection with the death of 26-year-old Jayne Warren McGowan. Co-workers found her body Nov. 9 in her St. Clair Avenue home after she didn’t show up for work.
Defense attorney Lloyd Snook said in court Monday that jurors would have to decide what was running through the minds of the cousins around the time of the incident.

“There is no question that Mr. Pritchett and Mr. Gentry were involved,” Snook said. “It’s just a question of mental state.”
Gentry, who had been sitting quietly with his head down in court, burst into tears as Snook started listing the charges against him. Another of Gentry’s lawyers, Richard Davis, attempted to comfort him.

According to a search warrant affidavit, Gentry is accused of shooting McGowan when she answered her door. In court Monday, Worrell said Pritchett fired the final shot, which is believed to have been fatal. Court documents suggest the men had decided to commit a robbery prior going to McGowan’s home.
While discussing the defense motions, Worrell said in court that he has identified “a significant number of witnesses” for the trial. Snook also mentioned Gentry’s prior criminal history, noting that he had only one driving conviction while Pritchett had at least 23 juvenile petitions to his name.

Prior to the motions being heard in court Monday, Circuit Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. granted a motion by WVIR-TV (Channel 29) to allow cameras in the courtroom during Gentry’s trial. However, he said in court that he reserved the right to review the motion if Pritchett testified in his cousin’s case.
Pritchett is scheduled for a five-day trial starting June 8. Gentry’s six-day trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 23.
Gentry and Pritchett are being held without bond at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.