Jury finds Oakland man guilty in stabbing, murder
Panel to reconvene March 25 to decide death penalty or life term
March 13, 2002
By Glenn Chapman STAFF WRITER
Green studied jurors as they individually affirmed their belief that the 45-year-old Oakland man murdered Charles Hass and tried to kill Aaron Merritt at the corner of Peralta and 12th streets on Jan. 27, 2001.
"The only thing I saw in his face was hatred," Merritt said of the way Green eyed him and others in the courtroom. "It was a very chilling look. It sent shivers down my spine."
Jurors will reconvene before Judge Philip Sarkisian on March 25 for the trial's penalty phase, during which they will decide whether Green should be executed or sent to prison for the rest of his natural life.
"I would like to see that Willie Green never has the opportunity to kill again," Merritt said. "I don't think he should be executed for revenge, nothing will bring Charles back, but I think this guy is going to kill as long as he is alive."
Green hugged his defense attorneys, James Giller and Daniel Horowitz, before bailiffs led him to a cell.
"I think God is working in a mysterious way," Green's sister, Ruthie Bennett, said after the verdict was read. "I believe this can be changed into something more positive ... my brother is a spiritual man."
Bennett held firm that Green was wrongly accused in the case and expressed hope jurors would spare his life.
Green confronted 27-year-old Charles Hass after Hass and Merritt stepped out of Bay Area Liquors on Peralta at 10:30 p.m. Jan. 27, 2001, according to the case presented by Deputy District Attorney Michael Nieto.
Green claimed to be a police officer and pulled Hass into the shadows, where an unknown man held Hass while Green tried to rob him, Nieto argued.
Merritt, 29, told jurors he was stabbed in the lung by Green when he went to rescue Hass. Merritt said he hit Green to free Hass, who ran with Merritt to his apartment. Hass was stabbed by Green during the robbery bid and fell dying to the floor of Merritt's apartment, Nieto assured jurors.
Defense attorneys argued Green was a victim of mistaken identity, despite testimony from witnesses who implicated Green.
"I don't second guess what juries do," Horowitz said. "I go with the decision, and go on fighting the battles still available to me."
Green's violent criminal history and the aftermath of the stabbing of Hass and Merritt will be showcased during the penalty phase.
Green's prior crimes include robbery and using an assault rifle to kill the 30-year-old sister of an Oakland drug ring enforcer Green was affiliated with, according to investigators.
Police determined Green was out for revenge and intended to shoot a man standing near the woman. Green reportedly became a member of the Black Guerrilla Family prison gang while in custody.
"I am just so grateful to know that Charles hasn't died in vain ... that there isn't going to be someone else on the street who will suffer the same fate because Mr. Green is loose," said Hass' mother, Louise. "Charles has not only received justice, but Mr. Green has too."