Ross Harris Sentenced To Life Without Parole Plus 32 years Served Consecutively

Justin Ross Harris was today sentenced to life without parole plus 32 years served consecutively for murdering his young son by leaving him in a hot car.

Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark carried out the sentencing at the Cobb County Courthouse in Marietta.

After a change of venue from Marietta to Brunswick, the trial proceeded through more than 20 days of witnesses from the prosecution and defense, and was followed by four days of jury deliberation before ending in a verdict of guilt on all counts being handed down.

Harris, 35, had denied intentionally leaving his son, Cooper, to die in the car park near his Atlanta office in 2014. During sentencing he offered no mitigating circumstances.

During the trial Harris had argued the death was an accident, since he had forgotten to drop the toddler off at day care.

The trial heard he was sending lewd text messages to underage girls during the time that Cooper was dying.

Prosecutors argued Harris plotted to kill his son and wanted to leave his family to continue affairs with other women.

But Harris’ attorneys said that though he was responsible for the boy’s death, he loved his son and the incident was result of a tragic forgetfulness.

Cobb County Police Detective Phil Stoddard had testified in court that Harris was sitting in his office, exchanging nude photos with several women, including a teenage minor, on the day his son died.

Mr Stoddard also told the grand jury panel Harris had researched online how long and what temperature it would take to die in a hot car.

The jury found Harris guilty on all of the eight counts he was charged with. The charges and sentences given were:

Count 1 Malice Murder – Life without paraole

Count 2 Felony Murder – vacated as the result of count 1.

Count 3 Felony Murder – vacated as the result of count 1.

Count 4 Cruelty to Children in the First Degree – 20 years to be served consecutive to count 1.

Count 5 Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree – merged with count 4.

Count 6 Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony – 10 years be served consecutive to count 1 and 4.

Count 7 Dissemination of Pornography to Minors – 12 months – to be served consecutive to count 1 and 4 and 6.

Count 8 Dissemination of Pornography to Minors – 12 months – to be served consecutive to count 1 and 4 and 6 and 7.