- Brian Chilson
- MEETING PRESS: U.S. Attorney Jane Duke and staff after verdict.
Fox 16 reports a federal court jury has convicted physician Randeep Mann and his wife on charges stemming from the bombing of Dr. Trent Pierce of West Memphis, chairman of the state Medical Board. The circumstantial case rested on Mann’s anger at Pierce for Medical Board discipline on his drug prescription practices and his weapons collection, including a grenade launcher and military grenades at least similar to the one used to rig a bomb that nearly killed Pierce. No physical evidence connected Mann to the crime scene.
UPDATE: Fox 16 reports Randeep Mann was found guilty on 8 of 9 charges (he was acquitted on a charge of possession of an illegal shotgun), including the key charge that he orchestrated the bombing plot, possession of grenades and possession of an illegal machine gun. His wife Sangeta Mann was convicted of conspiring to obstruct and obstructing justice by concealing evidence. She was acquitted on a perjury charge of lying to the grand jury. Mann was hustled out a back door after the verdict and so waiting photographers missed him post-verdict.
Sentencing will be later. Dr. Mann faces a potential life sentence.
Jury deliberation began Thursday morning. Jurors broke for the weekend.
Randeep Mann held a concealed weapons permit in Arkansas at the time of his arrest. It was revoked by State Police only after the Arkansas Times reported his name appeared on the list of permit holders. He was described during his trial as a “gun nut.”
- Brian Chilson
- SANGETA MANN: Outside court after verdict.