Feb. 1, 2023 4p
(WGTD)---Following Wednesday's guilty verdict in the Mark Jensen retrial, the first thing prosecutor Bob Jambois wanted to talk about with reporters was the so-called letter from-the-grave that Julie Jensen wrote before her death.
Jambois called the decisions by higher courts not to allow the victim’s voice to be heard a travesty. About a week and a half before her death, Mrs. Jensen wrote that because of her kids she never would kill herself. She also expressed fears that her husband was plotting to kill her.
"These words by Julie Jensen should've been heard. They were heard in the first trial. They should've been heard in this trial--not that it was essential to the conviction of Mark Jensen because there was so much other evidence," Jambois said.
"Mark Jensen really sunk his own ship. He couldn't keep his mouth shut," said Jambois, referring to several conversations, including one that Jensen had with a co-worker during a night of drinking in which he said he was planning to kill his wife.
The jury deliberated some five hours over two days before returning with the unanimous verdict. The first jury deliberated for three days before returning its guilty verdict which was then successfully appealed based on the inclusion of Julie’s letter.
Mark Jensen will now be re-sentenced in April.
Jambois says he wouldn’t be surprised if Jensen files another appeal, although Jambois says he suspects it won’t be because of ineffective counsel. Jambois had praise for the three public defenders that represented Jensen in his latest trial.
Those attorney left the courthouse without talking to reporters.
Mark Jensen had no visible reaction when the verdict was announced.
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