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Yarbrough Found Guilty Of 1st Degree Murder

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Nov 3, 2009 6:47 pm US/Eastern

Yarbrough Found Guilty Of 1st Degree Murder

WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) ― Terrell Yarbrough was found guilty of first-degree murder in the murders of two Franciscan University students in 1999.

Yarbrough, 25, was convicted in the shooting deaths of Brian Muha, 18, and Aaron Land, 20.

The defense argued that Yarbrough was not the mastermind of the robbery and shooting, pointing the finger at a co-defendant.

Yabrough's family left the courthouse in tears without speaking to reporters, but the families of the victims spoke.

"Being without Brian is lifelong and we miss him so much but having to dredge up all the horror that Brian went through, the cruel treatment by other human beings, having to remember it all, hear all of it, think about all of it – that's over again and now we can dwell on Brian and that's a good thing," Rachel Muha, the victim's mother, said.

"The state of Pennsylvania has affirmed what the state of Ohio has done. We should never have had to gone through this trial," Kathleen O'Hara, Aaron Land's mother, said. "The defense tried to portray a fairy tale and clearly the jury didn't buy it."

Muha's mother said Tuesday that she has forgiven Yarbrough and does not want him to be excuted. Instead, she would rather see him reflect on what he has done.

A hearing will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to determine whether or not Yarbrough will receive the death penalty.

But the families of the victims have mixed emotions about whether he should face the death penalty.

"We do not want him to be executed," said Chris Muha, the brother of victim Brian Muha. His family thinks Yarbrough should spend the rest of his life reflecting on the crime and seeking rehabilitation.

Kathleen O'Hara, the mother of victim Aaron Land, is not sure.

"Does another dead body balance the scales of justice? I don't know," she said.

The Muhas, though, say they have forgiven Yarbrough.

"When you pray the prayer of forgiveness, God gives you an amazing grace that takes away the anger, leaves some of the pain, but gives you the strength to carry on," Rachel Muha said.

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