FAST FINISHING RAIDERS: An inspired third quarter helped Stonewall Jackson down Osbourn 42-8. Sports, Page 12
October 17, 2018 | Vol. 17, No. 42 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Family, fellow soldiers testify in effort to spare Hamilton’s life Staff sergeant faces death or life in prison for killing police officer, wife
By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
During the first four days of the sentencing phase of Ronald Williams Hamilton’s capital murder trial, prosecutors sought to demonstrate why Hamilton should be sentenced to death. Since Oct. 9, Hamilton’s defense attorneys have attempted to show jurors why his life should be spared. “Mitigation is any reason to choose life or not to choose death,” defense attorney
Vivian Hernandez told jurors in her opening statement Oct. 1. “It can be anything that you hear about Ronnie, about his life, about his family and even something within you, within your own sense of fairness.” The jury in Prince William Circuit Court on Sept. 26 found Hamilton, 34, guilty of 17 offenses, including capital murder, for the Feb. 27, 2016, shooting deaths of his wife, Crystal Hamilton, and Prince William County police officer Ashley Guindon. The jury also found Hamilton guilty of shooting
two other police officers who were seriously wounded but survived. In the first part of the trial’s sentencing phase, prosecutors called witnesses who described past incidents in which Hamilton acted unpredictably with police and others. Witnesses described two separate earlier incidents in which Hamilton threatened two men with a firearm. Other witnesses described his troubled decade-long marriage, during which both partners had affairs.
See HAMILTON, page 3
Ronald Williams Hamilton
ISO: 14,000 Prince William residents eligible for Medicaid New rules take effect Jan. 1; enrollment beginning now By Karen Chaffraix Times Staff Writer
TEAZER BOX: This is a sample of the text for a teazer. Page ##
Celebrating Haymarket for 30 years Haymarket Day, set for this Saturday, Oct. 20, marks the 30th anniversary of the annual event. Typically held on the third Saturday in September, this year’s parade and activities were rescheduled due to Hurricane Florence. The Haymarket Day Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Washington Street. INSIDE Calendar...............................................9 Classified............................................18 News....................................................2 Obituaries...........................................17
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The commonwealth has launched a campaign to spread the message far and wide: An estimated 400,000 Virginians will be eligible for free health insurance under Medicaid beginning Jan. 1, and an estimated 14,000 of them live in Prince William County. As a result of the state legislature’s action earlier this year to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, the eligibility requirements for the state- and federally-funded health-care program for low-income residents have expanded, opening Medicaid coverage to many who may not have qualified before.
See MEDICAID, page 3
Opinion...............................................11 Puzzle Page........................................12 Real Estate..........................................16 Sports.................................................13
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