Dominic Oyerinde found competent to stand trial in ex-girlfriend's death
Dominic Oyerinde appears in court today.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
A judge found a 20-year-old Ann Arbor man competent to stand trial today on open murder and carjacking charges in the death of his ex-girlfriend, 17-year-old Anna List.
Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Archie Brown agreed with a report from a forensic psychiatrist that deemed Dominic Oyerinde mentally fit for trial. He is accused in the Jan. 13 bludgeoning death of List.
As Oyerinde’s public defender, Tim Niemann, and Assistant Prosecutor Eric Gutenburg approached the bench to set further trial dates with Brown, Oyerinde quietly demanded that he defend himself.
Once dates of Feb. 10 and March 8 were set for the final pretrial and trial, respectively, Niemann addressed his client’s “outburst.”
Niemann told the court what Oyerinde said, and Brown asked Oyerinde whether he wanted to defend himself, to which he replied “yes.”
“I need to know more about this case,” Oyerinde said in a quiet voice when asked for his reasoning. “I want to make a difference.”
Brown rejected the request, calling it “not appropriate” at this time.
Niemann said after the hearing the request was “out of left field."
Oyerinde is accused of hitting List, a Ann Arbor Huron High School student, in the head with a hammer outside Ypsilanti’s Recreation Park following an argument early on the morning of Jan. 13.
A passerby found List unconscious in the snow and called for help, but she died from two blows to the head after remaining in a coma for a week.
Witnesses at the preliminary hearing who were friends with the couple said they heard loud arguing in List’s van parked outside their house just before the attack.
One witness said he then heard two van doors slam, the pair walking down the street together and a glass bottle break.
Soon after, Oyerinde returned to the van without List and drove off.
Oyerinde’s shoes were found near List’s body, and a hammer detectives say was used to kill List was found sticking out of the snow near the Congress Street crime scene two weeks later.
Oyerinde hid for several days at a relative’s house in Detroit before police arrested him.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Mary
Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 10:22 p.m.
I used to live with Dom he is a very traumatized young man. He's seriously mentally un-sound... but he is a wonderful person. Most of you all are narrow minded and judge mental. In reply to Ricebrnr, he was severely abused as a child and tended to have emotional break downs on a regular basis when we lived together. He broke a lot of my stuff but I know him and I know he is a good person. Granted at this point he won't even believe that. Actually as I'm sure it will please the rest of you sadistic bastards to know he hates himself every minute for what he's done. He's dead inside and Anna's not the only wonderful person the world has lost. [Just for the record I deliberatly signed on with facebook. Because I honestly believe what I have said, I miss my friend, and I would say it straight to anyone's face.]
Mary
Sun, Jun 13, 2010 : 10:16 p.m.
I used to live with Dom he is a very traumatized young man. He's seriously mentally un-sound... but he is a wonderful person. You all are narrow minded and judge mental in reply to Ricebrnr, he was severely abused as a child and tended to have emotional break downs on a regular basis when we lived together. He broke a lot of my stuff but I know him and I know he is a good person. Granted at this point he won't even believe that. Actually as I'm sure it will please the rest of you sadistic bastards to know he hates himself every minute for what he's done. He's dead inside and Anna's not the only wonderful person the world has lost.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Dec 4, 2009 : 11:39 p.m.
The only reason Montecore lived is that as Roy was being carted off to the hospital he begged for the animal not to be put down. He knew what "normally" happens to animals that attack. But what's that got to do with the price of tea in China? And what the hell does color have to do with it? Who brought it up? Trash is trash is trash. It doesn't matter if its green, blue, yellow etc...
Aimee Le
Thu, Dec 3, 2009 : 10:14 a.m.
I don't think calling a young man of color an "animal" or a "monster," or saying that he should be "put down" is appropriate or accurate. This crime is horrific because Oyerinde is a human being--who is apparently mentally competent--rather than an animal. No one sought to "punish" the tiger that attacked Roy Horn. Animals aren't subject to human moral codes or justice systems. Humans like Dominic Oyerinde are.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 8:47 a.m.
My only thought on the Sullivan case is that no one that I found is arguing the boy was not there or got a fair trial. That being the case I care less for his length of incarceration than the sentence that was forced upon his victim. She had no choice in the matter and she has no parole from her injuries both mental and physical. I counter your Joe Sullivan, with Detroit's own Nathaniel Abraham. Convicted at 13 released at 21. Not a great kid before jail. Raised during his formative years in a prison. Can't say this kid wasn't given every opportunity that his 18 year old victim was not. How that one work out again??? Oh yah back in jail right? Luckily "only" for drugs this time around. That's the problem with these child murderers. They obviously had little or no regard for others than themselves before prison. Prison is usually considered just a finifshing school for hardenned criminals. And we should be releasing these monsters back into society after this "training" during their formative years? Really?
geej86
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 6:04 p.m.
Yea I would agree with a self defense killing law. I was thinking of Sara Kruzan when I made that 14 yr old example, I was wrong though, she was 16 when she committed her crime. However, It seems that one could definitely argue that it was not self defense, that it was "well thought out," and that she was not in any imminent danger. So my point was that someones' circumstances should always be considered, even in a non self defense situation.. I do have one last question for you though. Do you think that life without the possibility of parole for someone such as Joe Sullivan (not Joe Wilson!), who committed a crime at thirteen years old, is appropriate?. With that, I am going to go breakin my username on some other annarbor.com stories. Thanks for talking! I'll come back and check this thread too.
Ricebrnr
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 10:03 a.m.
Your 14 year old example is disingenuous. That is an example of a self defense killing which by now I'm sure everyone knows I heartily advocate as set forth in MCL 780.951 Public Act 311 of 2006 states: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), it is a rebuttable presumption in a civil or criminal case that an individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force under section 2 of the self-defense act has an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death of, sexual assault of, or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another individual will occur if both of the following apply: (a) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is in the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business premises or committing home invasion or has broken and entered a dwelling or business premises or committed home invasion and is still present in the dwelling or business premises, or is unlawfully attempting to remove another individual from a dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle against his or her will. (b) The individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force honestly and reasonably believes that the individual is engaging in conduct described in subdivision (a). Unfortunately a similar statute passed in 2007 in Florida does not apply back when your example was 13. If it did and if the victim had been armed, the citizens of Florida would not have had 20 years of room and board to pay and perhaps those taxes could have been repurposed towards education and prevention programs. And no I do not take this debate personally or as antagonistic either. I see this as a good conversation by two parties concerned with the subject matter and I thank you for being able to discuss it logically, with forthought and examples rather than just spewing "feelings" on the matter. Seriously, I do like a bit of snark and sarcasm usually in response to the same but a good debate is hard to come by.
geej86
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 12:23 a.m.
How do you know that there is no way to fix what is wrong with this man? How are you able to make this judgement? You say that we should "put him somewhere where he can not hurt another sole," I am legitimately curious, is your primary concern the safety of the public?. Although I certainly never committed any crime near in magnitude to this, I am not proud of some of things I have done. I think that everyone deserves a second chance, even if for Dominic it is in 25 years... @Ricebrnr: We obviously have different views on what should be considered when sentencing. I consider everything to be relevent, you don't (if this is inaccurate I misunderstood). Additionally, I don't think your comparison to an animals is quite fair, especially the comparison of rehabilitation possibility.. What about the 40 yr old pimp that raises, abuses, and rapes his 14 yr old prostitute - and then she murders him. Certainly she is guilty of the crime but her circumstances should be considered right? She hardly had a choice!? Now, Dominic is older, and the situation is very different but I still think his background is completely relevent (if there is a bad background.. I don't even know!). I also feel that, like I said before, twenty is just too young to be able to be condemned to death, he can't even drink alchol yet! I know that that is a very liberal view though and not many people feel the same way, atleast in the United States... Right now the supreme court is hearing arguments on whether sentencing juveniles to life in prison is unconstitutional. Currently there are around 2,000 people serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed before they turned 18.. Personally I find this appauling, and I'de be interested in anyones opinion who is on the other side of this Oyerinde debate. Would you say that a 17 yr old who committed this act still deserves life or something similarly harsh, what about a 14 yr old? Currently in Florida there is man named Joe Wilson who raped an elderly woman when he was 13 -- he is 33 now, and serving life without the possibility of parole... I apoligize if I'm coming off as antagonistic, it is not my intention. I just feel very strongly on the issue.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 7:42 p.m.
How does his why or how he is what he is calculate in moral algorithms? If an animal attacks a human, that animal is usually hunted and put down. Does it matter if that animal was a mistreated pit or rotty used for dog fighting? Or a loved family member of many years like Travis? Can those animals be rehabilitated and made pets again? Can they ever be trusted in your house? If the answer is yes, YOU rehab them and put them up in YOUR house. Any other response would be hypocritical.
ezbngreen
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 6:10 p.m.
While I support capital punishment and believe in the punishment to fit the crime the reality is Michigan doesn't have the death penalty. That being said there is no way to fix what is wrong with this man. To kill someone by striking them with a hammer to the back of there skull and discarding them like a piece of trash was not only a heinous act but was also one of a coward. Yes lock him up and put him somewhere where he can not hurt another soul.
geej86
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 4:27 p.m.
@ezbngreen: It really struck me in a weird way when you referred to Dominic Oyerinde as an "animal," it certaintly makes it easier to justify locking a twenty year old man up in solitary confinement until his death. There is no doubt he did something absolutely horrible, and I suppose it is a matter of personal morality, but it sickens me to know that so many people would support a statement like yours. Should he go to jail? Yea. Should he go to jail for a long time? Probably so. Should he be in solitary until he dies? I guess I believe that a life is worth more than that, that a horrible mistake deserves forgiveness - And I know that Anna is gone and her life had the same worth... but why kill two people? - - - - @Ricebrnr: "oh but I'm sure he must've have come from a disadvantaged background. How oh how can we blame him for being a product of his enviroment?". The sarcastic way you said that makes me think that, and correct me if I'm wrong, you wouldn't even consider the facts of his past - that you would write off his upbringing and other background information before even considering it.. I agree that he did something horrible and wrong, and he must be punished. With that said, isn't an extremely troubled background relevent? Of course there is personal responsibility first and foremost!! But the fact is, we are who we are for a reason. Do you know the facts of his childhood enough to say that they don't matter? - - - - @Eric64: I think Michigan Reader was right about the saying being "Let the punishment fit the crime." Of course peoples' opinions of what punishment fits the crime will vary. While some on this page are calling for a public stoning I try to reserve judgement, mostly since I am at my computer and not in the courtroom!!
lisak
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 8:45 p.m.
I am so grateful that so far the legal system isn't letting this man get away with this horrific murder. I hope this trend continues.
Captain Magnificent
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 7:22 p.m.
I'm not sure about his innocence or guilt- that's for a Jury of his peers and King Solomon to decide. Fortunately, we won't need the help of a Jury or the King of Israel to tell us that this is one fine specimen of courtroom photography.
Captain Magnificent
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 7:18 p.m.
The article leaves out one very important fact- did he have a second pair of shoes, or was he barefoot while hiding out at his relatives house? We need to get to the bottom (or foot... get it?) of this.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 11:59 a.m.
oh but I'm sure he must've have come from a disadvantaged background. How oh how can we blame him for being a product of his enviroment? Please for the children we should be banning hammers, how often do we have to hear about hammer-crime before something is done?!???!
stevek
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 9:03 a.m.
I'm sure his friends and relatives will say he is really a good kid and didn't have anything to do with it. Nice job of raising your children.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 11:03 p.m.
or he can be convicted and meet his maker a lot sooner with the help of capital punishment. eye for an eye.
roadsidedinerlover
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:49 p.m.
As someone who has lost a female loved one to murder by a male, I think I have some great perspective. This man should never get any outside contact, no televison, not internet or any favors etc. I hope that he gets to see a portrait of the victim everyday he wakes up until he leaves this earth. That way, he will see her in his dreams and when he is awake and can think about what he has done. He will meet his maker one day as we all will and maybe he can explain his actions to the Almighty.
ezbngreen
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:39 p.m.
This animal needs to be locked into a solitary cell and throw away the key...There is no way to fix this.He is such a coward for hitting that girl in the back of the head and then tossing her aside like a piece of trash. He deserves much worse than he is going to get.
peihaha
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:24 p.m.
This was the saddest thing happened in the community beginning of the year. Making a bad friend totally ruins your life.
Eric64
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9 p.m.
No what i said was right.
Michigan Reader
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 8:45 p.m.
@Eric64--Crimes never fit the punishment, punishment follows the crime. I think you meant to say, "Let the punishment fit the crime."
Eric64
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 6:44 p.m.
Good let the crime fit the punishment.