Joshua Royer is seen in this April 2014 photo from the Iowa Sex Offender registry. Royer is on the sex offender list due to a 1995 assault conviction in California.
The verdict is in: Joshua Royer has been found guilty of first degree murder in the August 2014 death of Eddie Cooper Martin.
The jury reached its decision after roughly three hours of deliberation. The 39 year old Royer gunned down the 50 year old Martin while Martin was on his bicycle in early August of 2014. The attack was apparently without motive or provocation.
Royer sat emotionlessly as the jury read their verdict. But emotion was prevalent throughout the courtroom. Arlene Martin is the victim’s widow, she spoke to KBUR after the verdict.
“I just thank God it’s over and that he’s going to get what he deserves, because it didn’t make [any] sense what he did to my husband,” Martin said, “…all I can say is thank God.”
Earlier in the day closing arguments took place with Royer’s defense attorney, James Beres, first hearing the closing argument from assistant county prosecutor Ty Rogers. Rogers summarized the circumstantial evidence linking Royer to Martin’s murder: Royer’s car, clearly seen at the crime scene, two teenagers who attest to speaking with Royer near the crime scene just before shots were heard, one witness who said she saw Royer’s vehicle pull up at an angle and stop just next to Martin in the street before shots were heard, and another witness–a friend of Royer’s–who testified that Royer admitted to shooting someone, allegedly “because they were wearing red”.
Beres fired back, claiming that police failed to follow up on credible leads and that no clear motive was established, making the charge of premeditated, first degree murder, completely out of the question. Beres also pointed out the lack of any eyewitnesses and the fact that the murder weapon was never discovered in an attempt to cast a reasonable doubt on the case.
Royer’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 18th at 2:00pm.
