Stanko found guilty of murdering Conway, SC man

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CONWAY, S.C. (WMBF) - An Horry County jury has found Stephen Stanko guilty in the 2005 armed robbery and death of 74-year-old Henry Lee Turner of Conway.

Both the prosecution and defense called all of their witnesses and made closing arguments against Stanko on Monday.

The prosecution was allowed to call three witnesses to the stand, each of which performed different tests on Stanko's brain. Experts say the man's brain appeared to be normal.

The defendant's attorneys, however, claim their client is not guilty by reason of insanity for Turner's murder. Stanko's attorneys say he has a defect in his frontal lobe that prevents him from knowing right from wrong.

"It's not working in Mr. Stanko's brain," said Bill Diggs, one of Stanko's attorneys. "That's how insanity could look."

Dr. Pam Crawford, a forensic psychiatrist who spent over 17 hours with Stanko, admits he does have an anti-social personality disorder. But Crawford says he does not have a mental condition that would impair his judgment.

"No particular overriding emotion, or psychosis, or hearing voices, or being particularly angry," explained Crawford. "We had a very clear discussion of what happened, and he was able to say that he remembered the details."

Stanko currently sits on death row for murdering his live-in girlfriend, Laura Ling, and raping her daughter.

Solicitor Greg Hembree is currently seeking a second death sentence against Stanko in the death of Turner. Stanko is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday.

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The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of NBC Augusta 26 | news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Tuesday, Nov 17 at 5:49 PM AWH wrote ...

Capital punishment is too good for him.

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Tuesday, Nov 17 at 9:34 AM JOMO wrote ...

Mr. Diggs, I know of a chairlike electrical device that could even out Mr. Stanko's brain function, it has been of tremendous therapeutic value not only to many with conditions similar to Mr. Stanko's but to the families of their victims as well...

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