Anthony Bernard Juniper 

Date of Birth:  November 23, 1971

Sex: Male

Race: Black

Entered the Row: April 1, 2005

District: Norfolk

Conviction: Capitol Murder - 4 Counts

Virginia DOC Inmate Number: 343777  

Anthony B.  Juniper was charged with four counts of capital murder in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Keshia Stephens, 31, her  daughters Nykia, 4, and Shearyia, 2, and her brother, Ruben E. Harrison III, 19.  The victims were murdered in the ex’s apartment in Norfolk on Jan. 16, 2004.  Ten days later, Juniper voluntarily turned himself in to authorities at the Norfolk City Jail.[i]  

In a pre-trial motion, Juniper’s defense argued that Commonwealth Attorney John R. Doyle III should be disqualified because ten years earlier he had represented Juniper in another criminal proceeding.  The motion was denied by Circuit Judge Everett A. Martin Jr.

During the trial that began on Jan. 11, 2005, a jailhouse snitch testified that Juniper admitted to killing Keshia and her family.  Another witness placed Juniper at the scene of the crime.  

The jury found Juniper guilty of four-counts of capital murder. During the penalty phase, defense presented evidence that Juniper had been physically abused as a child by his stepfather who was a drug dealer.  Except for his maternal grandfather, Juniper had no male role models as a child and was psychologically scarred when the grandfather died.[ii]    

After deliberating for about two hours, the jurors recommended that   Juniper be executed. On April 1, Circuit Judge Everett A. Martin Jr., imposed the death penalty.[iii]

In a pre-trial motion, Juniper’s defense argued that Commonwealth Attorney John R. Doyle III should be disqualified because ten years earlier he had represented Juniper in another criminal proceeding.  The motion was denied by Circuit Judge Everett A. Martin Jr.[iv]  On March 3, 2006, the Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed the judgment of the trial court.[v]