Trial concludes for man accused of killing son for insurance
MANASSAS, Va. — Joaquin Rams is either a father unjustly accused in the tragic, unexplained death of his 1-year-old son, or he is the most cold-blooded of murderers who snuffed the life from his boy to collect half a million dollars in life insurance.
The four-week capital murder trial has left little room for anything in between in the case against Rams, who is charged in the October 2012 death of Prince McLeod Rams.
Lawyers concluded their closing arguments Thursday, putting the case in the hands of Judge Randy Bellows. Rams waived his right to a jury in exchange for prosecutors’ agreement not to seek the death penalty. If convicted, Rams will automatically be sentenced to life in prison.
Prosecutors say Rams either suffocated or drowned Prince to collect on three separate life insurance policies he held on the child. Defence lawyers argue Prince died of natural causes after suffering a fever-induced seizure.