RUFUS – Mavis Lee Young, who stands accused of assassination former Mesa State Representative Joseph Cooke now officially faces the death penalty after the Anti-Political Violence Act took effect earlier this month. Officials say they expect a final ruling to be handed down after Young waived his right to a Jury trial.

Young entered Cooke’s apartment and shot and killed him point blank range according official police reports and interrogations documents. Young stood over the former Representative before delivering the fatal gunshots to him before shutting his door and fleeing the property.

Reports also show that Young left the apartment complex before heading to a Porterstown Product Mart where he was seen purchasing cleaning supplies, likely attempting to head back to the crime scene to clean up how officials say this is strictly speculation and no confirmed reports have made on this.

“Let’s be clear your Honor, Mavis Lee Young, entered unlawfully into the home of a former State official, shot and killed Joseph Cooke and then fled after committing the assassination,” said Federal prosecutor Charlie Donalds. “This wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, this decision was made while he planned on how to kill Joseph Cooke. The prosecution seeks to understand what his frame of mind was at the time but that has been difficult.”

Young’s defense has argued that the evidence against him was circumstantial with the Judge Mary Steinman disagreeing pointing to the purchase of cleaning supplies after being seen on camera entering and leaving the apartment.

“You are clearly visible on camera entering and leaving the apartment,” said Judge Mary Steinman. “That is undeniable, and the fact that you went to Product Mart after to buy cleaning supplies. I will continue to hear evidence by both sides but I don’t believe the prosecution and investigative evidence is lacking legal standing and the evidence will hold in this court.”

If Young is convicted he may become the first person executed under the Anti-Political Violence Act with both Nationalists and Republicans supporting his execution, should he be found liable and responsible for killing Joseph Cooke last month.