WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Friday that jury recommendations to impose the death penalty must be unanimous.
Read More »Court Requires Unanimous Juries In Death Penalty Cases
Fla.’s Death Penalty On Hold As Court Looks For Answers
Executions are on hold, judges across the state are postponing death penalty cases, and defense lawyers are seeking additional reviews.
Read More »Push Continues For Florida Lethal Injection Details
Lawyers representing Arizona Death Row inmates aren’t backing down from a battle with Florida corrections officials over the release of documents related to execution drugs, part of a drawn-out challenge to Arizona’s lethal-injection process. The Florida Department of Corrections is refusing to release the documents, arguing that the information is …
Read More »Sheriff: Face-Biting Attacker To Be Charged With Murder
A Florida sheriff’s office said Friday that a college student caught biting a victim’s face after stabbing the man and his wife in a random attack will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder, raising the possibility of the death penalty. Austin Harrouff, 19, also will be charged with …
Read More »Racism Allegations Against Judge Enter Death Row Case
A lawyer for Death Row inmate Terrance Phillips wants the Florida Supreme Court to order an investigation into allegations of racism involving the circuit judge who sentenced the Jacksonville man to death — including accusations that the judge once said blacks should “go back to Africa.” Judge Mark Hulsey, elected …
Read More »Ex-Wife Of Slain Florida Law Professor Denies Role In Death
The ex-wife of a slain Florida State University law professor and her family are denying any involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill him. Attorneys for Wendi Adelson and several family members issued a statement Wednesday saying speculation of their involvement in Dan Markel’s killing is categorically false. Authorities …
Read More »South Florida Man Says He Didn’t Kill FSU Professor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — One of the two men accused of killing a Florida State University professor is pleading not guilty to the charges. Sigfredo Garcia appeared in a Leon County court on Friday as his attorney sought his release on bail until trial. A grand jury last week indicted …
Read More »Sheriff: Suspect In Florida Priest Slaying Moved To New Jail
Steven James Murray, in jail on charges of kidnapping and killing St. Augustine priest, Rev. Rene Wayne Robert, gets moved to a third jail after attempted suicide.
Read More »Justices Try To Sort Out Death Penalty Law
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a case focused on whether the state's new death penalty law is constitutional.
Read More »High-Profile Lawyers Urge Court To Commute Death Sentences
Arguing that state law requires it, a who's who of prominent attorneys --- including former presidents of the American Bar Association --- are advising the Florida Supreme Court to reduce the death sentences of all inmates awaiting execution to life in prison.
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