A new ruling on Jan.12 declared the Florida death sentencing system unconstitutional, Inmates on death row now have the possibility of altering their sentences. Currently in Orange County, Bessman Okafor, is fighting for his life.
In 2012, Okafor was charged with 9 offenses; including 4 robberies with a gun or deadly weapon, one burglary with assault, one burglary armed with experience, two attempted first degree premeditated murders, and one first degree premeditated murder. Prior to 2012, Okafor’s record goes back to 2006 with charges of grand theft and burglaries.
Okafor’s victim of first degree murder was 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar. He killed Zaldivar and attempted to kill his two roommate’s execution style. Zaldivar was shot in the head multiple times, but both roommates survived with only one bullet to the head.
This occurred the …show more content…
I don’t think it will seclude him with the Supreme Court ruling,” said Dean Mosley, Okafor’s attorney.
According to Mosley, the trial is in limbo, meaning that both sides of the case have to wait to see how officials will interpret the ruling in regards to Okafor. No one is sure of how long this process will take.
“We are in uncharted waters,” Mosley said.
Mosley claims that most people on death row have already exhausted their appeals, therefore, will be unable to take advantage of the new ruling. He said this is the only case he has that has the possibility of being altered.
“[Okafor is] hopeful that it will benefit him. In his position, I can’t imagine the stress on him. He has a glimmer of hope that he will be resentenced,” Mosley said.
However, State Attorney Jeff Ashton, who was involved in the penalty phase of the case, disagrees with the possibility of Okafor’s sentence changing.
“We are giving the legislature time to change the statute and, ultimately, we will evaluate what they say. There should not be any catastrophic change [to the death penalty ruling],” Ashton
In 2012, Okafor was charged with 9 offenses; including 4 robberies with a gun or deadly weapon, one burglary with assault, one burglary armed with experience, two attempted first degree premeditated murders, and one first degree premeditated murder. Prior to 2012, Okafor’s record goes back to 2006 with charges of grand theft and burglaries.
Okafor’s victim of first degree murder was 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar. He killed Zaldivar and attempted to kill his two roommate’s execution style. Zaldivar was shot in the head multiple times, but both roommates survived with only one bullet to the head.
This occurred the …show more content…
I don’t think it will seclude him with the Supreme Court ruling,” said Dean Mosley, Okafor’s attorney.
According to Mosley, the trial is in limbo, meaning that both sides of the case have to wait to see how officials will interpret the ruling in regards to Okafor. No one is sure of how long this process will take.
“We are in uncharted waters,” Mosley said.
Mosley claims that most people on death row have already exhausted their appeals, therefore, will be unable to take advantage of the new ruling. He said this is the only case he has that has the possibility of being altered.
“[Okafor is] hopeful that it will benefit him. In his position, I can’t imagine the stress on him. He has a glimmer of hope that he will be resentenced,” Mosley said.
However, State Attorney Jeff Ashton, who was involved in the penalty phase of the case, disagrees with the possibility of Okafor’s sentence changing.
“We are giving the legislature time to change the statute and, ultimately, we will evaluate what they say. There should not be any catastrophic change [to the death penalty ruling],” Ashton