Death Penalty Decision

In response to the decision by State Attorney Aramis Ayala not to seek the death penalty in the murder case against Markeith Loyd, Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando) released the following statement:
“In any murder case, all legal sentencing options, including the death penalty, should be considered.  I agree that the death penalty in Florida has had a troubled history. Even with the passage of the new law requiring jury unanimity in death sentences, 75% of those currently on death row were reportedly convicted with non-unanimous juries.
“But as a former police detective, I strongly believe that when any law enforcement officer loses their lives in the line of duty and in the service to others, all available legal consequences should be considered. While I respect State Attorney Ayala’s right to decide her office’s future course, I disagree with her decision to leave the death penalty off the table.”
For more information, please contact Senator Torres’s Legislative Aide Al Yorston at (850) 487-5015 or via email at: [email protected].