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].
State Attorney Ayala
ICYMI: WESH: Gov. Scott: Every Citizen Should be Outraged at State Attorney Ayala's Actions
“Gov. Scott: Every Citizen Should be Outraged at State Attorney Ayala’s Actions”
WESH-ORD (NBC) – Orlando, FL
March 16, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on State Attorney Ayala’s Neglect of Duty
Attorney General Pam Bondi today released the following statement about State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Aramis Ayala’s announcement that she “will not be seeking death penalty in cases handled in my office:”
“State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s decision today sends a dangerous message to residents and visitors of the greater Orlando area—furthermore, it is a blatant neglect of duty and a shameful failure to follow the law as a constitutionally elected officer.”
