Quote:
Originally Posted by roseylovestosho
(Post 3579256)
My eye is twitching.
So who decides that this is a death penalty case? Why couldn't they just make it life in prison without opportunity for parole.
<-Ignorant of the law
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If it turns out to be premediated murder, then it would be a death penalty case. She was indicted by a Grand jury of first degree murder (premediated, intent to kill, aggravated etc)
The charges against her are:
First-degree murder
Aggravated child abuse
Aggravated manslaughter of a child
4 counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer:
That she worked at Universal Orlando in 2008,
That she left Caylee with a babysitter named Zenaida Fernandez
Gonzalez,
That she told Jeffrey Hopkins and Juliette Lewis that Caylee was missing,
That she received a phone call from Caylee on July 15, 2008.
Prosecution are going for a conviction on the First Degree Murder charge and are seeking the death penalty.
Think they are basing the premeditation on the internet searches for chloroform, neck breaking, household weapons etc.
If the jury decides to convict her on first degree murder and vote for the death penalty, they (under the US Supreme Court decision) would have to say what aggravating factors led to the death penalty decision. Under Florida law they only have to have a majority of them deciding on the death penalty and not give the aggravating factors which led them to that decision - this is what the Florida District Court judge said was unconstitutional, not giving the aggravating factors.
Even if the jury voted for the death penalty, it is only a recommendation, the judge has the final decision.
