Florida jury recommends death penalty for Joseph Zieler in case of 1990 double homicide
A Florida jury really helpful death for Joseph Zieler in the case of the 1990 murders of 11-year-old Robin Cornell and her 32-year-old Lisa Story.
On Wednesday, May 24 in late night time deliberations, jurors voted 10-2 in favor of the death penalty for Zieler for the brutal double-murder almost 33 years prior.
By a vote of 10 to 2, the Jury recommends Joseph Zieler be put to death. (Lee County County Jail)
On May 10, 1990, Jan Cornell, Robin’s mom, discovered her 11-year-old daughter and roommate Story dead in their Cape Coral, Florida home. In the next investigation, police discovered that the 2 women have been sexually assaulted and that a number of objects have been stolen from the house.
The case went chilly for 26 years till Zieler was arrested on unrelated battery prices and DNA proof led police to attach him with the 1990 slayings.
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After years of repeated delays, jurors began the long-awaited trial on Tuesday, May 16. Prosecutors showed DNA evidence and Zieler was discovered responsible on two counts of first-degree homicide.
Florida has executed two convicted murderers to this point this 12 months, with Zieler now really helpful being the third.
The state capitol constructing in Tallahassee, Florida. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group through Getty Images)
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For many years, Florida had not required unanimity in capital punishment. The state beforehand allowed a choose to impose capital punishment so long as a majority of jurors have been in favor of the penalty. But in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out state regulation, saying it allowed judges an excessive amount of discretion.
The state Legislature then handed a invoice requiring a 10-2 jury suggestion. But the state Supreme Court mentioned such suggestions must be unanimous, prompting lawmakers in 2017 to require simply that.
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Three years later, the state Supreme Court, with new conservative jurists appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, rescinded its earlier resolution and dominated {that a} death suggestion doesn’t have to be unanimous.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.