SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA) — A choose is ready to resolve on Monday if convicted killer Zephen Xaver will probably be put to demise for killing 5 ladies.
Zephen Xaver pleaded responsible to 5 counts of homicide for killing Ana Piñon Williams, Debra Cook dinner, Marisol Lopez, Cynthia Watson, and Jessica Montague at a SunTrust Financial institution in Sebring in 2019.
In a 9 to three-vote, jurors advisable the demise penalty within the sentencing trial for Xaver in June. This determination got here after years of delays.
A Florida regulation signed final 12 months solely requires eight jurors to vote for the demise penalty.
Households of the victims stated the decision has introduced some closure.
“I do not assume lots of people understand that you need to proceed to stay that very same day time and again till you do go to trial. There are fixed court docket hearings, fixed convention conferences with attorneys and it simply eats you alive,” stated April Nelson, Cynthia Watson’s daughter.
“I’m pleased with the decision. He deserves it. He’s a coward and this delay has simply been making an attempt to maintain him alive,” stated Michael Cook dinner, sufferer Debra Cook dinner’s husband.
The choose will problem a closing order on Xaver’s sentence at 1 p.m. however expectations are the choose will comply with the jury’s advice.
