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FL Supremes Block Two Death Sentences

Nick Evans

The Florida Supreme Court has blocked the death penalty for two men convicted of murder. 

Eight out of twelve jurors sentenced Robert McCloud and Terrance Phillips to death.  The cases are unrelated, but Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court stepped in to reduce both to life in prison.  In McCloud’s case the court determined the punishment was too stiff because his two co-defendants got lesser sentences.  In Phillips’ case the majority ruled the trial court should’ve given greater weight to the defendant’s youth and mental abilities when considering mitigating factors.  Justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston dissented in both rulings.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.