After more than 10 years of legal back and forth a jury recommended the death penalty for Bessman Okafor this Wednesday afternoon.
Okafor was found guilty of killing 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar in 2012. He was originally sentenced to death back in 2015, but several twists and turns in this case has caused the process to drag on.
“I’m grateful that he is being sent back to death row,” said Alex Zaldivar’s father Rafael Zaldivar.
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Rafael Zaldivar spoke to news crews outside the Orange County Courthouse right after a jury recommended the death penalty for Okafor.
Okafor was convicted of killing Alex execution style to prevent him from testifying in another case.
“I have dedicated the rest of my life for my son,” said Rafael Zaldivar.
Okafor’s original death sentence verdict was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court who stepped in and decided the verdict had to be unanimous.
Read: Jury recommends that Bessman Okafor be sentenced to death for killing Alex Zaldivar