VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A resentencing trial is underway for two men convicted in a gruesome murder in Deltona nearly 20 years ago.
A jury was seated last week and resentencing proceedings are expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. for Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter, two of four suspects who beat six people and a dog to death inside a home in August 2004.
Victorino and Hunter were originally sentenced to death, but the sentences were later overturned because the jury’s decision wasn’t unanimous.
However, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill eliminating a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before judges can impose death sentences. The new law took effect immediately and represents a major change in Florida’s death-penalty system.
Prosecutors filed a motion to use the new death penalty law, however, court records show the judge denied the motion, meaning the jury would have to be unanimous in the resentencing.
The court agreed with the defense’s argument that since jury selection was already underway when Gov. DeSantis signed the new death penalty law, the trial had already begun.
Testimony began Tuesday with the medical examiner, followed by a deputy who worked the scene, as well as someone who worked with victim Erin Belanger.
The state’s third witness, Kim, wanted us to know she didn’t really testify just as Erin’s coworker, but because she was Jonathan Gleason’s girlfriend at the time.
[FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES BELOW]
The victims, all friends, died from blunt force trauma to their heads after being hit several times, a medical examiner said. Their bodies were also cut and stabbed, according to authorities.
The crime became known as the Xbox murders because the accused mastermind, Victorino, had gone to the house to get his XBox and other items after he was caught squatting in the home.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: