USA - Connecticut. Judge John Blawie sentenced Richard Roszkowski, 49, White, to death

Judge John Blawie sentenced Richard Roszkowski, 49, White, to death. A Fairfield County jury on March 17 (see) recommended death instead of life in prison. In 2009, Roszkowski was sentenced to death in the 2007 murders of his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend, Holly Flannery, of her nine-year-old daughter, Kylie, and of 38-year-old Thomas Gaudet. Police said Roszkowski falsely believed Flannery and Gaudet were romantically involved. On July 16, 2009 (see) a judge overturned the death sentence, citing an error in jury instructions. A new penalty phase began this past January. But in March a new jury came to the same conclusion: death. The defense asked for an acquittal, saying it was unreasonable for the jury to reject the statutory bar, which provides that a defendant cannot be sentenced to death if at the time of the offense the defendant's mental capacity was significantly impaired. It could be the last state death sentencing, because Connecticut officials repealed the death penalty for all future murders in 2012. One other convicted murderer, Eduardo Santiago, also could face the death penalty if he loses an appeal pending before the state Supreme Court.