USA - Florida. David Snelgrove resentenced to life without parole

A Flagler County jury for the third time returned a non-unanimous sentencing recommendation in the case of David Snelgrove, who was convicted in May 2002 of the double murder of an elderly couple. The judge in his first trial imposed the death penalty after the jury split 7-5 on its sentencing recommendation. That death sentence was overturned because of irregularities in the jury’s recommendation, and a second jury split 8-4 on whether Snelgrove should receive the death penalty. That sentence was overturned after the U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts ruled Florida’s death-sentencing statute unconstitutional. The Florida legislature subsequently amended the statute to require jury unanimity before a judge may impose the death penalty. The jury vote in the third trial was reportedly 9-3 for death, and the trial judge imposed a statutorily-mandated sentence of life without parole.