USA - Florida. Judge Jeffrey Mahl sentenced Vahtiece Kirkman, 37, Black, to death

Brevard Circuit Judge Jeffrey Mahl sentenced Vahtiece Kirkman, 37, Black, to death for killing Darice Knowles, 22, Black. On April 12, a Brevard County jury, in accordance with new death penalty guidelines, voted 10-2 in favor of death. Kirkman, who was already serving a life sentence after he was convicted of fatally shooting 29-year-old Willie Parker in 2006 while robbing Parker of his money and drugs, will now be transferred to Florida's death row. Prosecutors say Kirkman had Darice Knowles buried alive because she knew about Parker's murder and was dating a police officer. The main witness against Kirkman was Chris Pratt, an ex-boyfriend of Knowles, who testified that Kirkman forced him to bind Knowles before digging a grave, mixing concrete and then throwing the woman into her own grave before being covered with concrete and dirt. Pratt received 10 years for his part in Knowles' murder as well as 10 years for his part in Parker's murder.