USA - Florida. Supreme Court Overturned the Death Sentence of Paul Beasley Johnson

Florida Supreme Court Overturned the Death Sentence of Paul Beasley Johnson for 3rd Time. Johnson, 67, White, was sentenced to death the first time on September 22, 1981 for the January 9, 1981 murders of a Polk County deputy and 2 others. The 1st time the Supreme Court ordered a new trial, the 2nd time it ordered a new sentencing hearing. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen on May 7, 2014 (see) gave Johnson 3 deaths sentences after 11-1 jury recommendations. But the Supreme Court ordered another sentencing hearing, citing 2 U.S. Supreme Court rulings requiring juries, not judges, to impose sentences. That includes a decision that led the state high court to rule in October that jury decisions have to be unanimous. Johnson was using crystal meth when he told friends he was going to find more drugs, even if he had to shoot someone, according to court records. The 1st victim was cab driver William Evans, who Johnson robbed and shot twice in the face. The next was Darrell Ray Beasley. Johnson told Beasley his car broke down and asked for a ride. Johnson shot Beasley in the head and took his wallet. As police were searching for Johnson, Deputy Theron Burnham radioed that he believed he spotted the suspect in the shootings. By the time other deputies arrived, they found Burnham's body in a ditch. He had been shot 3 times and his gun was missing. The responding deputies then found Johnson and exchanged gunfire before arresting him. The Supreme Court did uphold Johnson's convictions and chose to order a new sentencing hearing rather than impose the only other possible sentence: life without parole.