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Convicted Brevard County murderer to be resentenced

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — It has been nearly 20 years since Jude Michael Williams was sentenced to life in prison after the 1995 rape, murder and mutilation of his 76-year-old victim.

He will be back in Brevard County Court next week to start the process of resentencing. This is following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that said life sentences without parole could not be mandatory for defendants younger than 18 at the time of their crime.

Williams, 17 when he was convicted, is one of seven Brevard County convicts who will be resentenced under the Supreme Court guidelines.

The stance of the Florida State Attorney’s Office has not changed in the face of the high court ruling. If any of the convicts are made eligible for parole after being resentenced, prosecutors will oppose any release of the seven in Brevard County.