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Jury recommends death for Vahtiece Kirkman

Another life sentence isn’t enough for a man convicted in the 2006 murder of a former beauty queen, prosecutors said.
The jury recommended death Tuesday for Vahtiece Kirkman, who was convicted of the murder of Darice Knowles, with a vote of 10-2. 

BREVARD, Fla. — The case will be the first in Central Florida to test the new death penalty statute that was signed into law on March 7.

The judge will accept or deny the jury's recommendation at sentencing on April 29 at 1:15 p.m. Defense attorney's have already promised an appeal. 
Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty Kirkman, 37. He is already serving a life sentence for the 2006 murder of Willie Parker.
"We're happy that the jury saw the case that we did. We're never thrilled that someone gets a death recommendation. Our preference is always that Darice Knowles be alive and Willie Parker be alive and we don't have to be here," Assistant State Attorney Bill Respess said. 
 
Prosecutors said Knowles knew she was going to die for at least an hour. They said she was taped up, carried into the woods and buried alive under cement.
 
Prosecutors believe that she was killed because she had knowledge of Kirkman’s involvement in Parker’s murder.
 
Jurors listened as prosecutors talked about Kirkman’s past misdeeds, including robbery, aggravated battery and murder. They said his violent past and the terror he caused Knowles should be enough to warrant the death penalty.

Cox Media Group

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