SANFORD – Seventeen years ago a Sanford judge sentenced Arthur Barnhill III to death for sneaking into the home of an 84-year-old Winter Springs man and strangling him.
Last week, the same judge, Kenneth Lester Jr., threw out that sentence because the law has changed.
At the penalty phase of Barnhill’s trial in 1999, a jury voted 9 to 3 to recommend death.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled last year that juries must vote 12-0 for a defendant to get the death penalty.
The body of Earl Gallipeau, a man whose yard Barnhill sometimes mowed, was discovered in his home on Aug. 6, 1995. He had been strangled with a belt and towel.
Two days later, authorities found Barnhill and Gallipeau’s car, a Ford Taurus, in New York City.
Barnhill gave a partial confession, saying that he had restrained Gallipeau while someone else killed him.
He later pleaded no contest to murder.
The case went before a jury in 1999 because prosecutors were seeking the death penalty.
The 12-member panel recommended death and Lester Jr. imposed it.
Now if prosecutors want Barnhill sent to death row again, they must convince a new jury.
rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394
Police said the man stopped his car on the Eau Gallie Causeway about 3 p.m. in the middle of a rain storm, got out and stripped naked, according to the report.
Police said the man stopped his car on the Eau Gallie Causeway about 3 p.m. in the middle of a rain storm, got out and stripped naked, according to the report.
Police said the man stopped his car on the Eau Gallie Causeway about 3 p.m. in the middle of a rain storm, got out and stripped naked, according to the report.
Police said the man stopped his car on the Eau Gallie Causeway about 3 p.m. in the middle of a rain storm, got out and stripped naked, according to the report.
After a 911 call reported a suspicious suitcase at the shopping plaza at Colonial and Bumby, Orlando Police and the Fire Department Bomb & Arson Unit responded.
After a 911 call reported a suspicious suitcase at the shopping plaza at Colonial and Bumby, Orlando Police and the Fire Department Bomb & Arson Unit responded.
A violent domestic disturbance Saturday afternoon in a home near Daytona Beach sent one woman to the hospital with a gunshot wound and left her attacker dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The shooter also shot and killed a family dog that intervened in the incident.
A violent domestic disturbance Saturday afternoon in a home near Daytona Beach sent one woman to the hospital with a gunshot wound and left her attacker dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The shooter also shot and killed a family dog that intervened in the incident.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Casselberry Police chief Larry Krantz discusses the early-morning shooting of two of his officers on Feb. 25, 2017.
Casselberry Police chief Larry Krantz discusses the early-morning shooting of two of his officers on Feb. 25, 2017.
rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394
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