Markeith Loyd to be sentenced in March
ORLANDO, Fla. – A decide listened to arguments at the Orange County Courthouse on Friday to determine if convicted killer Markeith Loyd should really acquire the loss of life penalty for the 2017 murder of Orlando Law enforcement Lieutenant Debra Clayton.
Choose Leticia Marques introduced in courtroom that Loyd will be sentenced on March 3, at 9:30 a.m.
She explained she is heading to just take some time to go in excess of testimony from defense professionals and acquire into account what was explained by Loyd, his loved ones, and Lt. Debra Clayton’s spouse and children.
Loyd obtained his last prospect to speak to the court docket.
“I tried out to switch myself in 2 times before Walmart, twice. Walmart never experienced to transpire,” Loyd explained. “I never ever meant your queen any harm, both her or the law enforcement. I’ve regarded my total lifestyle the law enforcement or the method would kill me mainly because they’d be executing it for hundreds of years.”
Loyd seemed to be hoping to influence the decide that he’s a sufferer.
“I grew up wanting to be God, so I could assist my individuals,” Loyd mentioned.
Psychological health industry experts who testified for the protection in both of those trials and in the sentencing stage reiterated yet again right now that they consider Loyd is mentally sick struggling from a delusional dysfunction and a grandiose condition. For the to start with time publicly, Loyd admitted to suffering mental complications.
“I do listen to voices and God does converse to me as perfectly as the devil. I hear to God and dismiss the devil. And I was wondering was the devil taking part in tricks on me or did I listen to seriously that that shot and my lawyer explained to me evidence supported that she shot at me, she shot at you first and that I did listen to the shot,” Loyd said.
Lt. Clayton’s spouse and children also obtained one previous possibility to deal with the courtroom. Cousins, a niece, and Loyd’s sisters spoke about how Lt. Clayton’s dying has afflicted them.
“It hurts so bad inside. It hurts so lousy I just cannot even rest, sometimes,” Ashley Thomas, Lt. Clayton’s more youthful sister mentioned.
Ashley Thomas, Lt. Debra Clayton’s younger sister.
She claims Lt. Clayton took her and her brother in and raised them.
“I didn’t get that chance that chance to converse with my sister as a developed-up just to enable her know thank you for supplying us a chance. Thank you for hunting at us like somebody, so we did not sense alone. We didn’t experience neglected mainly because she stood in the put as my mother,” Thomas mentioned.
Francine Thomas, Lt. Debra Clayton’s cousin.
Lt. Clayton’s cousin didn’t maintain again. She permit the decide know what she feels ought to occur to Loyd.
“I respectfully check with with a crystal clear heart that the court docket moves forward with sentencing Markeith Loyd to death row,” Francine Thomas.
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