Galante Phillips resentenced to life

After receiving a new penalty phase after Hurst, Galante Phillips has been resentenced to life in prison without parole.

Galante Phillips has been resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after the State agreed to drop the death penalty on resentencing, which was granted in light of Hurst.¹

Photo of Galante Phillips from Florida Department of Corrections

Phillips was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for crimes that occurred in Duval County in 2005 after a jury recommended a sentence of death by a vote of 7-5.² The Florida Supreme Court affirmed his conviction and sentence of death on direct appeal in 2010.³ His sentence became final later in 2010.

In 2018, the Florida Supreme Court granted Phillips a new penalty phase in light of Hurst due to the jury’s nonunanimous recommendation for death.⁴

In August, the State agreed to waive the death penalty on resentencing.

As a result, in September, Galante was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

1. For a full explanation of Hurst, see the five-part TFDP series available here.

2. Phillips v. State, 39 So. 3d 296, 301 (Fla. 2010).

3. See generally id.

4. Phillips v. State, 249 So. 3d 596 (Fla. 2018).