Orange County: Jury recommends death for Bessman Okafor
Okafor's second resentencing proceeding ended Wednesday with a jury recommendation by a vote of 9-3 for death.
Bessman Okafor was originally sentenced to death in 2015 for crimes that occurred in 2012 following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of 11-1. After Hurst, he was granted a new penalty phase.1
Okafor’s original resentencing proceeding ended in a mistrial due to juror misconduct, as TFDP previously covered. (More here.)
The second resentencing proceeding ended Wednesday with a jury recommendation by a vote of 9-3 that Okafor be resentenced to death.
A Spencer hearing is set for April 22.
Under the 2023 capital sentencing statute, the trial court has the discretion to impose a sentence of LWOP rather than death despite the jury’s recommendation.
The Court should have authority to override a jury recommendation