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.

News Articles

• Orlando Sentinel

• WFTV 9

TFDP’s Prior Coverage of Okafor’s Case

• Okafor files petition to Florida Supreme Court

• Florida Supreme Court dismisses Okafor’s petition

• Okafor’s resentencing ends in mistrial

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