Florida governor removes state attorney from cop killer case for anti-death penalty stance
A Florida state attorney who refused to recuse herself from the case of an accused cop killer has been removed by Governor Rick Scott for not pursuing the death penalty.
In an executive order issued Thursday, Governor Scott (R) announced that he has removed newly elected Orange County State Attorney Aramis Ayala from the case after she declared she would not recommend capital punishment during a press conference that morning.
Here is a look at the Executive Order from Gov. Scott, filed at 3:53pm, assigning state attorney Brad King to the #MarkeithLoyd case. #WFTVpic.twitter.com/KcWf2WSEfk
— Cuthbert Langley (@CLangleyWFTV) March 16, 2017
Markeith Lloyd, 41, currently faces charges for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and Orlando Police Lieutenant Debra Clayton in January.
READ MORE: https://www.rt.com/usa/374123-suspected-orlando-cop-killer-arrested/
Here is a statement from @ChiefJohnMina about the State Attorney's decision regarding Markeith Loyd: pic.twitter.com/qlvFR84Kua
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) March 16, 2017
Ayala’s decision also infuriated Orlando police Chief John Mina, who said, “The heinous crimes that he committed in our community are the very reason we have the death penalty as an option under law.”
Here is a statement from @ChiefJohnMina about the State Attorney's decision regarding Markeith Loyd: pic.twitter.com/qlvFR84Kua
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) March 16, 2017
Deputy Chief Robert Anzueto said that Ayala’s decision “has law enforcement nationwide questioning her actions,” and said members of the Orlando Police Department are in “total disagreement” with her.
“The decision for someone to live or die in a case like this should be in the hands of a jury, and not for one person to decide,” he said.
Deputy Chief Anzueto speaks about the State Attorney's decision and subsequent removal. pic.twitter.com/6hGlujbzkl
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) March 16, 2017
Loyd is scheduled to stand trial on May 1 in the Dixon case, and on June 19 for the Clayton killing.
Ayala called her state’s capital punishment laws unjust, citing research that the death penalty doesn't increase safety for law enforcement officers or deter violent crimes.
"I have given this a lot of thought, and it's become clear that pursuing death-penalty cases is not the best interest of victims' families or justice," she said according to WFTV.
Aramis Ayala says she understand law enforcement may be upset but she wants to seek "evidence-based" sentences that support safety for LEO pic.twitter.com/6YinfZOcbs
— Monivette Cordeiro (@monivettec) March 16, 2017
In a statement released on Thursday, Scott said that he disagrees with Ayala’s decision, and asked her to recuse herself from the case.
“She has made it abundantly clear that she will not fight for justice for Lt. Debra Clayton and our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day,” Scott said.
Gov. Scott: State Attorney Aramis Ayala Must Recuse Herself - https://t.co/dfjViPkbJRpic.twitter.com/SimSVPbs9t
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) March 16, 2017
When Ayala refused to recuse herself from the case, Scott appointed State Attorney Brad King to replace her.
Ayala conceded to the order, saying, “my office will follow that order and fully cooperate to ensure the successful prosecution of Markeith Loyd," according to WKMG.
#Deathpenalty in #Florida to require unanimous jury agreement https://t.co/b4jNIDxWY2pic.twitter.com/OFrPZi83TH
— RT America (@RT_America) March 14, 2017