14.Verdict
59 linesCOURT STAFF: Jury entering.
(Jury entered.)
THE COURT: State, do you recognize our jury?
MR. CACCIATORE: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Defense, do you recognize our jury?
MR. OWENS: Yes, I do.
THE COURT: Members of the jury, you may be seated. Thank you.
Members of our jury, good evening. I understand that you've come to a verdict in this case?
JUROR: Yes.
THE COURT: If you could please hand the verdict form to the deputy, please.
Thank you, sir.
Madam Clerk, if you could please publish the verdict.
COURT CLERK: In the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, in and for Orange County, Florida, Case No. 2020-CF-2603, the State of Florida vs. Sarah Boone, Verdict: We, the Jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree, as charged in the Information. So say we all, dated at Orlando, Orange County, Florida, on this 25th day of October, 2024. The form has been signed by the foreperson.
THE COURT: Madam Clerk, please poll our jury.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 1, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes, it is.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 2, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes, it is.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 3, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes, it is.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 4, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 5, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes.
COURT CLERK: Juror in Seat No. 6, is this your true and correct verdict?
JUROR: Yes, ma'am.
COURT CLERK: Thank you.
THE COURT: Members of our jury, again, I want to thank you for your time, your sacrifice, and your attention in this matter. I know that we spent almost two weeks together and it was not taken lightly and I really appreciate the time and the effort and the Sacrifice that you've put into this case. I want to advise you now of your final instruction.
Members -- ladies and gentlemen, I wish to thank you for your time and your consideration in this case. I also wish to advise you of some very special privileges enjoyed by jurors. No juror can ever be required to talk about the discussions that occurred in the jury room, except by court order. For many centuries, our society has relied upon juries for consideration of difficult cases. We have recognized for hundreds of years that a jury's deliberations, discussions, and votes should remain their private affair as long as they wish it. Therefore, the law gives you the unique privilege not to speak about the jury's work.
Although you are at liberty to speak to anyone about your deliberations, you are also at liberty to refuse to speak to anyone. A request to discuss either your verdict or your deliberations may come from those who are simply curious, from those who might seek to find fault with you, from the media, from the attorneys, or elsewhere. It will be up to you to decide whether to preserve your privacy as a juror.
With that, members of the jury, again, I thank you for your service. I'm going to ask you return to the deliberation room, I'll be back there shortly with your jury certificates, and thank you.
COURT STAFF: Jury exiting.
(Jury exits.)
THE COURT: Ms. Boone, the jury has spoken in this matter and has found you guilty of murder in the second degree. The Court adjudicates you guilty of murder in the second degree. As this is your first felony conviction, you are entitled to a presentencing investigation by the Department of Corrections.
Mr. Owens, are you seeking that in this case?
MR. OWENS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. State, I will order the Department of Corrections to prepare the presentencing investigation. State, for the purposes of sentencing, do you anticipate eliciting any testimony from be it the victims, victim's family?
THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Owens, do you plan on presenting any evidence during the course of the sentencing hearing, sir?
MR. OWENS: Probably some testimony from Dr. Harper.
THE COURT: Okay. All right. How long do you think, State, that you would need?
THE COURT: Quantum of time, sir. Yeah, well, normally it takes them about 30 days or so. I'm confirming with Anita as to availability. I just want to know from your side of the ledger how much time.
THE COURT: Okay. 15 minutes.
How much time do you think you're going to need to produce anything from your side of the ledger, sir, Mr. Owens?
MR. OWENS: I'd say 30 minutes; 30 to 45.
THE COURT: So if we set this for an hour, that would be sufficient?
THE COURT: Is that sufficient, Mr. Owens?
MR. OWENS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. All right. Give me a moment. Ms. Berrios is checking. Just give us a moment.
We can set this matter for 1:30 in the afternoon for sentencing on December 2. State, is that acceptable? It's a Monday.
THE COURT: I can move it to later, if necessary.
THE COURT: Okay. Defense?
MR. OWENS: Give me one minute, Judge.
THE COURT: Yes, sir.
MR. OWENS: That's Monday, December 2, at 1:30?
THE COURT: Yes, sir.
MR. OWENS: I can be here.
THE COURT: All right. Ma'am, you've been adjudicated guilty. I now remand you into the custody of the Orange County Jail pending sentencing on December 2, at 1:30.
State, anything else we need to address?
MR. CACCIATORE: Not from the State.
THE COURT: Defense?
MR. OWENS: No.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you very much. We're off the record.
(The proceedings were concluded at 8:57 p.m.)