JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 63-year-old man convicted of killing two people with a hammer in 2008 is going back on Florida's death row.
Citing inadequate legal representation, the Florida Supreme Court last year ordered Raymond Bright re-sentenced and the chance to avoid the death penalty for the murders of Derrick King and Randall Brown.
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Prosecutors said the victims were killed what during a drug-related dispute.
In part, the Supreme Court described Bright's "nightmarish childhood," which included significant abuse, and said such issues were not adequately raised during the original sentencing to try to spare Bright from the death penalty.
"The jury never learned who Raymond Bright is," the Supreme Court opinion said. "Therefore, competent, substantial evidence supports the findings of the post-conviction court that Bright was prejudiced by the deficient performance of his penalty phase counsel."
But after a sentencing hearing in the Duval County Courthouse Friday morning, Judge Russell Healey re-sentenced Brown to two death sentences. He will be returned to the Florida Department of Corrections.