Wade Wilson faces the death penalty: What you should know about the murder case
Wade Wilson was found guilty of the murder of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in 2019. The jury in his trial recommended the death penalty for him.
Wade Wilson, a Fort Myers, Florida man convicted of murdering two Cape Coral women in 2019, faces the death penalty at his sentencing scheduled for today.
A jury found Wilson, 30, guilty on June 12 of the murder of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, and recommended the death penalty after weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
On June 25, a jury recommended that Wilson receive the death penalty by a vote of 9 to 3 for each victim and 10 to 2 for each victim.
It will now be up to Lee District Court Judge Nicholas Thompson to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. Sentencing will begin at 2 p.m.
First item on the agenda: Applications for annulment of the judgment
One of Wilson's attorneys, Lee Hollander, filed a closing motion on July 3, arguing that the court erred on a Florida state law that allows a jury to recommend the death penalty if at least eight jurors vote in favor. Before the new law took effect on April 1, 2023, a jury's recommendation of the death penalty required a unanimous vote of jurors.
Before Wilson's sentencing at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thompson was given time to rule on pending motions during a hearing at 9 a.m. the same day.
Verdict postponed due to scheduling problems with experts
On July 19, Thompson decided that sentencing for 30-year-old Wade Wilson would be postponed until August 27.
This hearing lasted exactly 90 minutes, during which Thompson heard arguments from defense attorneys Hollander and Kevin Shirley, as well as assistant district attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner.
Verdict announced at 2 p.m.; including statements from the victims
The verdict could take some time.
During Wilson's sentencing at 2 p.m., Thompson is expected to hear statements from the victims. After that, the judge will likely take a short break before announcing Wilson's sentence.
