MIAMI (AP) — In a stunning turn of events, Tavares Calloway, the convicted killer who was sentenced to death in 2010 for a heinous crime, has been given a chance at life. After a resentencing hearing on Thursday night, a jury recommended Calloway be sentenced to life in prison instead. The decision came 14 years after he was released from death row.
The brutal crime took place in 1997 in a Liberty City apartment, where Calloway stormed in and subjected five men to a horrifying ordeal. He tied them up, taped their mouths shut, and then took off their pants. Calloway even debated on which of the men to spare before systematically shooting each of them in the head.
During the resentencing hearing, Calloway’s attorney, Carmen Vizcaino, embraced her client and told him that he was the one responsible for his fate. She expressed hope in his good behavior and self-improvement.
The decision to spare Calloway’s life stands in stark contrast to the verdict in 2010, when he was initially sentenced to death. At that time, seven out of 12 jurors voted in favor of the death penalty, while five voted against it. However, a 2016 ruling by the United States Supreme Court deemed Florida’s capital sentencing statute unconstitutional. This decision opened the door for cases like Calloway’s to be eligible for resentencing.
Scott Sakin, one of Calloway’s defense attorneys, acknowledged the intentional nature of the crime and emphasized that they were not making excuses. Instead, they presented mitigation arguments in support of sparing their client’s life. Calloway himself expressed hope for a different outcome this time, as he desired a second chance at life.
However, the circumstances changed during the course of the trial. Last year, Florida’s governor signed a new death penalty law, reducing the number of jurors needed to recommend death to eight. It is unclear how many jurors, if any, favored the death penalty for Calloway this time, as the jury was not polled after the verdict.
This case is not an isolated incident. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, around 10 death row defendants from Miami-Dade are eligible for resentencing under the new ruling. The decision to spare Calloway’s life reflects the evolving legal landscape surrounding capital punishment in the United States.
The emotional courtroom scene, with Calloway in tears and hugging his counsel, captured the attention of all present. Despite the horrific nature of his crime, the resentencing hearing allowed for a different outcome and raised questions about the purpose and effectiveness of the death penalty in society today. The jury’s decision to recommend life in prison for Calloway serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding capital punishment and the potential for redemption.