Sarah Boone's attorney will not represent her if she appeals murder conviction

Sarah Boone's lawyer reacts to guilty verdict: 'Disappointed'

Attorney James Owens, who represented Sarah Boone during her murder trial, told reporters that he was "disappointed" in the jury's guilty verdict, but that he respected the jury's decision. He admitted the state had some strong evidence, but felt he and his team had some strong evidence as well. He said Boone was "shocked" at the guilty verdict on second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres. Owens was the ninth lawyer to represent Boone. Boone went through went through 8 court-appointed lawyers previously, whom all withdrew due to differences with Boone or conflicts of interest.

ORLANDO, Fla. - If convicted killer Sarah Boone decides to appeal her murder conviction, her defense attorney James Owens will not represent her during that court process.

A six-person jury deliberated for some 90 minutes on Friday, Oct. 25, before finding Sarah Boone guilty of second-degree murder in the Feb. 2020 death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres.

Prosecutors said at trial that Boone zipped Torres inside a suitcase during a drunken game of hide-and-seek and despite his pleas to be let out, she went upstairs and went to bed. She found Torres inside the suitcase the next day unresponsive.

Boone appeared flushed moments after the verdict was read, but did not have a visible reaction. Owens told reporters that Boone was "kind of in shock" following the verdict.

Sarah Boone trial: Jurors reach verdict in an hour

Sarah Boone was found guilty of second-degree murder in the Feb. 2020 death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres. The jury a little more than an hour to reach a unanimous verdict.

Owens said he was "disappointed" in the verdict, but respected the jury's decision.

When asked if he would represent Boone if she appeals her conviction, Owens quickly said no.

"No. No. I'll be representing her at her sentencing, but not the appeal. I think she would qualify since she is indigent for court-appointed appellate counsel and those guys, that's all they do is appellate work, and those are the best lawyers to handle something like that," he said.

Boone's sentencing is currently scheduled for December 2024.

Owens was Boone's ninth lawyer and decided to represent her pro bono months before her trial.

In the four years before trial, Boone went through eight court-appointed lawyers, all of whom withdrew either due to difficulties with Boone or due to conflicts of interest. At one point, Boone was forced to represent herself after Judge Michael Kraynick, who presided over the trial, ruled that Boone had waived her right to additional court-appointed lawyers due to her apparent actions.

Sarah Boone crafts 'inmate seeks attorney' ad

Sarah Boone will need to find her own defense attorney if she does not want to solely represent herself in her second-degree murder trial connected to the Feb. 2020 death of her boyfriend at their Winter Park apartment – and she's crafted her own employment ad.

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