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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.
While Sarah Boone did not appear to show much emotion after a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, she was shocked by the verdict, according to her lawyer.
Florida attorney James Owens told reporters outside the courthouse that Boone was "in shock" at the conviction.
"Just shock. She's shocked. She felt like she had a defense…so, she's just in shock," Owens said.
It took a six-member jury less than 90 minutes to make a decision in the case. In addition to the second-degree murder charge, jurors could also have considered lesser charges of manslaughter or culpable negligence, or have found her not guilty.
Torres' family attended the trial. They have not commented on the trial or the verdict.
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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.
Boone told law enforcement and jurors at trial that she and Torres were drinking that night and decided to play a game of hide-and-seek. Torres thought it would be "funny" to climb inside of the suitcase, Boone testified. She zipped him inside the suitcase and left him there, despite his pleas that he could not breathe. Two videos recorded by Boone captured Torres' pleas and Boone taunting him. Boone went to bed and found Torres unresponsive the next morning.
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Sarah Boone describes deadly hide and seek game
Live video feed of Sarah Boone's trial. Sarah Boone is accused of killing her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, in Feb. 2020 by zipping him up in a suitcase during a drunken game of hide-and-seek. Torres was found dead in the suitcase the next day. Sarah Boone claims Torres' death was in self-defense.
It took four years to get to trial. Boone went through eight court-appointed lawyers before a judge ruled that Boone had lost her right to additional counsel. James Owens then decided to represent Boone pro bono.
Boone's sentencing is set for December 2024.
Owens described Boone as a "fighter" and said he expected her to appeal her conviction. He, however, will not represent her in her appeals case, he said.
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