GUILTY FL - Courtney Wilkes, 15, raped, murdered in Seagrove Beach, 16 June 2011

[pearl]

pearl, I am glad you posted about this upcoming trial. I was not familiar with this case until your new post brought it up in the index. I just read through the thread... So sad, what a truly senseless tragedy. It's so clear that her murder greatly impacted your community.

The Wilkes are a wonderful family. Courtney has been and is greatly missed. She would have graduated this year. The second scholarship set up in her honor was awarded last week. I know this family although not closely. I intend to keep up with trial events as much as possible.

 

[JeannaT]

What a tragedy. I love the Florida panhandle and have spend a lot of time there - I agree with those who say you let your guard down on vacation.

I think I would have let my teenage daughter go on a beach walk on a tourist beach with him, if he had acted normal and respectful. I see nothing in his mugshot that is off-putting - he looks like a nice enough young man. If his behavior was normal, and I had seen him a couple times while on that beach vacation, I wouldn't have hesitated to give my daughter permission to walk in the beach while I sunbathed right there on the beach.

What a terrible loss.

Prayers for his mother, too. I think I would rather be the mother of a darling, lovable teenager who was murdered, than be the mother of the murderer. I can't imagine anything worse than that.

 

[JeannaT]

The trial is underway. In opening statements Cozzie's defense attorney objected to crime scene photos being shown to the jury and announced their position is that Cozzie was forced at gunpoint to kill Courtney.

Ugh. I actually feel sorry for the attorney.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/testimony-begins-in-cozzie-murder-trial-1.157659?tc=cr

 

[pearl]

Steven Cozzie, jury finds guilty on all charges

 

[popsicle]

Steven Cozzie, jury finds guilty on all charges

Wonderful news...justice for Courtney.

 

[JeannaT]

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/updated-jury-finds-cozzie-guilty-on-all-counts-1.159152

 

[pearl]

Cozzie jury recommends death penalty

 

[0101ABA]

Death Sentence Upheld for Walton Murderer

The conviction and death sentence of a Walton County murderer was upheld Thursday by Florida's Supreme Court.

The court ruled the trial judge was not responsible for any errors that merited an appeal and the capital sentence he received was constitutional.