ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Jurors are expected to continue hearing testimony on Wednesday in the penalty phase of the murder trial for former police officer and firefighter Otto Lenke, who was convicted earlier this month in the killing of a Fort Pierce business owner.
Entering day 3 of Penalty phase for former officer convicted in Fort Pierce murder case. CBS12’s Paige Meyer.
A St. Lucie County jury found the 66-year-old guilty May 8 of first-degree murder and arson in the 2021 death of Richard Benson, who owned a motorcycle repair shop in Fort Pierce.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office arrested Otto Lenke, 45, on a first degree murder charge in the death of Richard Benson. (Indian River County Sheriff’s Office | WPEC)
Prosecutors said Lenke shot Benson three times inside the business before pouring alcohol on him and setting him on fire while he was still alive. Investigators said the attack was captured on surveillance video shown during the trial.
Now, jurors must decide whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Jurors were shown graphic surveillance video of a Fort Pierce shop owner being shot and set on fire as closing arguments begin in Otto Lenke’s murder trial. (WPEC)
During testimony on Tuesday, the defense called forensic psychologist Dr. Julie Harper, who testified that Lenke was dealing with several mental health and cognitive issues at the time of the killing.
Harper told jurors Lenke suffered from depression, panic sensations, sleeping difficulties, and impaired brain functioning.
“It’s the confluence of all these things at once,” Harper testified. “You can’t just pick one or the other. It’s all of them.”
Otto Lenke, in blue shirt, entering courtroom Thursday in Ft. Pierce. (WPEC)
The defense has focused much of the penalty phase on humanizing Lenke, reviewing his mental health history, cognitive impairments, and allegations of childhood abuse to the jury, arguing that those factors should be considered as mitigating circumstances.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, continue emphasizing the brutality of the killing as they argue Lenke should receive the death penalty.
The penalty phase is expected to resume on Wednesday morning at the St. Lucie County Courthouse.
RELATED: Otto Lenke sentencing comes as Florida expands capital punishment with 6 executions in ’26
While the jury will make a sentencing recommendation, the judge will ultimately decide whether Lenke is sentenced to death or life in prison.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.