Demorris Hunter, the man convicted of killing an Orlando woman more than two decades ago, testified in court Monday for the first time as his attorneys seek to spare him from a death sentence.Hunter, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2002 killing of Theresa Green, told the court he has maintained his innocence throughout the case and argued that investigators failed to thoroughly examine the evidence.”Through this whole thing, I have remained silent,” Hunter said during the hearing. “I haven’t given anyone any problems. This case was not investigated thoroughly as it should have been.”A jury has already recommended that Hunter receive the death penalty. The final decision now rests with the judge.Prosecutors said Green, a secretary at Florida Hospital, now known as AdventHealth, became friends with Hunter and spent time with him the night she disappeared in 2002. Investigators determined Hunter strangled Green and later placed her body in the trunk of her vehicle, which was left in a Sanford drug store parking lot.Hunter was arrested in 2015 and later convicted of first-degree murder.During Monday’s hearing, Hunter acknowledged that his criminal history played a role in how he is viewed but insisted the evidence points elsewhere.”My past has brought me here,” Hunter said. “I am only accused, and evidence shows there was something else going on.”Hunter has an extensive criminal history dating back decades. He was convicted in California in 1985 for killing a man and injuring two others. After serving roughly 12 years in prison, he was released but later convicted of killing another woman in California and sentenced to 110 years in prison.Hunter also challenged the circumstances that brought him to Florida to face charges, alleging fraudulent documents were used during the legal process.”Anytime you use fraudulent documents to procure someone in a court of law, something has went wrong, very wrong,” Hunter told the court.The judge has ordered both prosecutors and defense attorneys to submit sentencing memorandums by July. Hunter’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Demorris Hunter, the man convicted of killing an Orlando woman more than two decades ago, testified in court Monday for the first time as his attorneys seek to spare him from a death sentence.
Hunter, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2002 killing of Theresa Green, told the court he has maintained his innocence throughout the case and argued that investigators failed to thoroughly examine the evidence.
“Through this whole thing, I have remained silent,” Hunter said during the hearing. “I haven’t given anyone any problems. This case was not investigated thoroughly as it should have been.”
A jury has already recommended that Hunter receive the death penalty. The final decision now rests with the judge.
Prosecutors said Green, a secretary at Florida Hospital, now known as AdventHealth, became friends with Hunter and spent time with him the night she disappeared in 2002. Investigators determined Hunter strangled Green and later placed her body in the trunk of her vehicle, which was left in a Sanford drug store parking lot.
Hunter was arrested in 2015 and later convicted of first-degree murder.
During Monday’s hearing, Hunter acknowledged that his criminal history played a role in how he is viewed but insisted the evidence points elsewhere.
“My past has brought me here,” Hunter said. “I am only accused, and evidence shows there was something else going on.”
Hunter has an extensive criminal history dating back decades. He was convicted in California in 1985 for killing a man and injuring two others. After serving roughly 12 years in prison, he was released but later convicted of killing another woman in California and sentenced to 110 years in prison.
Hunter also challenged the circumstances that brought him to Florida to face charges, alleging fraudulent documents were used during the legal process.
“Anytime you use fraudulent documents to procure someone in a court of law, something has went wrong, very wrong,” Hunter told the court.
The judge has ordered both prosecutors and defense attorneys to submit sentencing memorandums by July. Hunter’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.