SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County judge has sentenced triple-murderer Grant Amato to life in prison without parole.
- Grant Amato found guilty of premediated murder
- Jury recommends life without parole for Amato
- JUMP TO: ▼ Live updates from our reporter in the courtroom ▼
- PREVIOUSLY: Grant Amato Found Guilty of Murdering Parents, Brother
Amato was convicted for the murders of his parents and brother in January. The jury recommended Amato be imprisoned for life on each count of death.
The Chuluota man was found guilty of premeditated murder less than two weeks ago. He was back in court for a brief hearing last week.
The state told Judge Jessica Recksiedler that it intended to seek the death penalty for Amato, though the jury could not unanimously agree to send him to death row.
According to Amato’s defense team, Amato remains firm that he is innocent, and the defense says it will file appeals in the near future.
Three people testified Monday during the penalty phase of the trial, one of which was Grant Amato's brother, Jason.
The defense called three people in to testify on Amato's behalf. One thing that the defense asked the court Thursday morning was whether Recksiedler could inform the jury not to consider the recent mass shootings that have taken place to be part of their thought process for the penalty phase of this trial.
The defense asks Judge Recksiedler to inform the jury that the current news cycle not be considered while deliberating on #GrantAmato. Defense feels the mass shootings that have occurred recently will have an impact on the jury’s thought process. @MyNews13
— Spectrum News Asher Wildman (@AsherWildman13) August 8, 2019
"There is a real issue for the current state of emotions this country is in right now, and my concern that No. 1, I would like to consider to meet Monday that we inform the jury these specific issues that they have been watching the news on all this. I don't want the current news cycle to any way interfere (in) Mr. Amato getting a fair hearing from this jury when we start presenting the penalty phase," public defender Jeff Leukel said.