A jury deadlocked in Hawaii’s first-ever death penalty case Friday, meaning a former soldier convicted of killing his young daughter will be sentenced to life in prison.
One of the jurors said the panel was 8-4 in favor of the death penalty for Naeem Williams, who was convicted of murder and other charges in the beating death of his 5-year-old child, Talia Williams.
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Juror Earlanne Leslie of Hilo revealed the vote Friday after jurors announced they could not come to a unanimous decision in Hawaii's first death penalty trial since it became a state.
Jurors made their decision knowing that if they couldn't agree, Naeem Williams would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release.
The victim's stepmother, Delilah Williams, who took a plea deal in the case, faces a 20-year sentence.
IN-DEPTH
Hawaii Jury Convicts Former Soldier in Daughter's Beating Death
Jury Rejects Death Penalty in Williams Murder Case (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
