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Christopher DiMeo dodged the death penalty Friday morning, according to the Connecticut Post. The jury in his trial for the 2005 murders of Kim and Tim Donnelly sentenced DiMeo to life in prison Friday after a week of deliberations.
DiMeo was convicted Feb. 9 of two counts of first-degree murder and robbery. The jury found that DiMeo entered the Donnellys jewelry store in Fairfield Center in February 2005 and robbed the couple at gunpoint. He then killed both with multiple gunshots.
Though prosecutors sought the death penalty, the jury ruled against execution in favor of life in prison. By Connecticut state law, the death penalty is allowed only in murder cases in which the victim is a law enforcement official or a child, if the suspect is already a convicted murderer or if the crime occurs during a sexual assault, kidnapping or multiple homicide. Each member of the 12-person jury must vote for execution for the death penalty to be carried out.
Do you agree with the jurys decision to give DiMeo life in prison? Share your views in the comments below.
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