OfficerBluePinellas County, FL – A jury read their verdict on Friday, and said that convicted cop-killer Marco Parilla Jr. should be executed for murdering Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek in 2014.
After further instructions from the judge, the jury changed the sentence to life in prison, according to WFTS.
Officer Kondek was murdered by Parilla Dec. 14, 2014, after the officer responded to a noise complaint, according to Tampa Bay Times.
Parilla was at Glen’s Eureka Apartments banging on doors, trying to find a former roommate who he believed had told the police about his drug use.
When Officer Kondek arrived, Parilla used a stolen Glock .40 caliber pistol to fatally shoot the 17-year veteran.
Officer Kondek is survived by a wife and five children.
In October, Parilla pleaded guilty to murdering the officer in order to avoid a trial. At his sentencing hearing, Parilla’s attorney blamed his mother for a bad upbringing.
“She was a bad mom. She hit him. She beat him. She hit him with belts,” the defense attorney said, according to WFTS.
On Friday, the jury announced their decision that Parilla should be sentenced to death. The judge then noticed some numbers scribbled on the jury’s forms.
The judge sent the jury back, and told them to confirm that all 12 jurors agreed on the death penalty. Under a new Florida law, the death penalty must be a unanimous decision among all of the jurors.
When the jury re-emerged, it was determined that only 10 of 12 jurors wanted the death penalty.
Parilla was then sentenced to life in prison.
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