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08-17-2010, 04:14 PM
Breaking News (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking)
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Past Coverage
Jury deadlocks in Liczbinski case (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Jury_deadlocks_in_Liczbinski_case.html)
Testimony ends in sentencing phase (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100812_Testimony_ends_in_sentencing_phase_for_tw o_convicted_in_Liczbinski_s_death.html)
Jury sees a tape of Liczbinski killer in the boxing ring (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100810_Jury_sees_a_tape_of_Liczbinski_killer_in_ the_boxing_ring.html)
Prosecutor makes case for death for cop killers (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100802_Death_penalty_phase_to_begin_for_2_cop_ki llers.html)
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Liczbinski, 6 other officers have died since 2006 (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100728_Lizcbinski__6_other_officers_have_died_si nce_2006.html)
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In closing, lawyers say defendants had no part in killing Sgt. Liczbinski (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100724_In_closing__lawyers_say_defendants_had_no _part_in_killing_Sgt__Liczbinski.html)
Witnesses describe accused cop-killer's violent past (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100723_Witnesses_describe_accused_cop-killer_s_violent_past.html)
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Tearful testimony in Liczbinski trial (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100719_Tearful_testimony_in_Liczbinski_trial.htm l)
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Posted on Tue, Aug. 17, 2010
Jury deadlocked; cop killers spared death penalty
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Two convicted killers of a Philadelphia police officer were spared the death penalty today after a jury deliberating the men's fate declared it was deadlocked.
Eric DeShann Floyd, 35, and Levon T. Warner, 41, - two bank robbers whose partner killed Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski - will serve life in prison without parole in the May 3, 2008, shooting of the 39-year-old officer.
The jury of seven men and five women was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors appeared to have struggled with the decision whether to impose the death penalty on Floyd and Warner even though neither was the shooter. Using conspiracy law, the jury on July 28 found Floyd and Warner guilty of first-degree murder, determining that both were as culpable as coconspirator Howard Cain, who shot Liczbinski as he pursued their car after a Port Richmond bank robbery.
Cain, 33, was killed by police in a confrontation later that day.
In deciding the men's sentences, the jurors followed a complicated process to determine whether the aggravating factors in Liczbinski's shooting warranted the death penalty, or whether they were mitigated by Floyd and Warner's actions during the crime and their backgrounds, resulting in life prison terms.
The relevant aggravating factors: the premeditated killing of an officer on duty, endangering the public while committing a murder, and the pair's long histories of violent crimes. Among the mitigating factors: the pair's confessions and their deprived childhoods in environments of alcohol and drug use, crime, and emotional and physical abuse.
RELATED STORIES
Past Coverage
Jury deadlocks in Liczbinski case (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Jury_deadlocks_in_Liczbinski_case.html)
Testimony ends in sentencing phase (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100812_Testimony_ends_in_sentencing_phase_for_tw o_convicted_in_Liczbinski_s_death.html)
Jury sees a tape of Liczbinski killer in the boxing ring (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100810_Jury_sees_a_tape_of_Liczbinski_killer_in_ the_boxing_ring.html)
Prosecutor makes case for death for cop killers (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100802_Death_penalty_phase_to_begin_for_2_cop_ki llers.html)
Two found guilty in Liczbinski trial (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100728_Two_found_guilty_in_Liczbinski_trial.html )
Liczbinski, 6 other officers have died since 2006 (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100728_Lizcbinski__6_other_officers_have_died_si nce_2006.html)
Prosecutor argues for death for cop-slaying defendants in closing (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100724_Prosecutor_argues_for_death_for_cop-slaying_defendants_in_closing.html)
In closing, lawyers say defendants had no part in killing Sgt. Liczbinski (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100724_In_closing__lawyers_say_defendants_had_no _part_in_killing_Sgt__Liczbinski.html)
Witnesses describe accused cop-killer's violent past (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100723_Witnesses_describe_accused_cop-killer_s_violent_past.html)
Cop-slaying defendant told police he was 'horrified' by shooting (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100720_Cop-slaying_defendant_told_police_he_was__horrified__b y_shooting.html)
Tearful testimony in Liczbinski trial (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20100719_Tearful_testimony_in_Liczbinski_trial.htm l)
http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif (http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/39f9/0/0/%2a/u;44306;0-0;0;15940347;4-234/60;0/0/0;;~aopt=2/1/4c/0;~sscs=%3f)
Posted on Tue, Aug. 17, 2010
Jury deadlocked; cop killers spared death penalty
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Two convicted killers of a Philadelphia police officer were spared the death penalty today after a jury deliberating the men's fate declared it was deadlocked.
Eric DeShann Floyd, 35, and Levon T. Warner, 41, - two bank robbers whose partner killed Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski - will serve life in prison without parole in the May 3, 2008, shooting of the 39-year-old officer.
The jury of seven men and five women was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors appeared to have struggled with the decision whether to impose the death penalty on Floyd and Warner even though neither was the shooter. Using conspiracy law, the jury on July 28 found Floyd and Warner guilty of first-degree murder, determining that both were as culpable as coconspirator Howard Cain, who shot Liczbinski as he pursued their car after a Port Richmond bank robbery.
Cain, 33, was killed by police in a confrontation later that day.
In deciding the men's sentences, the jurors followed a complicated process to determine whether the aggravating factors in Liczbinski's shooting warranted the death penalty, or whether they were mitigated by Floyd and Warner's actions during the crime and their backgrounds, resulting in life prison terms.
The relevant aggravating factors: the premeditated killing of an officer on duty, endangering the public while committing a murder, and the pair's long histories of violent crimes. Among the mitigating factors: the pair's confessions and their deprived childhoods in environments of alcohol and drug use, crime, and emotional and physical abuse.