Florida Supreme Court throws out death penalty for man in shooting death of Brevard County deputy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court has thrown out the death penalty in the case of a man convicted of killing a Brevard County deputy.

Deputy Barbara Pill was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 2012.

Brandon Bradley was on probation at the time of the shooting and fleeing from another crime.

Pill had attempted to pull him over after a 911 caller said Bradley had stolen motel furniture.

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Bradley refused to get out of the SUV, and instead shot Pill five times as she attempted to get his keys out of the ignition, prosecutors said.

He was found guilty of first-degree murder, robbery, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest with violence.

Andrea Kerchner, who was with Bradley during the theft and the shooting, pleaded guilty to accessory and burglary charges. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by a year of community control and two years of probation.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Florida’s previous death penalty law gave too much power to the judge to decide the defendant’s sentence to death.

State Attorney Phil Archer admitted he has an uphill battle if he pursues death once again in Bradley’s case.

“Most of the families we’ve talked to so fat have wanted us to again pursue the death penalty and I give that great weight,” Archer said.

He also said pursuing the death penalty is a likely option.

“Let me be very clear. I can not imagine a scenario in which a person executes, in cold blood, a law enforcement officer that he would not seek the death penalty in that case,” Archer said.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey made clear that he still wants justice for Pill’s family.

“Let there be no doubt about it—Brandon Bradley is an evil thug who needs to die for taking the life of Barbara Pill,” he said.

Archer said bringing cases back for resentencing entails almost a whole new trial because the new jury will not have heard the evidence that led to a conviction.

Also, prosecutors will have to get a unanimous death decision, and Archer said there are usually one or two hold outs.

Cox Media Group