ORLANDO, Fla. — Convicted cop killer Markeith Loyd returned to the courtroom Monday morning for the sentencing phase of his murder trial.
Earlier this month, Loyd was found guilty of murdering Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton.
>>> WATCH THE SENTENCING PHASE <<<
Now, jurors will decide whether he spends his life in prison or goes to death row.
See live updates below:
5:20 p.m. update
Court has wrapped for the day in the first day of the penalty phase of the Markeith Loyd murder trial. Testimony will continue on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
4:30 p.m. update
The judge has approved that the next witness be called out of order. The defense calls a video expert to the stand.
4 p.m. update
Court is in a brief recess until 4:15 p.m. Witness testimony will continue following the break.
3:45 p.m. update
Victim impact statements are continuing to be read in the penalty phase of the Markeith Loyd trial. Clayton’s friend Tammy Hughes is reading her statement from the stand.
3:40 p.m. update
“Above all she was a servant,” Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill said of Lt. Debra Clayton during her victim impact testimony.
“She was a giver and had a huge heart ... She was always serving others,” Hill said.
READ: Who was Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton?
3:30 p.m. update
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill is called to the stand by the state to give a victim impact statement.
3:25 p.m. update
The medical examiner’s office worker who performed the autopsy on Lt. Debra Clayton is called to the stand.
READ: Sentencing for convicted cop-killer Markeith Loyd delayed over use of force issues
2:30 p.m. update
The calls Det. Peter Cadiz, the lead investigator into the shooting, to the stand.
1:55 p.m. update
The state calls Howard Kuehn, a retired Orlando Police Department fingerprint examiner, to the stand.
1:30 p.m. update
Court is back in session following a lunch break.
Noon update
During opening statements on Monday, prosecutors were honest with the jury right now of the gate about what happened to Loyd when he was taken into custody back in 2017, including losing his eye at the hands of police.
They said it was unfortunate but that an investigation into the allegations, done by an outside agency, found the use of force was justified given how dangerous police said Loyd was.
READ: Who was Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton?
In the meantime, the defense tried to set up Loyd’s past and why he may have acted the way he did.
On the stand now is a police officer who stopped Loyd years ago when a fight ensued, prosecutors are trying to set up a pattern of violence with Loyd when it came to police.
After lunch, it is set to be an emotional afternoon as family and friends that knew Clayton will give their statements to the jury about how her death affected them.
READ: Markeith Loyd sentencing for murder of Orlando officer begins Monday
11:50 a.m. update
The defense is now calling witnesses during the penalty phase of Markeith Loyd’s murder trial.
11:10 a.m. update
The defense has concluded its opening statements. The jury is now taking a break before the defense and prosecution begin calling witnesses for the penalty phase.
10:15 a.m. update
The state concluded its opening statements in the penalty phase of the Markeith Loyd murder trial. The defense is now beginning its opening statements.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to focus on the night Loyd was captured.
The jurors are expected to see some footage that they haven’t seen before.
READ: Sentencing for convicted cop-killer Markeith Loyd delayed over use of force issues
The goal of the defense is to try to show bias in the officers after Loyd had just murdered one of their own.
Jurors are expected to see more aerial footage of Loyd’s 2017 arrest.
The judge will allow them to see Loyd crawling out of the home that he was hiding in and his surrender.
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Loyd’s lawyer will also talk about how Loyd lost his eye that day when he was kicked in the face and hit with a rifle, causing him emotional scars.
The prosecution is expected to call one of the first officers that came into contact with Loyd the night he was captured.
The state attorney’s investigation said that officer did kick Loyd in the left side of his face, but said the use of force was justified because police believed Loyd was armed.
At the time, Loyd was on the run for killing his ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and Clayton.
READ: Markeith Loyd sentencing for murder of Orlando officer begins Monday
Loyd received life in prison for the murder of Dixon, who was pregnant with his child at the time.
We will soon find out if his life will be spared again.
Channel 9 is streaming the sentencing phase of the trial live on its website. Click here to watch it live.
READ: Judge in Markeith Loyd’s second murder trial will stay on for penalty phase
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