Just this afternoon, a Miami-Dade County jury reached a verdict in the case against Andrew Rolle, a Miami man accused of shooting and killing an off-duty Miami police officer back in 2008.
The defense claimed that Rolle, who did not know that the alleged victim was an off-duty police officer, shot the alleged victim in self-defense.
As of last night, the jury was deadlocked, 6-6. The judge excused the jury for the night and allowed them to return today. After several hours of deliberation this morning and this afternoon, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on a charge of first-degree murder. Having been convicted of first-degree murder, Rolle will receive an automatic mandatory life sentence.
This is the second trial for Andrew Rolle. Over the summer, Rolle faced trial on the same charges though that trial ended in a mistrial after the judge determined that the state had failed to turn over the name of a material witness.
In Florida, a first-degree murder conviction results in a life sentence. This is a mandatory penalty. The judge is not permitted to exercise discretion.
Eric Matheny is a Miami criminal lawyer and Broward criminal lawyer.