Christopher "Cuko" Vasata, Florida inmate W45460, born 1992, incarceration intake July 2019 at age 26, sentenced to life in prison; prior incarceration in February 2014 at age 21 for one year and released February 2015
Murder, Grand Theft Auto; with prior convictions for Possession of Controlled Substances, Sale/Manufacture/Delivery of Marijuana
In June 2019, a jury's vote failed to achieve a unanimous verdict for the death sentence at Christopher Vasata's murder trial. After the jury's decision was made public, a judge sentenced Vasata to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Although the verdict form showed jurors agreed the prosecutors proved the aggravating factors to justify the death penalty, they could not all come to an agreement. At least one juror voted to impose a sentence life in prison without parole.
During closing arguments, Vasata's public defender asked jurors to show him mercy and allow him to live the rest of his life in prison.
In the two-day sentencing phase, the defense team called on those closest to Vasata, his family and friends, to testify to his character. "He's caring, he's protective, he's my only big brother and the best big brother I could ever ask for," said his younger sister.
The defense team also brought in a neurological expert to talk about the impact a car crash from 2012 could have had on Vasata's brain.
"It's just that, in the moment quick decision making, that's impaired," said a neurologist who testified as an expert witness. But prosecutor cross-examination tried to show there was no evidence the car crash produced a traumatic head injury.
During closing arguments the prosecutor reminded jurors of the "cold, calculated, and pre-meditated" actions that led to the deaths of the three victims on Super Bowl Sunday in February 2017, two victims who were not even targets.
The prosecutor reminded jurors that Sean Henry, who was a target, was shot 17 times.
The verdict form suggests the jurors believed those aggravating factors outweighed any mitigating factors presented by the defense team during the sentencing phase of the trial, but still chose life in prison.
Vasata was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for three counts of first degree murder for the deaths of three people. He was also sentenced to life for attempted first degree murder and 5 years for grand theft auto, all connected to the shooting.
Subsequent appeals were not successful.
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