“Life sentence against our entire family: the judge will decide the fate of Bessman Okafor

ORANGE COUNTY, Florida. – On Monday, a judge will finally decide the fate of Bessman Okafor, convicted of the murder – a decision that the families of his victims have been demanding for 12 years.

“He gave our whole family a life sentence, this guy, Bessman Okafor. A life sentence. We have to live with this forever. I want him executed, I want him euthanized,” said Rafael Zaldivar, father of Alex Zaldivar.

Okafor was initially sentenced to death in 2015, by a vote of 11 to 1, for killing 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar and shooting two other people in 2012.

All three were expected to testify against Okafor in a home invasion trial later this year.

“Let’s hope lawmakers don’t get involved anymore.” Leave it alone and let it ride. Let the death penalty remain. Stop playing with this,” Rafae said.

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In 2016, the Florida Supreme Court overturned Okafor's conviction, after recommendations for a death sentence had to be unanimous.

“I thought we were done with this 10 or 12 years ago, but no,” Rafael said.

Then, in 2020, the Supreme Court reversed its decision, saying juries are not required to be unanimous in death penalty cases.

“It’s ridiculous, it’s one of my problems with our justice system. It failed him. Lamentably,” said Rafael.

Okafor was re-sentenced to the death penalty in a 9-3 vote in January, leaving the judge to make the final decision on Okafor's fate.

Rafael Zaldivar said it was time to put an end to this.

“I want to be the last person he sees. When it's time. When they put him on that stretcher. I want to be right in front of him,” Rafael said.

Rafael said he plans to be in court tomorrow to see this case through to the end. No matter how this ends, Rafael and his family will never know peace.

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