Supreme Court debates Florida death penalty case

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up debate Tuesday over a Florida death penalty case. 

The case before the Supreme Court occurred in Pensacola in 1998. Timothy Lee Hurst was convicted of murdering his manager inside a Popeye's restaurant. and the jury recommended a death sentence by a 7-5 vote.

Hurt's lawyers argue that their client's rights were violated, because Florida is the only state in the country that allows the death penalty with a simple majority vote.

Justices will determine whether the death penalty should be enacted if the jury does not reach a unanimous decision.

The results could affect another high-profile trial in Orange County. Bessman Okafor was found guilty in August of killing a man who was going to testify against him in a home invasion trial. As in Hurst's case, the jury's decision was not unanimous. 

Lawyers in Okafor's case are expected to be back in court Tuesday afternoon to continue their final arguments.