Death Penalty Recommended for Florida Plumber Convicted of Kidnapping, Rape, and Murder

A unanimous jury verdict has recommended the death penalty for Michael King, a Florida plumber convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Denise Lee, a 21-year-old wife and mother. The jury made their recommendation after three hours of deliberations, but the final decision rests with the trial judge. King's defense team argued that he suffered from a severe head injury at the age of 6, which contributed to his violent behavior and low IQ, scoring 76, which falls below the threshold of 70 for being considered retarded. However, jurors who spoke to the media stated that these factors were given little weight in their deliberations.

Key Takeaways:

A jury has recommended the death penalty for Michael King, a Florida plumber convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder.
King's defense team argued that he suffered from a severe head injury at the age of 6, which contributed to his violent behavior and low IQ.
King's IQ score is 76, which falls below the threshold of 70 for being considered retarded.
Two jurors who spoke to the media stated that the head injury and IQ score were given little weight in their deliberations.
The trial judge, under Florida law, has the final decision on King's punishment.
King's relatives testified about his violent behavior and headaches, but the jury seemed to discount this evidence.
The case involves Denise Lee, a 21-year-old wife and mother who was abducted from her home in January 2008.

Statistics:

21: Denise Lee's age at the time of her abduction.
38: Michael King's age at the time of his conviction.
6: The age at which King suffered a severe head injury.
76: King's IQ score, which falls below the threshold of 70 for being considered retarded.

Sources:

CNN: "Jury recommends death penalty in Florida kidnapping, rape case" (no date provided).