ORLANDO, Fla. – A judge ordered that both the defense and the prosecution submit written arguments before a decision is made in the re-sentencing of a convicted murderer.
When Roy Bissonette was 15 years old, he murdered a man who had picked him up while he hitchhiked near Disney World in 1973. He was prosecuted as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. He has been in prison for 40 years.
In February, however, an appeals court ruled that because he was so young when he committed the crime, the life sentence was unconstitutional.
Bissonette's lawyer is asking for him to be re-sentenced to 43 years, the time he has already served.
Family members of murder victim Charles Newell provided impact statements to be read during Friday's court appearance.
"Please do not ever let him out of prison until he goes out in a pine box," wrote Newell's widow, Roberta Arlena Pritchard.
Newell's daughter-in-law, Cynthia Newell, agreed.
"I don't care how old that human being was that took my father's life. He is a piece of crap," she wrote.
The judge said a re-sentencing decision won't be made until the written arguments are received, which will most likely be in May.