ORLANDO, Fla. – A man who was convicted by a jury on Thursday in a triple-murder has been sentenced to life in prison.
Leonard Lewis was accused of killing three homeless people in March 2014 in east Orange County. The bodies of Richard Button, Todd Lemme and Deborah Watson were found inside the shed where they were living off Curry Ford Road.
The state attorney's office said Lewis was found guilty on three charges of first-degree murder and given 3 life in prison sentences.
Closing arguments began Thursday morning. The assistant state attorney prosecuting the case said it's a clear cut case and that all evidence points to Lewis as the killer. Lewis' defense told the jury there's not enough substantial evidence to prove that.
Investigators said after the shooting, Lewis left the scene, leaving the victims to die. One of them, Deborah Watson, whom at some point dated Lewis, was able to call 911 before she was shot. Evidence was presented suggesting that a man's voice in the background of the call was Lewis. The man is heard saying, "Yep, another one is dead."
Lewis was arrested nearly a month after the shooting.
Thursday marks the fourth day of the trial. Family members of the victims testified, but when asked by the judge if Lewis would like to take the stand, he declined.
After closings, the 13-member jury will deliberate.
The day began with the dismissal of a juror. The young man asked deputies after court Wednesday if mental health counseling was available for jurors. Several pieces of evidence were presented in the case Wednesday, including pictures of the victims. The judge and attorney agreed Thursday that it would be best to let the juror go and bring in an alternate for closing arguments and deliberations.
If convicted, Lewis faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.