Howard Steven Ault Will Be Executed For The Murder Of 2 Young Sisters in 1996

[Sugar Cookie]

In 1996, Howard Steven Ault promised two young sisters he befriended Halloween candy at his Florida home.

He raped 11-year-old DeAnn Emerald Mu’min in front of her 7-year-old sister and then strangled both girls.

Ault was convicted in 2000 and sentenced to death for his crimes.

In 2003 his case was overturned when the Florida’s Supreme Court found a juror who opposed the death penalty was wrongly dismissed from the jury.

It was the belief that had the juror remained Steven Ault would not have received the death penalty.

In 2007, at his retrial, another jury recommended that Ault should die for his crimes.

in 2017, Florida’s Supreme Court ruled that death penalty process was unconstitutional as it didn’t require jurors to make a unanimous decision.

On Thursday February 22, 2024 Another jury has decided that Howard Steven Ault should pay the ultimate price for his crimes.

Ault’s defence attorney, Lien Lafargue, said Ault has shown remorse and becaused he is a damaged man the court should "give him mercy he didn’t show those victims.’

While a death sentence is the most likely outcome for Ault, his fate is not sealed. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein scheduled a hearing April 22 to listen to any additional evidence and arguments from both sides, giving defense lawyer Joseph Kimok and his team a final chance to persuade him to override the jury’s recommendation and spare Ault’s life.

Source articles

MSN

Broward jury votes to return girls’ killer to death row, for the third time

A Broward jury voted on Thursday to send convicted killer Howard Steven Ault back to death row, effectively ending his third attempt to avoid execution for the 1997 murders of a preteen he raped an…

www.sun-sentinel.com

 

[Sejanus]

He has lingered far longer than his victims lived.
There is no reason for him not to be snuffed out.

There should be asks during jury selection in death penalty cases if the jurors are squeamish about it should there be a guilty verdict and eligiblity for DP is reached.
If so replace them before the case even starts.
Just cuz you are OK ending the guilty doesn't mean you will.
If however it warrants it, nice to know everyone's time and energy wasn't wasted.

 

[Josh P]

This shows how slow and screwed up the legal system is. He should have faced the music decades ago. Give enough time for an appeal or two, then get it over with.