A former Miami Beach police officer, William Skinner, who was serving a life sentence for a violent attack on his estranged wife in 2009 won’t remain in prison for attempted murder; however, he will remain in prison for armed burglary.
According to authorities, the 58 year old was arrested June 1, 2009, after Skinner allegedly choked his wife and fired his gun at both his wife and her boyfriend with his 4 year old son present. Her boyfriend survived a bullet wound to the shoulder.
In May 2011, a jury convicted Skinner of two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of armed burglary. Skinner received a life sentence on one of the attempted-murder charges and burglary count, and 15 years on the second attempted-murder count.
Although the Third District Court of Appeal ruled that errors in the state’s standard jury instructions nullified the attempted-murder counts, he will still serve a life sentence for his burglary charges. According to the prosecutor, Skinner does not have any options left if he chooses to fight the armed-burglary conviction.
For more information go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/01/4151843/no-attempted-murder-retrial-for.html#storylink=cpy
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