Jamaican man in Florida sentenced to death for raping and killing 9 year old girl

A Jamaican man was yesterday sentenced to death in Florida for raping and killing a 9-year-old girl.

Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Michelle Sisco affirmed a jury's unanimous death penalty recommendation for Granville Ritchie.

He was found guilty last year of  first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse.

Ritchie's attorney, Bjorn Brunvand, had argued that his client's abusive and violent childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, and lack of  prior criminal history should prevent him from being put to death.

Prosecutors said Ritchie, who is 41, was dating 9-year-old Felecia Williams' neighbor, Eboni Wiley, in May 2014.

Ritchie and Wiley were watching the girl one day and took her to his mother's apartment.

According to prosecutors, Ritchie sexually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley went to buy marijuana.

Ritchie then hid the girl's body in a suitcase and later dumped her from a causeway into Tampa Bay.