Murderer In Sword Slashing Faces Possible Death Sentence

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jail prison interior 2 Daytona Beach, FL-A Daytona Beach man was convicted for the third time on Wednesday in a 1991 murder and faces a possible death sentence when he is sentenced next week. A Volusia County jury found James Guzman guilty of First Degree Murder and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon. Guzman was convicted after a seven-day trial and approximately four hours of deliberation. He faces the death penalty at a sentencing to begin on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 8:30am in front of Judge Perkins. The jury is comprised of eight men and four women. On August 10, 1991, James Guzman used a sword to kill David Lee Colvin, a man who Guzman worked for. Guzman stole money and a diamond ring from Colvin before selling the ring for crack cocaine and $350.00. Many of the witnesses in the case were deceased so testimony from previous trials was read into the record. During the deliberation phase of the trial, jurors asked to handle the sword used to kill Colvin during the trial. Guzman’s prior criminal history includes prison sentences for burglary, grand theft, second degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Guzman was previously convicted of this murder twice, but both times the case was sent back for new trials after the appellate process. Assistant State Attorney Ed Davis of the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit prosecuted the case with Assistant State Attorney John Reid, of the Career Criminal Unit. Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins presided over the case and will preside over the sentencing process to being Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 8:30am at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. James Guzman  

(James Guzman, Photo courtesy of Volusia County Corrections)

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