ORLANDO, Fla. — After just more than four hours of deliberation, a 12-member jury on Wednesday found Markeith Loyd guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her unborn child.
- WATCH LIVE: Verdict in Markeith Loyd trial — watch live stream
- Loyd is accused of killing Sade Dixon, unborn child
- He will face another trial in death of Orlando police officer
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- JUMP TO:
Loyd was on trial in the killing of Sade Dixon in December 2016. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Dixon's brother was severely injured in the attack.
Jurors found him guilty on all counts.
Judge Letitia Marques said that because Loyd could face the death penalty, the trial would go straight into the penalty phase. However, she ordered a three-day recess to give attorneys time to prepare.
Jurors at the Orange County Courthouse were dismissed for the day but were ordered to remain sequestered.
Sade Dixon’s family was in the courtroom when the verdict came down.
Dixon's mother, said she was ecstatic the jury found Loyd guilty on all counts.
"They did an awesome job. They came back quickly with the right verdict," Stephanie Dixon-Daniels said. "They saw through the defense’s smokescreens, and they saw the truth. They saw the physical evidence. Everything was taken care of, so I’m ecstatic."
Members of Loyd’s family earlier in the day they said they would not be commenting.
Loyd took the stand Monday and Tuesday. During cross-examination Tuesday, Loyd said he acted in self-defense, claiming he was reacting to Dixon grabbing her gun when he arrived and Dixon's brother threatening him.
Loyd said he went to the house to tell Dixon he still wanted to work things out because she was pregnant. The state worked to prove the shooting was not his only option.
- Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway: You couldn't have gotten in your car and gotten away?
- Loyd: Negative.
- Ridgway: What would've prevented you from driving away?
- Loyd: Because when we came from the back of the house her brother came out."
The jurors will remain sequestered through the penalty phase of the trial, in which they'll deliberate to recommend either life in prison or the death penalty.
The penalty phase begins Monday.
Criminal defense attorney Jonathan Rose say the penalty phase is something Loyd’s defense attorneys have likely been preparing for since the beginning of the trial.
“There was a high likelihood they knew he was going to be convicted, so I’m sure they’ve been working hard on the penalty phase this entire time,” Rose said.
Life or death, Loyd still faces another trial next year, in which he is accused killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.