ORLANDO, Fla. — The state has responded to Stephan Sterns’ denied request to remove the possibility of the death penalty in his murder case.
Sterns is accused of killing his girlfriend’s daughter, 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
Attorneys for Sterns argued the death penalty would be especially heinous or cruel, but the state disagreed, saying the death penalty is lawful and fitting.
Sterns’ murder trial is scheduled for September.
A separate trial for dozens of sex crimes is scheduled for next month.
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