Beginning February 5, 2018, Terence Lenamon will be in a Miami Dade courtroom in another fight against the death penalty, this time in a notorious capital case involving a member of the Terrorist Boyz named Frantzy Jean-Marie.
Capital Case Trying Charges From Over a Decade Ago
It’s a complicated defense for many reasons, not the least of which is that Frantzy Jean-Marie was among several men charged with nine different murders in Miami-Dade County over a decade ago. The others, collectively known as “the Terrorist Boyz” in the news coverage, are Benson Cadet, Johnny Charles, Max Daniel, and Robert St. Germaine.
Of note: the Terrorist Boyz’ collective capital defense has gained the reputation as being “Florida’s most expensive death penalty case” as discussed in an article by David Ovalle and Nicholas Nehamas entitled, “The Death-Penalty Cases Rack Up Big Dollars In Miami-Dade,” published by the Miami Herald on October 2, 2016.
Indigent Defense Costs in Death Penalty Cases
In that article, Terry explains: “In many places in Florida, there is very little spent on the death penalty and there is a rush to complete the cases. I have the responsibility to make sure no stone is left unturned. It’s a very expensive proposition, but there is a simple solution: End the death penalty.”
He goes into even more detail about his motivation to represent defendants facing death in capital cases here, specifically referencing Mr. Jean-Marie among others in the post Sometimes You Need To Stop and Survey the Territory When You’re a Criminal Defense Attorney Representing People Facing Death.
It’s an important read when considering next week’s capital case, as well as any death penalty defense matter in Florida (or elsewhere).
For more on indigent defense matters, check out:
1. our e-book to learn more about the money aspects of capital cases in The Death Penalty Indigent Defense Crisis: Representing the Poor when the State wants to Kill Them and It’s Paying Your Bill and
2. Terry’s memoir to learn more about Terry’s personal experience in defending those accused of capital crimes and the life of a death penalty defense lawyer in Heinous, Atrocious & Cruel: The Casebook of a Death Penalty Attorney.