Florida inmate appeals death sentence after conviction for raping, killing girl, 9

A convicted Florida killer sentenced to death last year for raping and murdering a 9-year-old girl has filed an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court, seeking a new sentencing trial, according to a report. 

"The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death," Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said while administrating the sentence last year. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie."

At the heart of the defense’s argument is whether one of the prosecutors violated the "Golden Rule Law" by telling the jury to put themselves in the victim’s position, which critics say can increase a focus on a person’s biases rather than the evidence.