Friends of Florida murder victims confront killer in court

 

Friends of the two Britons shot dead in Florida tell their killer his "cowardly" act has ended the lives of "two amazing men". 

A teenager was given two life sentences on Wednesday after being found guilty of murdering two British tourists in Florida.

James Kouzaris, 24, and James Cooper, 25, were gunned down by Shawn Tyson after they drunkenly walked into a public housing estate in the Newtown area of Sarasota in the early hours of April 16 last year.

The killer, who turned 17 last week, will not be eligible for parole after being convicted of two counts of first degree murder at Sarasota County Courthouse.

The court heard emotional tributes to the two Britons from family and friends before Tyson was sentenced.

Paul Davis said: “James Kouzaris and James Cooper chose to smile at life and take advantage of every opportunity. They chose to make friends with people regardless of where they were from or what they looked like.

That is what they will be remembered for. The stupid thing about what you did that night is that you ended your own life too. You are now going to spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Joe Hallet told Shawn Tyson: “I need you to understand, the pain that you have caused and the amazing personalities that you have killed."

The court was also played a tribute video of both Mr Kouzaris and Mr Cooper.

The friends had got lost in a rundown area of Sarasota in the early hours of April 16.

They were confronted by Tyson, who tried to rob them. They said they had no money and pleaded to go home, saying they were drunk, but the teenager, then 16, shot them both.