Sigfredo Garcia, one of the hired guns in the murder-for-hire killing of Florida State law professor Dan Markel got a sentence of life without parole, rather than death. Prosecutors will now try to get him to testify against Katie Magbanua - his longtime on-and-off girlfriend who is believed to have been the conduit between the two hitmen and the Adelson family (Dan's ex-wife Wendi's mother and brother, who likely commissioned the hit so that Wendi would get sole custody of their two boys). Alternatively, perhaps he could testify against the Adelsons directly.
A sentence of life without parole should be strong leverage - it could be reduced in exchange for testimony. But Garcia may not be willing to give testimony against Magbanua, as he may still be in love with her:
In explaining why Garcia did not testify at trial or during the sentencing phase sentencing, his lawyer said: “He didn’t want to hurt Katie, so he chose not to take the stand...He was very concerned about his testimony hurting or implicating Katie.”
The fact that he apparently thought his testimony would be damaging to Katie is some evidence against the view that she wasn't involved in arranging the hit (and against the view that the killers acted for reasons having nothing to do with the Adelsons; Katie Magbanua - like Garcia and the other hitman, Luis Rivera - had no other known motive to kill Dan).
My coverage in other posts :
Florida state law professor (Dan Markel) murder trial begins.
Murder Trial Update - Verdict on the verge?
Markel murder trial — Conviction for Garcia but mistrial for Magbanua.