A South Florida man accused of killing a witness will not face the death penalty because of a mistake made by prosecutors.
A Palm Beach County Circuit Judge ruled that the state attorney's office failed to meet a 45-day deadline included in Florida's death penalty law regarding 28-year-old Tashane Chantiloupe.
Gus Byam,34, was found shot to death in his truck in a Boca Raton church parking lot in May. Chantiloupe was arrested for the shooting in June.
In August, Chantiloupe pleaded not guilty, but police say he killed Byam because Byam knew about another murder Chantiloupe was involved in.
Prosecutors said Chantiloupe's cold-blooded ways and criminal history made this a death penalty case, but the prosecution had until Oct. 2 to submit the necessary documents under Florida law.
Prosecutors missed the deadline to file by 14 days. The judge ruled without exception that the death penalty is off the table.