ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida judge sentenced Lawrence Dority to life in prison in the 2022 shooting death of former Orlando Magic player Adreian Payne.
In July, a jury unanimously found Dority guilty of second-degree murder in Payne's death. They deliberated for about 90 minutes. On Friday, Dority was back in court for sentencing, wearing a blue prison uniform.
I'm going to impose the following sentence. I'm going to adjudicate you guilty of the offense, sentence you to life in the Florida Department of Corrections with a life minimum mandatory," the judge said.
"Well deserved. Well deserved. It's been a long time waiting."
What they're saying:
Tara Walker, Payne's then girlfriend, and Payne's brother, Antiwan Payne, both attended the sentencing and were happy with the judge's de