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Gunman sentenced to life in murder of 45-year-old father
By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published March 23, 2007
TAMPA - A man with the nickname "Murder" and a "Die by the gun" tattoo on his right arm will go to prison for life for fatally shooting a father of four. Andrew Asher Walters' three-day trial for felony murder and armed robbery ended Thursday with guilty verdicts. The jury deliberated about six hours. His victim's widow, Denise Klotsch, managed a brief statement before bursting into tears. "I'm just glad justice was done," she said. Arnold Klotsch, a 45-year-old carpenter, had been waiting for his wife to get off work from the liquor store at the Albertson's in Town 'N Country on March 1, 2003. When two robbers emerged from the store instead, he went after them in his car. Prosecutors said Walters fired two shots, killing Klotsch. The second man, Richard J. Sampeur of Miami, also was charged with first-degree murder. In exchange for testifying against Walters, he was offered a 25-year prison sentence. Walters' attorney, Nick Sinardi, argued that no physical evidence linked his client to the crimes. Walters of Miramar was arrested several weeks afterward in Miami after leading police on a car chase. He was sentenced in May 2004 to 10 years in prison for that incident and battering a pregnant woman. His latest conviction brings a life sentence without parole, plus an additional 25 years for the armed robbery.
[Last modified March 23, 2007, 01:11:24]
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by John
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06/17/07 01:24 AM
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As a childhood friend, I am also happy this savage will be tortured for the rest of his life in prison. A quick death would have been better than a slow one.
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by Amy
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05/21/07 07:49 PM
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Arnold Klotsch is my Dad. I am glad that something was finally done, it just doesnt being him back or even make me feel any better. I am glad that the a**holes were finally sentenced there is at least a bit of closure. I miss you dad!!!
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by anonymous
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03/23/07 09:28 PM
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what's the point of the extra 25 years if he has a life sentence without parole. No one has ever went back to prison after a life sentence. It's a little rediculous.
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by Mark
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03/23/07 02:41 PM
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If Mr. Walters was, "...sentenced in May 2004 to 10 years in prison...", he shouldn't have been able to rob and kill until sometime in 2014 when he was released. Yet again, another meaningless sentence handed down and another innocent life lost.
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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