Convicted killer, rapist gets death

By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 1, 2007

TAMPA - "This," Hillsborough Circuit Judge William Fuente said, "is never easy."

Before the judge sat a man who admitted to raping, strangling and killing a young woman. Charles Grover Brant had waived his right for a jury to recommend punishment, leaving his sentence up to the judge alone.

On Friday, Fuente said Brant, like his victim, should die.

The judge showed no emotion. Neither did Brant.

But tears poured from two mothers, the one who gave birth to the condemned man and the one whose daughter Brant killed.

Sara Radfar, 21, died July 1, 2004, in her Citrus Park duplex. Brant, now 42, was her neighbor.

Brant, a tile setter and father of two sons, told detectives he attacked Radfar in the bathroom. He dragged her into her bedroom and sexually assaulted her. He tried to strangle her with a stocking, then placed plastic wrapping on her head to suffocate her.

She regained consciousness and tried to escape. Brant caught her and strangled her with a cord.

Detectives found Radfar's body in the bathtub a day later.

In addition, the judge sentenced Brant to life for the sexual battery, kidnapping and burglary.

[Last modified November 30, 2007, 23:31:23]