Ax murderer asks judge to throw out death sentence

Convicted ax murderer John Buzia (FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION / May 23, 2007) Rene Stutzman | Sentinel Staff Writer SANFORD - Ax murderer John Buzia is back in Seminole County, asking a judge to throw out his conviction and death sentence. Buzia, 48, was convicted of murdering Charles Kersch, 71, at the victim's Oviedo home in 2000 with an ax he'd found in the victim's garage. Buzia had done home repairs for Kersch. Buzia confessed but now is challenging one of the most powerful pieces of evidence the state presented at trial: a palm print found on the cabinet where Kersch kept his axes. Then-Seminole County fingerprint expert Donna Birks told jurors the print belonged to Buzia. Last year, however, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a defense expert re-analyzed the print. Both concluded it could not be matched... [read full story]