A man facing life in prison without parole is set to go to trial today (Mon), two years after he was charged with murder in connection with the stabbing of 17-year-old Tiana Alter. 28-year-old Michael Shoun was arrested in the 29-thousand block of County Road 1, where Alter’s body was found. He was charged with murder a few days later. His trial has been rescheduled at least five times, during which times the court ordered three competency exams and the prosecutor’s office filed a life without parole sentencing enhancement. The prosecutor citing two aggravating circumstances in the case: That Shoun is accused of committing the crime while on work release and mutilating the victim while she was alive. Officials have claimed Shoun was under the influence of synthetic marijuana when he killed Alter. If Shoun is found guilty of murder, the court will move to a second phase of the trial in which the prosecutor’s office will call for the life without parole sentencing enhancement.
