A Florida inmate has been handed a second life sentence for killing his cellmate inside a correctional facility, with dramatic moments unfolding in court during the sentencing.
Marcus Terry, 43, was sentenced on Tuesday for the 2021 killing of his 64-year-old cellmate, Ray Matos, at the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead.
The sentencing followed his conviction in December 2025 for second-degree murder. Terry had already been serving a life sentence for armed burglary and robbery at the time of the incident.
During the hearing, his lawyer, Steven Yermish, asked the court to grant a new trial, arguing that inadmissible evidence had influenced the earlier verdict. However, the request was denied by Ellen Sue Venzer, who proceeded with sentencing.
While recounting the circumstances of the killing, the judge described how the victim was overpowered inside the cell. She told the court that Terry restrained his cellmate and was found with blood on his hands when prison officers responded to the scene.
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In a tense courtroom exchange, Terry reportedly laughed as the details were read out, prompting a reaction from the judge.
“I’m not sure why you’re laughing,” Venzer said.
“You are amusing,” Terry replied.
The judge rejected his response, stating that there was nothing amusing about the crime before handing down a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
According to reports, Matos was found lying in a pool of blood, while Terry remained at the scene. The two men had shared a cell for less than a week before the fatal attack.