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High Court Upholds Death Sentence For 'Discount Bandit'

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and death sentence of the "Discount Bandit" in the murder of a clerk at a St. Petersburg Big Lots on Christmas Eve 1997.

Charles C. Peterson, 48, challenged his conviction in the slaying of John Cardoso, claiming evidence of three robberies shouldn't have been admitted at his trial. He also challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty and the way it is applied.

The court rejected the arguments.

Peterson shot Cardoso through the back of the neck as he knelt in front of Peterson at the Big Lots store at 950 58th St. N. All the other employees were made to lie face down while another was forced to fill a book bag with money from the cash registers.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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