Executive Summary
- Amanda Cook was sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 second-degree murder of Karen Leiti in Collier County, Florida.
- Cook was removed from the courtroom prior to the sentence being read after shouting about a "military tribunal."
- Judge Joseph Foster described the defendant’s disruptive behavior as "malingering" and proceeded in her absence.
- Medical examiners determined the victim died from intentional blunt-force trauma, disproving Cook’s claim of an accidental fall.
A Florida woman was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the 2019 second-degree murder of her roommate, following a sentencing hearing in Collier County that saw her removed from the courtroom due to a shouting outburst. Amanda Cook, 41, received the sentence from Judge Joseph Foster regarding the death of 64-year-old Karen Leiti, proceedings that concluded in the defendant’s absence.
According to court records and video from the courtroom, Cook entered the hearing smiling but abruptly began a shouting tirade. Witnesses reported that she demanded a "military tribunal" and characterized the court as a "satan synagogue." Judge Foster ordered court security to remove Cook when she continued to yell over him. As deputies escorted her out, Cook reportedly shouted, "Just got busted! Get down, they’re coming in!"
Judge Foster addressed the disruption on the record, classifying Cook’s behavior as "malingering," a term suggesting the feigning of physical or psychological symptoms to avoid responsibilities. The sentencing hearing proceeded without Cook present. Cook had been in custody since July 2019, when deputies discovered Leiti dead in the home the two women shared.
While Cook initially claimed that Leiti had fallen and hit her head, the subsequent investigation and medical examiner’s report determined the cause of death was intentional blunt-force trauma consistent with an object found at the scene. The evidence presented led to the conviction and subsequent life sentence.
Judicial Procedure and Courtroom Conduct
The expulsion of a defendant from a sentencing hearing is a procedural measure exercised when conduct disrupts the administration of justice. While defendants generally have a right to be present during legal proceedings, this right is not absolute and may be forfeited through obstreperous behavior, allowing the court to finalize judgments in absentia. It is important to note that criminal charges and judicial proceedings operate under strict due process, where guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
