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May 2, 2007 State Attorney Steve Meadows announces the conviction, in Bay
County Circuit Court, of Blake A. Collier, 21, on a charge of murder in the
first degree.
After a two-day trial, Circuit Court Judge Michael Overstreet found Collier
guilty for the March 21, 2005, strangulation and stabbing of his wife,
18-year old Lennia Hing Collier. After conferring with the family members of
the victim, the State announced that it would heed their wishes and not seek
death. The only other possible sentence for murder in the first degree is
life without parole.
During the trial, mental health professionals testified for the state and
for the defense. They agreed that Collier suffers from mental illness but
differed on whether he was insane at the time of the crime.
Had the judge found that Collier was insane at the time of the murder; he
would then determine the appropriate placement for the defendant.
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