TAMPA, Fla. — The mother a 9-year-old girl was the first witness to take the stand Thursday during the penalty phase of the murder trial of Granville Ritchie, convicted of the girl's murder and rape a day earlier.

Showing pictures of her namesake, Felecia Demerson shared the story of her little girl, Felecia Williams, known as "Sugarplum." Demerson said her daughter was always determined to make things happen. She never met a stranger, she took care of her mother when she was sick, she was a cheerleader and member of the youth choir, she loved going to the park and riding her bike. 

Little Felecia is gone, and her mom says it hurts every day.

"Felecia's death has affected my life. It took its toll on my entire family. Even though it has been five years, it feels like five days ago. I have not yet returned to work. I’ve been diagnosed with chronic depression. I’m on seven different types of medication trying to cope with this new normal called life. Some days I don’t know if I’m coming or going,” Demerson said. 

Demerson's words were so powerful that a female juror put her head down and started to cry. When they called for a short break, the juror told the judge that it brought back memories of someone who had recently died. 

Williams' family also plans to make a statement after the sentencing is over. 

Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty for Ritchie in the 2014 killing.

"Our mindset is that this is the rare crime that is so heinous, atrocious, and cruel that we should be seeking the maximum penalty under the law and we're going to do everything we can to persuade the jury that this is one of the worst of the worst offenses that merits capital punishment," Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said. 

However, defense attorneys say they'll fight to save Ritchie's life. 

"We're going to do the best we can to present his case and try to save his life," Defense Attorney Bjorn Brunvand said. 

Ritchie's attorneys plan to play videos from his family and friends in Jamaica to try to persuade the jury to forego the death penalty. 

If Ritchie is sentenced to death, this would be the first case in Hillsborough County since the capitol punishment law changed in Florida, requiring a unanimous decision from jurors. 

Ritchie did not take the stand to testify in his own defense. He showed no emotion as the verdict was being read Wednesday, or after it was read.

It took the jury only four hours to decide on the guilty verdict. Ritchie faces either life in prison or the death penalty.