Mr. Puglisi was convicted of the first-degree murder of Alan Jay Shalleck, who was fatally stabbed and beaten in 2006. Mr. Puglisi was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He appealed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, arguing the trial court erred when it allowed his defense attorneys to refuse to call witnesses whom he wanted to testify. The 4th DCA upheld the trial court. Mr. Puglisi argued that ruling conflicted with decisions by other Florida appellate courts.