Judge sentences Donald Smith to death for rape, murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle
By Eileen Kelley, GateHouse Media Florida
Posted May 2, 2018 at 12:22 PM
Updated May 4, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Donald James Smith enters the courtroom for his sentencing in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of 8-year-old Chrerish Perrywinkle.▲
Rayne Perrywinkle, left, hugs State Attorney Melissa Nelson after Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper officially sentenced Donald James Smith to the death penalty Wednesday in the Duval County Courthouse. The 61-year-old Smith was found guilty in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of Perrywinkle's 8-year-old daughter, Cherish.▲
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
JACKSONVILLE — He walked slowly through the courtroom eyeing the free who sat among the 28 rows of benches before taking a seat at the table. The incessant clanging of shackles punctuated the eight minutes of otherwise silence before the judge entered to deliver his fate. His feet, it seemed, could not stop bouncing.
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday morning, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
At times during the sentencing, Cooper's voice cracked from emotion.
"May God have mercy on your soul," Cooper said just moments before the culmination of nearly five years of court proceedings on the state's case against 61-year-old Donald James Smith for killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle.
Smith, who sat motionless and expressionless during previous court proceedings, is on his way to Florida's death row.
The little girl was lured away from her mother at Walmart on Jacksonville's Westside with the promise of cheeseburgers nearly five years ago. Out of custody just 21 days, Smith in 2013 raped and sodomized Cherish before strangling her. He then dumped her body in a creek bed. Smith, who has been labeled a sex offender since the 1970s, will join 51 other Duval County convicts on death row.
"I want him to burn in hell," said Cherish's mother, Rayne Perrywinkle.
For the first year since her daughter was killed, Perrywinkle said she couldn't come to the courthouse for the routine pretrial hearings because she thought she'd scream at the sight of Smith. On the day Cherish was killed, Smith befriended Perrywinkle and her three daughters at a Dollar General store. He coaxed them into his van and promised to buy them food and clothing at Walmart. Now when she looks at him, Perrywinkle says she is numb.
"It's like I am looking at something that is not even real," Perrywinkle said. "But he is real."
Jurors took 15 minutes in February to convict Smith of kidnapping, rape and murder. A week later they heard more testimony to determine if should be executed or spend the rest of his days in prison. Every one of them chose execution. New constitutional guidelines require the decision to be unanimous.
Just as she did during his sentencing hearing, Perrywinkle on Wednesday locked eyes with her child's killer. He turned away first. "Every time I look at him and we lock eyes, he looks away first. I don't think it is guilt though."
The defense essentially conceded to Smith's guilt during the trial. They called no witnesses — Smith wouldn't even allow Cherish's mother to be cross-examined — and offered no closing arguments. The penalty phase and mercy were the attorneys' focus. Julie Schlax and Charles Fletcher argued that brain scans revealed Smith was missing large parts of his brain which made him dangerous because he lacked the ability to control his impulses, had sexual dis-inhibition and lacked empathy. They also argued that Smith, not long before he killed Cherish, attempted to get mental health help through what is called a Baker Act, but was turned away.
In the end it was not enough to sway the jury, who weighed such mitigating factors against aggravating factors such as Smith's prior felony history; that the murder was done in connection with another crime; that Cherish's death was deliberate in an attempt to conceal the crimes of kidnapping and rape; that the acts were especially heinous, cold and calculated; and that Cherish was under the age of 12.
A tear streamed down the face of juror Paul Hinson Wednesday. He was one of two jurors to attend the sentencing. The two of them and 10 other jurors spent the better part of three weeks in February at the courthouse. Many of them were drawn to tears when they were shown graphic photos of Cherish's unrecognizable anatomy. Many again cried when they came back after two hours of deliberation following the sentencing hearing with a decision that Smith should be sentenced to death.
It was a decision, Hinson said, that was not taken lightly. While relieved that the judge rendered the jury's decision, he said he felt sad and this case has changed him.
"You see an older person with a younger person and you wonder if that is a predator or a grandfather walking with a kid. It makes you look twice at other people," he said, growing more emotional. "But you have to deal with it and move on."
NewsSportsEntertainmentObituariesJobsCarsHomesClas sifiedsE-Edition
Judge sentences Donald Smith to death for rape, murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle
By Eileen Kelley, GateHouse Media Florida
Posted May 2, 2018 at 12:22 PM
Updated May 4, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Donald James Smith enters the courtroom for his sentencing in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of 8-year-old Chrerish Perrywinkle.▲
Rayne Perrywinkle, left, hugs State Attorney Melissa Nelson after Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper officially sentenced Donald James Smith to the death penalty Wednesday in the Duval County Courthouse. The 61-year-old Smith was found guilty in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of Perrywinkle's 8-year-old daughter, Cherish.▲
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
JACKSONVILLE — He walked slowly through the courtroom eyeing the free who sat among the 28 rows of benches before taking a seat at the table. The incessant clanging of shackles punctuated the eight minutes of otherwise silence before the judge entered to deliver his fate. His feet, it seemed, could not stop bouncing.
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday morning, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
At times during the sentencing, Cooper's voice cracked from emotion.
"May God have mercy on your soul," Cooper said just moments before the culmination of nearly five years of court proceedings on the state's case against 61-year-old Donald James Smith for killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle.
Smith, who sat motionless and expressionless during previous court proceedings, is on his way to Florida's death row.
The little girl was lured away from her mother at Walmart on Jacksonville's Westside with the promise of cheeseburgers nearly five years ago. Out of custody just 21 days, Smith in 2013 raped and sodomized Cherish before strangling her. He then dumped her body in a creek bed. Smith, who has been labeled a sex offender since the 1970s, will join 51 other Duval County convicts on death row.
"I want him to burn in hell," said Cherish's mother, Rayne Perrywinkle.
For the first year since her daughter was killed, Perrywinkle said she couldn't come to the courthouse for the routine pretrial hearings because she thought she'd scream at the sight of Smith. On the day Cherish was killed, Smith befriended Perrywinkle and her three daughters at a Dollar General store. He coaxed them into his van and promised to buy them food and clothing at Walmart. Now when she looks at him, Perrywinkle says she is numb.
"It's like I am looking at something that is not even real," Perrywinkle said. "But he is real."
Jurors took 15 minutes in February to convict Smith of kidnapping, rape and murder. A week later they heard more testimony to determine if should be executed or spend the rest of his days in prison. Every one of them chose execution. New constitutional guidelines require the decision to be unanimous.
Just as she did during his sentencing hearing, Perrywinkle on Wednesday locked eyes with her child's killer. He turned away first. "Every time I look at him and we lock eyes, he looks away first. I don't think it is guilt though."
The defense essentially conceded to Smith's guilt during the trial. They called no witnesses — Smith wouldn't even allow Cherish's mother to be cross-examined — and offered no closing arguments. The penalty phase and mercy were the attorneys' focus. Julie Schlax and Charles Fletcher argued that brain scans revealed Smith was missing large parts of his brain which made him dangerous because he lacked the ability to control his impulses, had sexual dis-inhibition and lacked empathy. They also argued that Smith, not long before he killed Cherish, attempted to get mental health help through what is called a Baker Act, but was turned away.
In the end it was not enough to sway the jury, who weighed such mitigating factors against aggravating factors such as Smith's prior felony history; that the murder was done in connection with another crime; that Cherish's death was deliberate in an attempt to conceal the crimes of kidnapping and rape; that the acts were especially heinous, cold and calculated; and that Cherish was under the age of 12.
A tear streamed down the face of juror Paul Hinson Wednesday. He was one of two jurors to attend the sentencing. The two of them and 10 other jurors spent the better part of three weeks in February at the courthouse. Many of them were drawn to tears when they were shown graphic photos of Cherish's unrecognizable anatomy. Many again cried when they came back after two hours of deliberation following the sentencing hearing with a decision that Smith should be sentenced to death.
It was a decision, Hinson said, that was not taken lightly. While relieved that the judge rendered the jury's decision, he said he felt sad and this case has changed him.
"You see an older person with a younger person and you wonder if that is a predator or a grandfather walking with a kid. It makes you look twice at other people," he said, growing more emotional. "But you have to deal with it and move on."
NewsSportsEntertainmentObituariesJobsCarsHomesClas sifiedsE-Edition
Judge sentences Donald Smith to death for rape, murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle
By Eileen Kelley, GateHouse Media Florida
Posted May 2, 2018 at 12:22 PM
Updated May 4, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Donald James Smith enters the courtroom for his sentencing in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of 8-year-old Chrerish Perrywinkle.▲
Rayne Perrywinkle, left, hugs State Attorney Melissa Nelson after Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper officially sentenced Donald James Smith to the death penalty Wednesday in the Duval County Courthouse. The 61-year-old Smith was found guilty in the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of Perrywinkle's 8-year-old daughter, Cherish.▲
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
JACKSONVILLE — He walked slowly through the courtroom eyeing the free who sat among the 28 rows of benches before taking a seat at the table. The incessant clanging of shackles punctuated the eight minutes of otherwise silence before the judge entered to deliver his fate. His feet, it seemed, could not stop bouncing.
"Donald Smith," Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper said Wednesday morning, "you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all."
At times during the sentencing, Cooper's voice cracked from emotion.
"May God have mercy on your soul," Cooper said just moments before the culmination of nearly five years of court proceedings on the state's case against 61-year-old Donald James Smith for killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle.
Smith, who sat motionless and expressionless during previous court proceedings, is on his way to Florida's death row.
The little girl was lured away from her mother at Walmart on Jacksonville's Westside with the promise of cheeseburgers nearly five years ago. Out of custody just 21 days, Smith in 2013 raped and sodomized Cherish before strangling her. He then dumped her body in a creek bed. Smith, who has been labeled a sex offender since the 1970s, will join 51 other Duval County convicts on death row.
"I want him to burn in hell," said Cherish's mother, Rayne Perrywinkle.
For the first year since her daughter was killed, Perrywinkle said she couldn't come to the courthouse for the routine pretrial hearings because she thought she'd scream at the sight of Smith. On the day Cherish was killed, Smith befriended Perrywinkle and her three daughters at a Dollar General store. He coaxed them into his van and promised to buy them food and clothing at Walmart. Now when she looks at him, Perrywinkle says she is numb.
"It's like I am looking at something that is not even real," Perrywinkle said. "But he is real."
Jurors took 15 minutes in February to convict Smith of kidnapping, rape and murder. A week later they heard more testimony to determine if should be executed or spend the rest of his days in prison. Every one of them chose execution. New constitutional guidelines require the decision to be unanimous.
Just as she did during his sentencing hearing, Perrywinkle on Wednesday locked eyes with her child's killer. He turned away first. "Every time I look at him and we lock eyes, he looks away first. I don't think it is guilt though."
The defense essentially conceded to Smith's guilt during the trial. They called no witnesses — Smith wouldn't even allow Cherish's mother to be cross-examined — and offered no closing arguments. The penalty phase and mercy were the attorneys' focus. Julie Schlax and Charles Fletcher argued that brain scans revealed Smith was missing large parts of his brain which made him dangerous because he lacked the ability to control his impulses, had sexual dis-inhibition and lacked empathy. They also argued that Smith, not long before he killed Cherish, attempted to get mental health help through what is called a Baker Act, but was turned away.
In the end it was not enough to sway the jury, who weighed such mitigating factors against aggravating factors such as Smith's prior felony history; that the murder was done in connection with another crime; that Cherish's death was deliberate in an attempt to conceal the crimes of kidnapping and rape; that the acts were especially heinous, cold and calculated; and that Cherish was under the age of 12.
A tear streamed down the face of juror Paul Hinson Wednesday. He was one of two jurors to attend the sentencing. The two of them and 10 other jurors spent the better part of three weeks in February at the courthouse. Many of them were drawn to tears when they were shown graphic photos of Cherish's unrecognizable anatomy. Many again cried when they came back after two hours of deliberation following the sentencing hearing with a decision that Smith should be sentenced to death.
It was a decision, Hinson said, that was not taken lightly. While relieved that the judge rendered the jury's decision, he said he felt sad and this case has changed him.
"You see an older person with a younger person and you wonder if that is a predator or a grandfather walking with a kid. It makes you look twice at other people," he said, growing more emotional.
"But you have to deal with it and move on."
Catfishes krijgen ook de doodstraf
Artikel is een HOAX (broodje-aap-verhaal) dat al sinds 2017 circuleert ...
https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...la-florid.html
Toezichthouder openbaard kunstgebit
Pedofilie is een ziekte. Voor de slachtoffers en diens familieleden is het hel op aarde.
Mijn inziens praten we teveel over het "lot"van deze zieke beesten.
Als je ziek bent dan zoek je naar een manier/middelen om je ziekte te behandelen. (Tenzij je handelsonbekwaam bent dan word je onder curatele gesteld.)
Je gaat geen onschuldige kinderen verkrachten en vermoorden.
En jezelf verschuilen achter een "ziektebeeld" pedofilie
Want dan ben je gewoon EVIL en heb je al je rechten verspeeld. Hoeveel gezinnen zijn kapot gemaakt? Wie bekommert zich om hen?
Ja, eerste dagen misschien in het nieuws maar daarna... jaren verstrijken...altijd die lege stoel...
Nee van kinderen blijf je af!
Florida is thug life, kunnen Marokkanen wat van leren wat dat betreft.
Een keihard signaal naar pedofilie en naar rechters die mickey mouse straffen geven aan die beesten.
Sommige zeggen laat het systeem haar werk doen...dat is leuk en aardig tot het je eigen zoon, dochter, broertje, zusje of nichtje is dan piep je anders.
Hoax of niet het zet aan tot nadenken en geeft nieuwe inzichten
Het verstand zegt: laat het over aan de gerechtelijke macht
Echter wanneer diezelfde macht faalt en keer op keer dit soort predators op borgtocht vrij laat...Hoeveel moord zaken hebben we alleen al de afgelopen jaren in de nieuwsbladen gelzen van veroordeelden deliquenten, allemaal hadden ze al een strafblad voor dezelfde feiten
Weer een gezin KAPOT gemaakt
Dan kan ik héél goed begrijpen dat ouders doordraaien het gaat hier wel om hun kind.
Nog steeds heerst de gedachte dat zeer gevaarlijke mensen voor de maatschappij na "behandeling" van een psychiater wel weer gelouterd hun plaats in de maatschappij kunnen innemen.
regelmatig blijkt weer dat het een wassen neus is.
Er zijn aandoeningen die in de hersens liggen, die niemand kan veranderen.
Flink wat van die lieden zijn daarnaast heel mondig, en zeer gewiekst in het manipuleren van mensen.
Dus ook psychiaters.
Het probleem is dat als zo'n figuur weer wordt losgelaten en het fout gaat, mensen de dupe zijn.
Verkracht, vermoord, overvallen noem maar op.
En dan begint het circus van voren af aan.
Las paar dagen geleden dat een man met nichtje van 9 op stap was geweest en haar had misbruikt.
Wat stelde griezel, het meisje was zelf begonnen met avances maken!
Typerend voor dit soort zieke lieden, zijn zien en horen wat ze willen zien, horen het is nooit hun schuld.
"Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them."
Thomas Sowell