Jury Returns With Decision For Death Penalty In Donald Smith Case

Jury Returns With Decision For Death Penalty In Donald Smith Case A florida jury on wednesday convicted 61 year old donald smith of kidnapping, raping, and murdering an eight year old girl after promising to help her family pay for clothes at a nearby walmart. the trial now moves to a penalty phase. prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against smith, who the jury agreed caused the death of cherish perrywinkle in 2013. Follow law&crime: earlier this month, a florida jury found donald smith guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering 8 year old cherish perrywinkle in 2013. after convicting smith, they then had to determine his sentence: the death penalty or life in prison. after a penalty phase that lasted several days, the jury sentenced the 61 year old smith.

Jury Returns With Decision For Death Penalty In Donald Smith Case 1:26. donald james smith isn't relenting in his efforts to avoid execution for the 2013 abduction, rape and murder of 8 year old cherish perrywinkle. he was back in court this week seeking post. The jury will return to the courthouse on tuesday for the sentencing phase of smith’s trial. under a recent u.s. supreme court ruling, the jury’s decision on the death penalty must be unanimous. The state argues that even if those errors were made, the evidence was overwhelming that smith murdered perrywinkle, and it would not have impacted the outcome of his getting the death penalty. Guilty verdict: the jury took 14 minutes to find donald smith guilty of murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery of cherish perrywinkle. the penalty phase will begin on tuesday. the penalty phase.