TAMPA: A death penalty trial in Florida started with the suspect, acting as his own attorney, yelling at jurors he didn’t assault his girlfriend and also handicapped kid over three decades back.
Ronnie Oneal III maintained at a stunning opening statement which the evidence could show”a number of the very brutal, lying, making, untrue authorities you ever observed ” Gesturing and peeking, Oneal cried at one stage during Monday’s opening:”I seem lonely.
However, I’m backed with a powerful God.” He maintained the girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron, assaulted both kids and he murdered her in self love.
The killings occurred March 18, 2018, at their house in Tampa’s Riverview region.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Harmon countered that prosecutors would establish Oneal injured Barron using a shotgun, then beat her to death.
Harmon also stated Oneal employed a hatchet to kill his 9-year-old kid – that had cerebral palsy and couldn’t talk – and hurt his son, then 8, using a knife.
Researchers say Oneal also place the home on fire following the strikes.
The boy, now 11, lived and will be scheduled to testify by distant video contrary to his father, who would cross-examine the boy.
Researchers say that the injured boy came from the burning home and explained what had occurred.
“The very first words that came from the courageous boy:’My dad killed my mom,'” Harmon told jurors.
Jurors also heard a 911 call from Barron where she desperately sought aid as Oneal yelled from the background.
“OK, Ronnie, I am sorry,” she states on the listing.
“I am so sorry.
Assist me.
I can not move my arm.
My arm has been taken upward, Ronnie.
Please” Oneal claimed that investigators made evidence to implicate him that his son was educated about what to say.
“The evidence will show I really like my kids,” Oneal informed jurors.
“The signs won’t reveal my son saw me conquer his mother to death, nor did he see me take his mother.
In actuality, he did not witness much whatsoever.” The trial is anticipated to continue at the end of the week.
Oneal could find the death penalty if convicted.