STORM2K

This is 1 of those cases that made me wanna at the very least casterate the jerk..

Guilty Verdict Reached In Videotaped Abduction, Murder Trial
Courtroom Heard Suspect Confess To Crimes On Tape

POSTED: 7:13 am EST November 17, 2005
UPDATED: 4:11 pm EST November 17, 2005

SARASOTA, Fla. -- A Florida jury has found Joseph Smith guilty of murdering Carlie Brucia, 11, whose abduction was captured by a security camera and broadcast worldwide.

The jury deliberated for about five hours before convicting Smith, 39, of first-degree murder, kidnapping and capital sexual battery on the eighth day of his trial. He now faces the possibility of receiving the death penalty.

The Sarasota, Fla., jury took the case after getting instructions on what it would take to convict on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and capital sexual battery.

Prosecutors Wednesday said a "mountain" of evidence showed Smith is guilty. The defense made no closing argument. Smith's lawyer said he "tried the best case possible." Smith did not testify.

The prosecutor also spoke Wednesday afternoon about the taped jailhouse conversations of Joseph Smith talking about the crimes, and testimony about a jailhouse confession Smith gave to his brother.

Earlier Wednesday, the defense attorney, Adam Tebrugge, played a videotape of Smith's brother, John, asking about reward money in an effort to discredit the brother's testimony.

John Smith had told jurors that his sibling had confessed to "rough sex" with the girl and to killing her, and then told him where the body was.

Jurors also heard a final argument about DNA evidence linking Smith to a semen stain on Carlie's shirt, and above all else, the security camera images of a tattooed man in a mechanic's uniform grabbing Carlie by the wrist and leading her away.

After the prosecution began its closing argument, Carlie's mother, Sue Schorpen, left the courtroom in tears. She rarely attended the trial.

During the trial, the graphic, horrific last moments of Carlie's life were recounted in slow, almost lethargic questioning of witnesses in the murder trial of a man who had previously been charged with violence against women and served one short prison sentence.

A medical examiner testified that scrapes, marks and bruises on Carlie's body indicate the girl was bound, dragged on her side and strangled from behind with a cord or string. Dr. Russell Vega said that Carlie also appeared to have been sexually assaulted.

Jurors were shown almost two dozen images on a television screen of Carlie's body, which was badly decomposed


The medical examiner said he's sticking with his opinion that strangulation was the cause of death. The medical examiner said Carlie was dragged either right before or just after she died.

The medical examiner conceded under questioning by Tebrugge that he had found no traces of semen on Carlie's body or clothing.

Tebrugge, has challenged the reliability of the FBI lab that linked his client through DNA tests to a semen stain found on the girl's shirt.

Tebrugge used a report faulting the FBI lab in Quantico, Va., for employing methods that he said were "vulnerable" to mistakes as the framework of his cross examination of FBI examiner Jennifer Luttman. She testified that the semen stain matched DNA in an oral swab taken from Smith.

Smith has sat stone-faced through most of the trial.

Good. If he's given a life sentence, let the other inmates have at him.

Unfortunately this man (and I use the term biologically) should have never been back on the street. RIP little girl.

Thank god! This story I will always remeber clearly because one of my girls name is Carlie as well, but with a K. People like this should be put under the prison not in it! At least he is on he way to no where. He will never do this again.

He will get his just rewards when he gets to prison.

Murdered Girl's Mom: I'll Be Satisfied When Her Killer Is Dead
Courtroom Heard Suspect Confess To Crimes On Tape

POSTED: 7:13 am EST November 17, 2005
UPDATED: 6:21 pm EST November 17, 2005

SARASOTA, Fla. -- A Florida jury has found Joseph Smith guilty of murdering Carlie Brucia, 11, whose abduction was captured by a security camera and broadcast worldwide.

Brucia's mother wept softly with her head bowed as Thursday's guilty verdict was read.

Smith, a 39-year old mechanic with a long criminal record, was convicted of kidnapping, raping and strangling Brucia in February 2004.

Carlie's mother, Susan Schorpen, said she's lost one of the most precious things in her life because of "a disgusting, perverted animal." And she said she'll be satisfied with the verdict "when he's dead."

The girl's father, Joe Brucia, said only that he is happy with the verdict.

The jury deliberated for about five hours before convicting Smith of first-degree murder, kidnapping and capital sexual battery on the eighth day of his trial. Smith, who did not take the stand, now faces the possibility of receiving the death penalty.

Brucia's disappearance sparked a massive search for her in the Sarasota area. Her half-naked body was found more than four days later at a church property.

Prosecutors Wednesday said a "mountain" of evidence showed Smith is guilty. The defense made no closing argument. Smith's lawyer said he "tried the best case possible." Smith did not testify.

The prosecutor also spoke Wednesday afternoon about the taped jailhouse conversations of Smith talking about the crimes, and testimony about a jailhouse confession Smith gave to his brother.

Earlier Wednesday, the defense attorney, Adam Tebrugge, played a videotape of Smith's brother, John, asking about reward money in an effort to discredit the brother's testimony.

John Smith told jurors that his sibling had confessed to "rough sex" with the girl and to killing her, and then told him where the body was.

Jurors also heard a final argument about DNA evidence linking Smith to a semen stain on Carlie's shirt, and above all else, the security camera images of a tattooed man in a mechanic's uniform grabbing Carlie by the wrist and leading her away.

After the prosecution began its closing argument, Schorpen left the courtroom in tears. She rarely attended the trial.

During the trial, the graphic, horrific last moments of Carlie's life were recounted in slow, almost lethargic questioning of witnesses in the murder trial of a man who had previously been charged with violence against women and served one short prison sentence.

A medical examiner testified that scrapes, marks and bruises on Carlie's body indicate the girl was bound, dragged on her side and strangled from behind with a cord or string. Dr. Russell Vega said that Carlie also appeared to have been sexually assaulted.

Jurors were shown almost two dozen images on a television screen of Carlie's body, which was badly decomposed.

The medical examiner said he's sticking with his opinion that strangulation was the cause of death. The medical examiner said Carlie was dragged either right before or just after she died.

The medical examiner conceded under questioning by Tebrugge that he had found no traces of semen on Carlie's body or clothing.

Tebrugge has challenged the reliability of the FBI lab that linked his client through DNA tests to a semen stain found on the girl's shirt.

Tebrugge used a report faulting the FBI lab in Quantico, Va., for employing methods that he said were "vulnerable" to mistakes as the framework of his cross examination of FBI examiner Jennifer Luttman. She testified that the semen stain matched DNA in an oral swab taken from Smith.

Smith sat stone-faced through most of the trial.

http://www.wral.com/news/5345384/detail.html

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

I hope if they decide to put this killer into a permanent sleep.. Carlie's Mom should be the 1 to inject the needle.. and she should stab him with it!

This case made me so mad.. and I really am aggravated..

If he doesn't get the death penalty.. then let the prisoners have at him..

1 thing my Mom always said.. In a prison.. there is always someone who is a Mom, Dad, or a brother or a sister.. and they detest child molestors, rapists, and especially little girl killers!

Mr Smith.. You are nothing more than a scum bucket!

This was an easy case from what I heard. The evidence against him was overwhelming, in my opinion, the jury made the right choice. Now all that's needed is a Death Verdict, though I do wish they still had the electric chair, lethal injection is way too kind.

May have been an easy case.. but THANK GOD it went the right way!

Judge ruling in Smith trial

STAFF REPORT



SARASOTA – Joseph P. Smith was formally sentenced to life in prison without parole for kidnapping and raping 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. The sentence for murder has not been read yet.

JUDGE ORDERS DEATH FOR SMITH

STAFF REPORT



SARASOTA – Joseph P. Smith was formally sentenced to death this afternoon for killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for kidnap and rape.

Circuit Judge Andrew Owens’ decision to sentence Smith to death was not a surprise. The jury that found Smith guilty in November recommended 10-2 that he die for the crimes. Owens was required to give that recommendation “great weight.”

Smith, 39, an unemployed auto mechanic and convicted drug abuser, tearfully apologized for the crime last month. He asked Owens to spare his life and presented more evidence of his persistant drug and mental health problems.

Yet Owens found the aggravating factors of the crime - Smith’s previous felony convictions, Carlie’s age and the capital felony being especially heinous, atrocious or cruel - outweighed any mitigating factors.

Smith was high on cocaine when a surveillance camera captured him in the act of abducting Carlie behind a car wash on Bee Ridge Road on Feb. 1, 2004.

That snippet of videotape, and the discovery of Carlie’s body several days later, captivated the nation and outraged the community.

An appeal of the sentence to the state Supreme Court is automatic under state law. Today was likely Smith’s final appearance in Sarasota County before moving to death row.

A death row cell is 6 feet wide, 9 feet deep and 9.5 feet high. The average death row inmate spends about 12 years there before they are executed, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Death cases move slowly in Florida and cost taxpayers millions. Each case goes through as many as nine appeals steps before an inmate runs out of options.

One professor estimated that the typical cost for a death penalty case is about $1.3 million, while prison costs about $48 a day, according to Seminole Circuit Judge O.H. Eaton Jr.

Death Row inmates are counted at least once an hour. They are escorted in handcuffs and wear them everywhere except in their cells, the exercise yard and the shower.

And except for medical treatment, exercise, social or legal visits or media interviews, they are in their cells at all times.

This is why I say we need the death penalty....I hope he dies soon .....

you know that wont happen especially since death penalties have been halted in Florida due to a lawsuit....

Sad... They should just give him to the family...I know what I would do,,,

i personally think he should have to live the rest of his life is a little cell plastered with pictures of this little girl. he should not die prematurely. he should have to wake up every day until he's an old man thinking about what he did.

alicia-w wrote:i personally think he should have to live the rest of his life is a little cell plastered with pictures of this little girl. he should not die prematurely. he should have to wake up every day until he's an old man thinking about what he did.

Do you have kids?

What if it was your kid?

Everybreath he takes is one more then this little kid will ever take...

Personally I say tie him up bury him up to his neck next to a big ant hill. JMO

Indeed I do.I have five kids and four grandkids. I just think that death for him is too fast and too easy.

Killing him doesnt bring her back.

I believe in just punishment, even the death penalty. But humanely. Not by sinking to their level. We have keep our morals and behave as we wish they'd behave. That's my 2 cents on it.

At first I thought John/Jospehine had just returned and this was a new topic. Now I see it's older.

Mary

feederband wrote:

alicia-w wrote:i personally think he should have to live the rest of his life is a little cell plastered with pictures of this little girl. he should not die prematurely. he should have to wake up every day until he's an old man thinking about what he did.

Do you have kids?

What if it was your kid?

Everybreath he takes is one more then this little kid will ever take...

Personally I say tie him up bury him up to his neck next to a big ant hill. JMO

Then what? Wait for the next predator to strike and kill his next victim? Wait for the next Amber Alert and the next body to be found, posed spread-eagled on a hillside somewhere? Wait for the next display of public outrage?

Why not find out first what drives them to perpetrate acts of sexual violence against kids (whether the child is killed or not) and then find ways to recognize and eliminate that drive in the next to-be-predator?

And why the heck is everyone only outraged when a child is killed? No one gets all up in arms about those who suffer from months or years of molestation and exploitation. What about all the child pornography on the net? It's not like a magazine or video that can just be burned or ripped up, in the hopes that there aren't copies. Images are downloaded and emailed by pedophiles on a daily basis. And as long as the demand is there, so will be the supply. It's a neverending stream of vile filth.