URGENT Carlie Brucias killer sentenced to death SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) The 39-year-old former mechanic convicted abducting, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia was sentenced Wednesday to death. Joseph P. Smith, whose abduction of the girl two years ago was caught by a security camera and subsequently aired on TV, was led from the courtroom after state Circuit Judge Andrew Owens pronounced the sentence for first-degree murder. Smith was sentenced to life in prison for both his kidnapping and capital sexual battery convictions. The same jury that convicted Smith recommended by a vote of 10-2 that he be executed. Owens was required by law to give great weight to that recommendation. During a hearing last month, Smith tearfully apologized for his crimes, telling Owens that he took large amount of heroin and cocaine trying to kill himself before he abducted Carlie on Feb. 1, 2004. Smith said he didnt remember much about that day and asked Owens to spare him for the sake of his family. Carlies body was found four days after her disappearance on the grounds of a Sarasota church. News of the crime shook the community, and hundreds turned out for memorial services for the little girl.
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To: Brian Mosely
2 posted on
03/15/2006 12:31:57 PM PST by
theDentist
(Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
To: Brian Mosely
In the words of Moe Howard:
"I'll Moider you for this!"
4 posted on
03/15/2006 12:32:59 PM PST by
ExcursionGuy84
("Jesus, Your Love takes my breath away.")
To: Brian Mosely
Good thing. O'Reilly would have strung him up! Ha
5 posted on
03/15/2006 12:33:07 PM PST by
Ron in Acreage
(Liberal Democrats-Party before country, surrender before victory, generous with other peoples money.)
To: Brian Mosely
MORE
But on Wednesday, Owens discounted those arguments. He said Carlie suffered unspeakable terror and physical suffering at Smiths hands.
Carlies body was found four days after her disappearance on the grounds of a Sarasota church. News of the crime shook the community, and hundreds turned out for memorial services for the little girl.
During last months hearing, prosecutor Debra Johnes Riva dismissed arguments by defense attorney Adam Tebrugge that Smith was depressed and in the throes of a raging drug addiction for which he had previously sought help. Tebrugge also said Smith could lead a productive life in prison and be a positive influence on his three daughters if he was spared.
None of that, Riva said, outweighs the horrible crimes that were committed against Carlie Brucia.
During that hearing, Smith spoke publicly for the first time, saying, I take responsibility of my crimes. I dont understand how this could have happened. ... Every day I think about what I did and beg God for forgiveness.
Absent from the courtroom was Carlies mother, Susan Schorpen, who is in jail in Pinellas County on drug and prostitution charges. She has said the pain of losing her daughter led her to institutionalize herself three times and take drugs to numb the pain.
6 posted on
03/15/2006 12:33:23 PM PST by
Brian Mosely
(A government is a body of people -- usually notably ungoverned)
To: Brian Mosely
7 posted on
03/15/2006 12:33:24 PM PST by
Redcloak
(<--- Not always a people person.)
To: Brian Mosely
To: Brian Mosely
10 posted on
03/15/2006 12:33:51 PM PST by
HairOfTheDog
(Hobbit Hole knives for soldiers! www.freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net)
To: Brian Mosely
Drop down to the fifth ring and cook, Smith. If I were you, I'd start soaking daily in Stubb's marinade.
12 posted on
03/15/2006 12:34:43 PM PST by
domenad
(In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
To: Brian Mosely
During a hearing last month, Smith tearfully apologized for his crimes, telling Owens that he took large amount of heroin and cocaine trying to kill himself before he abducted Carlie on Feb. 1, 2004.If my drug program was in place this fellow might have croaked when he took the drugs!!
13 posted on
03/15/2006 12:34:48 PM PST by
CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
(Toon Town, Iran...........where reality is the real fantasy.)
To: Brian Mosely
I listened to the whole hour long statement by the judge. He's what judges should be. He laid it all out so there's no way Smith can get anything overturned. Justice is served.
14 posted on
03/15/2006 12:35:29 PM PST by
mtbopfuyn
(Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
To: Brian Mosely
I wish he would be released into the general prison population so the death sentence could be carried out faster and more appropriately.
To: Brian Mosely
I'll take 2026 in the "When will this piece of trash assume room temperature?" pool.
18 posted on
03/15/2006 12:36:43 PM PST by
ssaftler
(Politically Correct isn't! Progressives aren't!)
To: Brian Mosely
If we're going to have a death penalty, this is the sort of criminal who has certainly earned it.
20 posted on
03/15/2006 12:38:15 PM PST by
FormerLib
(Kosova: "land stolen from Serbs and given to terrorist killers in a futile attempt to appease them.")
To: Brian Mosely
. . . telling Owens that he took large amount of heroin and cocaine trying to kill himself before he abducted Carlie on Feb. 1, 2004. Let us help you.
To: Brian Mosely
I guess the little cry baby act didn't play very well.
I volunteer to push the plunger, flip the switch or pull the ring for the long drop. Heck, I'd bring my own rifle and work my way up from the ankle. Save the state some money.
22 posted on
03/15/2006 12:39:56 PM PST by
PeteB570
(Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
To: Brian Mosely
Just hope that Florida doesn't get a Democratic governor who will commute everybody on death row..
23 posted on
03/15/2006 12:40:02 PM PST by
D-Chivas
To: Brian Mosely
"
...Smith tearfully apologized for his crimes, telling Owens that he took large amount of heroin and cocaine trying to kill himself..."
Unfortunately, because he didn't succeed then, a girl is dead. NOW he may finally get his wish.
25 posted on
03/15/2006 12:40:22 PM PST by
azhenfud
(He who always is looking up seldom finds others' lost change.)
To: Brian Mosely
The significant thing about this case (it is of course a given that he should be killed now) is his very long rap sheet, the number of encounters with the law, the nature of his priors - he should have been killed a long time ago.
His first known offense was for smashing a woman over the head and dragging her into the woods. She escaped, and he got probation. That was society's first mistake.
Why did the judge think he dragged he into the woods? To discuss Goethe?
Human predators should be killed as soon as they are identified. If this had been done, Carlie would be alive.
It's really that simple.
28 posted on
03/15/2006 12:43:42 PM PST by
Jim Noble
(And you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!)
To: Brian Mosely
He deserves the death penalty.
34 posted on
03/15/2006 12:46:49 PM PST by
Recovering_Democrat
((I am SO glad to no longer be associated with the party of Dependence on Government!))
To: JulieRNR21; kinganamort; katherineisgreat; floriduh voter; summer; Goldwater Girl; windchime; ...
Florida Freeper
40 posted on
03/15/2006 12:50:29 PM PST by
Joe Brower
(The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
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