Opinion ID: 75958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: resentencing trial

Text: 6 During resentencing, the State read to the jury portions of Clinton Bernard Fields's testimony from the guilt phase, which detailed how Robinson murdered Beverly St. George. 3 According to Fields, he and Robinson were at a party on the night of August 11, 1985. After leaving that party together, Robinson and Fields were driving on Interstate 95. While driving, Robinson and Fields saw a green car parked in the emergency lane. Robinson, who was driving, pulled over, walked up to the green car ... [and] opened the door and put a handgun out his pants. Robinson came back with this girl in his hand, and [h]e had the gun on her ... you know, pointing at her, aimed at her. Robinson got into the back seat of his car with the woman, put handcuffs on her, and told Fields to drive away. The woman was later identified as Beverly St. George. 7 Subsequently, Robinson again took over the driving and drove to the Pellicer Creek Cemetery where he took the handcuffs off of St. George and told her to take off all her clothes. St. George then got on the hood of the car, and Robinson put his penis inside her. After Robinson got off her, he told Fields to go ahead and get it, get on her. Fields told Robinson that he don't really need it, because I got a girlfriend. Robinson then raised his voice, and told Fields to just go ahead on. Scared by Robinson, Fields went ahead and put it in her and pulled it back out. When Fields finished, Robinson got back on her and had sex with St. George a second time. While having sex, Robinson had the gun in his hand lying on the hood of the car, [and] had his hand over the gun. 8 Fields explained that during the sex with Robinson, St. George could see the gun that Robinson had in his hand. Fields described how St. George appeared scared, and that, on the way to the cemetery, St. George asked repeatedly whether they were going to kill her. According to Fields, she was begging, you know, `Is you-all going to take me back to my car? Is you-all going to kill me or what?' Fields assured her they would not kill her. 9 After raping St. George a second time, Robinson expressed concern that St. George could later identify them. Fields responded, Well, it's dark. You know, ain't no way she could do that there, you know. Robinson disagreed, stating, Well, only way she can't do that there, I just go ahead and kill the bitch. Robinson then walked up to her and put the gun to her cheek. At that point, Fields turned his head. Fields heard the shot went off, and then ... seen her laying on the ground there. And then he [Robinson] standing over her and gave her another shot. As to the first gunshot, Fields clarified that Robinson put it to her head right there, to her cheek, and he pulled the trigger. As to the second gunshot, Fields explained that she fell on the ground and Robinson just stand over her and, pow, shot her again. 10 After shooting St. George twice, Robinson told Fields, That's what I had to do. You know, if I didn't, you know, she know how I look, you know, and could identify my car, you know. Robinson then told Fields, Now, she can't do none of that. Thereafter, Robinson and Fields drove to a dark road, where Robinson took money out of St. George's purse and burned her purse, ... underwears and some papers, some other stuff. Robinson then took Fields back to Fields's mother's house. At some point along I-95, Robinson threw the murder weapon into a wooded area. 4 11 Portions of Fields's testimony on cross-examination during the guilt phase were also read to the resentencing jury. According to that testimony, (1) Fields was also convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery, (2) Fields got life, not death, and the State had promised Fields some slack with regard to sentencing for his rape, robbery, and kidnapping convictions, and (3) Fields was granted use immunity for his testimony against Robinson.
12 Charles West, the lead investigator, testified during the resentencing. West found St. George lying kind of on her back, on her side ... [s]he was wearing blue jeans, no shirt, and had two wounds to her head. West secured and videotaped the crime scene. Over Robinson's counsel's objection, that videotape was shown to the jury. West pointed out the blood around St. George's head area and the bullet wound over her left eye. 13 West further testified about Robinson's sworn, post-arrest statement, in which Robinson admitted shooting St. George twice, but claimed his first shot was an accident. Robinson's post-arrest statement, published to the jury, provided as follows: 14 On Sunday night, between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., I was at a party drinking Henessey Cognac, some gin or vodka and beer. I left at about 11:30 with Bernard [Fields]. We started to head for Orlando on 95 to see a girl I know there. 15 I saw a little green Plymouth with someone in it. I turned around and went back and stopped. I said, What's the problem? She said, No real problem and that she was tired and stopped. We talked and joked. I had a gun stuck in my pants. She said she needed something like that to kill this son of a bitch. Later she explained it was her ex-husband. 16 I grabbed her by her arm and said, Come on and she came. And I went past Charlie T's [restaurant] and turned down a road. There was a gate that was open. And when I got in, I saw it was a cemetery. We played around a little, and I got her out of her pants. 17 We got out of the car, and I took the gun out of my pants and laid it on the hood. Me and the chick were on the front of the car. And the kid said, Man, let's get out of here and take her back to the car. I said, No, I'm going to take the bitch back to the party. And she said, Who the fuck are you calling a bitch? I said, Shut up, whore. The kid started to laugh, and she went to pawing at me. 18 I picked up my gun. She was right against me, and I was trying to push her back. The gun went off and hit her in the face. She fell, and I called her and said, Hey, bitch, get up. She didn't say anything. I got a flashlight. She was lying on her side, and there was blood coming from her face. 19 I got scared. Then I shot her again. I had to. How do you tell someone I accidently shot a white woman? I hauled ass, started driving. I drove and drove for maybe an hour, two hours. Then I got my head straight and decided to rid of her stuff. I don't remember where I was, but I threw her pocketbook, blouse and I don't recall anything else. 20 The next thing I knew, it was breaking day. And I took Bernard [Fields] home. Then I went home. Monday afternoon when I woke up, I took a screwdriver and tore into the gun where you pull it back. When I finished with it, it wouldn't cock or pull a bullet into it. The gun stayed under the seat of my car. I couldn't figure out what to do with it. The screwdriver's in my trunk. 21 I was coming back from Orlando this morning on 8/17/85 around 1:00 and 2:00 o'clock this morning. And somewhere between Daytona and Ormond Beach, I stopped the car on I-95 and flung the gun into the bushes. 22 West also testified about his post-arrest conversation with Robinson. West asked Robinson why he had placed his firearm into his waistband before approaching St. George in her car. Robinson replied, Well, you know, a gun is a sign of power and authority. While West generally agreed that Robinson was cooperative, West also indicated that Robinson already knew Fields was cooperating with the State.
23 The State also called Dr. Robert McConaghie, the medical examiner for St. Johns County, Florida. McConaghie described the results of his autopsy of St. George, as follows: 24 She was 5 and a-half feet tall, weighed approximately 125 pounds, was a young adult, white woman, about 30, 31 years of age.... 25 She received two gunshot wounds to her face, one of which was in the — entered in the left cheek, traveled into the bottom of the skull through the mid-brain and ended up on the right side of the back of her head. 26 The second bullet entered the left side of her forehead, went backwards into the right and also ended up in the back of the right side of the head. 27 There was extensive hemorrhage inside the skull. There was a bullet track going through both sides of the main lobes of the brain, the cerebral hemispheres and the middle portion of the brain, the medulla, had been penetrated twice, once by each bullet. 28 McConaghie further testified that St. George died as a result of severe brain injuries inflicted by the gunshot wounds. Other than a scratch over her thumb and the two gunshot wounds, there was no other significant injury to her body. McConaghie also saw no markings of any kind or indentations or injuries to her wrists, her hands, or her arms. While McConaghie did not notice any bruising around St. George's vaginal area, his examination did reveal that spermatozoa were present, and that [r]ecent sexual intercourse had taken place. 29 As to which bullet wound Robinson inflicted first, McConaghie had the impression ... that the bullet in the left cheek was the initial shot and the one in the forehead was the second shot. 5 Although St. George would have been rendered immediately unconscious after either bullet went into her head, McConaghie believed that [d]eath from either of the shots would not have been instantaneous. It would have taken at least several seconds, perhaps up to a minute before death to occur. St. George was probably still breathing after the first shot because [t]here was blood found in her lungs that had to come from the back of the mouth, from the blood — from inside of the head. So she had to have breathed in that blood at least one breath and possibly more. 30 McConaghie also testified about the distance at which the gun was held each time St. George was shot. With regard to her left cheek, McConaghie testified that it was a tight contact wound, explaining that the gun was pressed to the cheek and pressed into the cheek. 6 That testimony was consistent with Fields's testimony that Robinson put the gun up against St. George's cheek. Robinson's counsel, however, posited another cause for the contact wound, which McConaghie could not rule out, as follows: 31 DEFENSE: [W]e see a contact wound there and I think that is beyond question. However, what was moving to cause the pressure; that is to say, was the gun muzzle pushed forcefully toward her or was she moving toward the muzzle ... Could she have been moving toward the gun ..., rather than the person holding the gun pushing it against her face? 32 McCONAGHIE: I have no way of knowing whether the gun was being pushed in or she was pushing toward the gun. 33 With regard to the bullet wound in St. George's forehead, McConaghie believed that the gun was held one to two feet away.
34 Annette Eversole lived with St. George, and is married to St. George's brother. By stipulation, a portion of her testimony from the guilt phase was read to the resentencing jury. According to Eversole, before St. George left home on August 11, Eversole saw St. George count out $197 in bills. St. George placed those bills in her billfold and placed that billfold in her black purse. Eversole had discussed money with St. George because she wanted to be sure that [St. George] had enough to make the trip to Quantico, Virginia. St. George was headed to Virginia for a hearing concerning the custody of her children. St. George left in a 1968 green Plymouth, a car with which she had previously experienced mechanical difficulties. Eversole later identified St. George's body at the medical examiner's office.
35 Also by stipulation, the State presented a portion of the guilt phase testimony of Edmund L. Widdowson, Jr., an assistant state attorney for Somerset County, Maryland. Widdowson testified about Robinson's 1979 conviction for forcible rape in Maryland. 7 Robinson received a sentence of ten years in prison on that rape conviction, but was released early on parole. At the time of St. George's murder in 1985, Robinson was on parole status for his 1979 rape conviction.
36 After the State rested, Robinson's counsel presented Dr. Harry Krop, a clinical psychologist familiar with Robinson's background. Krop met with Robinson during March 1986, before the initial sentencing, and again on December 9, 1988, before the resentencing. During those meetings, Robinson and Krop discussed Robinson's past history. Krop did not administer standard psychological tests because [Robinson's] history was particularly noteworthy in terms of his own self-report and there were some other documented aspects of his history already in the records that I reviewed. Krop further explained, [P]sychological tests are used to primarily assist in diagnosis, and ... based on the six hours that I spent with him, I felt comfortable and confident rendering a diagnosis without the use of a psychological test. 37 A large portion of what Krop learned came from Robinson himself, but Krop also spoke to some people that knew Mr. Robinson, despite the fact that [i]t was not easy to get a hold of family members in this case ... because of the nature of his background. Specifically, Krop spoke with (1) Robinson's biological father, the Rev. J.B. Robinson, (2) Coreen Smith, a woman whom indicated ... she was quite familiar with Mr. Robinson, at least as a youngster, because he spent a lot of time at her house, (3) Earl Smith, [t]he boy that Mr. Robinson spent some time with, ... [t]hat was Coreen's son, and I was able to speak with him as well whenever I called Ms. Coreen Smith, and (4) a sheriff's officer who knew Robinson from prison. Krop also reviewed (1) a number of records from prior testimony and prior hearings, (2) Robinson's counsel's entire file, (3) a presentence investigation, and (4) Robinson's Department of Corrections records. 38 Krop testified that the persons with whom he spoke, and the materials that he had reviewed, corroborated portions of what he and Robinson had discussed. Given its private nature, Krop explained that certain information could not be corroborated. Krop also clarified that (1) the people who might know about some of these aspects of Mr. Robinson's background would most likely not be willing to share that information since it's not particular [sic] positive in terms of these other people, and (2) the person who probably knows the most about Mr. Robinson, that is the man who raised him, at least for part of his life, is no longer living. So, I wasn't able to obtain any information from that source. 39 Having testified in many capital cases, Krop indicated his familiarity with both the statutory and nonstatutory mitigating circumstances a jury is entitled to consider under Florida law. 8 Krop did not believe there were any statutory mitigating circumstances in Robinson's case. 9 Krop, however, testified at length about Robinson's background and what he summarized as seven nonstatutory mitigating circumstances: (1) emotional deprivation; (2) physical abuse; (3) sexual abuse; (4) incarceration in an adult prison as a child; (5) psychosexual disorder; (6) intoxication at the time of the offenses; and (7) ability to function in prison without being a management problem. 10 40 As to emotional deprivation, Krop explained that Robinson never knew his mother and he was never really communicated with about his mother. Instead, Robinson was raised by his grandfather and grandmother, and then step-grandmother. This was corroborated by Reverend Robinson[,] the biological father, who ... never told Mr. Robinson that the people who raised him were really not his natural parents. Krop considered Robinson to have emotional deprivation, and believed that when one grows up essentially without a mother and without getting love and affection, that would be a contributing factor; all again contributing to later personality development. 41 While growing up, Robinson was subject to considerable physical abuse, as well as emotional abuse. Robinson's grandfather used a black leather belt and [t]here were instances in which Mr. Robinson had his hands tied together and a switch was used on him. Additionally, the grandfather or the grandmother would use a broom handle and have Mr. Robinson squat, put the broom handle between his legs and have to basically sit in a squatting position. In that squatting position, Robinson was sometimes physically hit. Coreen Smith indicated to Krop that Robinson would often come over to her son's house, her house, and stay there for periods of time complaining that his [grand]father had hit him, complaining about the abuse. Smith also saw the bruises on a number of occasions, and told Krop that Robinson would try and avoid going back home. 42 Robinson was also sexually abused. When 7 years old, Robinson was sexually abused by an uncle, but he did not want to tell anybody about it because he didn't want to be seen as queer. Robinson also thought that if he told his father about the sexual abuse, that would lead to further physical abuse. When Robinson was 11 years old, his grandfather (in his 60's) married a 15 year-old-girl, and that girl also sexually abused Robinson on a number of occasions. Legally, she was his grandmother, but he perceived her as his stepmother, since the grandfather was ... in the role of the father. Robinson had extreme difficulty in disclosing to Krop this sexual abuse. A few months after his grandfather's new wife moved in, at the age of 11 or 12 Robinson ran away and started living on the streets. Robinson lived at various migrant labor camps at the age of 12 to 13 or 14 ... during which time he again reports that he was sexually abused on a number of occasions by these individuals. 43 During this time period, Robinson also began getting into legal trouble. Robinson once told the authorities he was 18 years old because he did not want to be sent back home. According to Krop, Robinson has always been a fairly large individual. Apparently there was no way that they checked and he was ultimately incarcerated in an adult prison situation at the age of 13. 11 Robinson, having left school in the sixth grade, finished his education in the prison system, where he obtained a GED and about 30 college credits. 44 Krop also offered the following diagnosis: while there is no major form of mental illness, Robinson has an antisocial personality disorder 12 and a psychosexual disorder. 13 Krop further testified about Robinson's drinking and drug habits. Robinson had not used drugs throughout his life and did not consider himself an alcoholic. However, Robinson did admit to Krop that he had been drinking on the day and evening of the murder. Robinson told Krop that he started drinking around 4 p.m., when he had a pint of Crown Royal. Robinson reported having anywhere from two, three or four cups ... of liquor at a party, but he was not sure totally sure as to the amount. Robinson also drank maybe two or three six-packs of beer, and ... drank another pint of Crown Royal during the night. Krop acknowledged that he had no independent data on exactly how much Robinson had been drinking on the day and evening of the murder. 45 The final factor to which Krop testified on direct was how Robinson functions in prison. Robinson reported to Krop that he functions better and has ... been more productive in prison situations than he has in the community. In prison, Robinson obtained his GED and has been involved in some tutoring. Robinson's probation officer told Krop that Robinson does well ... [and] is not a management problem. Krop's review of Robinson's prison records confirmed that he had no disciplinary reports. 46 During cross-examination, the State questioned Krop about whether Robinson's self-reported history was corroborated by the other people with whom Krop spoke. Krop admitted that he spoke with those individuals only on the night before resentencing. Krop acknowledged that, while Coreen and Ernest Smith had not directly observed the physical abuse of Robinson, both had seen bruises on Robinson on several occasions. Krop agreed that his testimony about Robinson's sexual abuse and emotional deprivation was based almost entirely on Robinson's self-reports, but Krop added that the PSI's and various other records ... certainly indicated that he did not have a natural mother in a household in which he grew up. As to the sexual abuse, Krop stated that any report of sexual abuse is generally from the person, himself or herself. Krop added that Robinson was very reluctant to have me or counsel contact his family members[,] ... indicating that he did not want them to be involved and he did not feel that they were particularly relevant. According to Krop, [i]t was only by persuasion of both Mr. Pearl [Robinson's counsel] and myself that he gave us at least two names of people we contacted. 47 The State also questioned why Krop considered the following factors mitigating: (1) long-time incarceration, (2) intoxication at the time of the offenses, and (3) ability to function well in jail. The State characterized these factors as self-induced type factors not properly considered in mitigation. As to intoxication, Krop acknowledged that Robinson's report was somewhat different during his second interview in that it indicated Robinson had drank more (and started drinking earlier), but Krop noted that his questions to Robinson about drinking were also different during that second interview. 48 The State also focused on certain statutory aggravating circumstances, namely Robinson's having killed St. George to avoid arrest. The State asked Krop whether Robinson indicated he shot St. George a second time to avoid prosecution, as Fields had testified. Robinson indicated to Krop that he would like to believe he fired the second shot so St. George would not suffer, but Robinson didn't deny the possibility that he shot St. George a second time to eliminate her as a witness. 49 On re-direct, Krop testified about other facts he believed to be mitigating. Krop stated that Robinson is taking more responsibility for his actions and is less hostile than when Krop first met him. Krop mentioned Robinson's kindness towards others and good deeds. For example, Krop testified that (1) Robinson was helpful in the county jail system in terms of at least four incidents in which there were [sic] potential [for] violence, and Robinson quelled that violence, and (2) Robinson helped others in prison obtain their education or GED. 50 Robinson's counsel also questioned Krop about Robinson's employment record, which to some extent was listed in Robinson's PSI that Krop reviewed. Krop stated, I'm not aware of any formal employment, but I did not note that in the record. Robinson's counsel pressed further as to Robinson's work history, asking whether it was true Robinson repaired automobiles. Krop replied, I believe that I saw that in — as part of the training that he received or was noted, and that's a skill of his in his records. 14
51 During closing arguments, the State argued to the jury that Robinson's conduct supported these six statutory aggravating factors: (1) murder committed by a person under sentence of imprisonment, because Robinson was on parole for his prior rape conviction; (2) murder committed by a person who had previously been convicted of another felony involving the use or threat of violence to some person, because Robinson had a prior rape conviction; (3) murder committed in the course of a kidnapping and sexual battery, because Robinson took St. George at gunpoint and in handcuffs and raped her; (4) murder which is particularly wicked, evil, atrocious, or cruel, because Robinson handcuffed St. George immediately, raped her time after time, terrorized her, and put the firearm up to her cheek, while St. George begged for her life; (5) murder committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner, without any pretense of moral or legal justification, because Robinson took St. George to a desolate area with a murder weapon he procured before he first approached her, shot her twice because he thought she might later identify him, and committed the murder even though St. George did not resist or provoke him; and (6) murder committed to avoid arrest, because Robinson shot St. George so that she could not identify him as her rapist or kidnapper. It was these aggravating factors, the State argued, that warranted the ultimate punishment and nothing less. 52 In closing, the defense argued that the particular circumstances under which Robinson had committed the crimes at issue were subject to a great deal of doubt, even though the resentencing jury had to accept the fact that Robinson had been convicted. The defense emphasized that Fields's and Robinson's accounts were different, and that Fields was not necessarily telling the truth because he had something to gain for testifying against Robinson. Characterizing the veracity of Fields's testimony as the key to certain statutory aggravating circumstances, the defense pointed out certain inconsistencies in Fields's testimony. The defense also argued that some evidence suggested certain aggravating circumstances did not exist. 53 The defense walked through its mitigation evidence, pointing out that Krop outlined horror, almost unbelievable childhood for this man, Johnny Robinson, which resulted in the man you see today. The defense highlighted the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse Robinson suffered as a child, and that Robinson essentially grew up on the streets. The defense also discussed the other mitigating circumstances to which Krop testified, including Robinson's intoxication at the time of the offenses, his emotional deprivation and psychosexual disorder, his incarceration in an adult prison as a child, his ability to function in the prison system, and, in certain situations, Robinson's kindness towards others. The defense further noted that, since his offenses, Robinson had matured and taken responsibility for his acts.
54 After deliberating, the resentencing jury recommended death by a vote of eight to four. Thereafter, the state trial court imposed the death penalty, finding the six statutory aggravating circumstances the State had argued and no statutory mitigating circumstances. 55 Although noting much of the mitigation evidence came only from Robinson's self-reports to Krop, the trial court found these three nonstatutory mitigating circumstances: Robinson (1) had a difficult childhood; (2) suffered physical and sexual abuse during childhood; and (3) had a psychosexual disorder. The trial court declined to find that Robinson was intoxicated at the time of the offenses because it was not supported by the evidence. The trial court also found no credible evidence that [Robinson] was incarcerated as a child in an adult prison. Although acknowledging Robinson functions well in prison, the trial court determined that this good behavior is not in mitigation of the crime. 56 The state trial court also specifically noted that, in Robinson's case, the aggravating circumstances are overwhelming. The trial court reasoned that Robinson was on parole for a prior rape, and yet he terrorized, raped, robbed, and murdered St. George, a total stranger. The trial court emphasized that St. George, except as a witness, was no threat to Robinson, and [s]he was killed for the specific purpose of eliminating her as a witness.