GUILTY FL - Voncile Smith, 77, & two sons brutally murdered, Pensacola, 28 July 2015 *Arrest*

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Donald Hartung Convicted of Murdering His Mom and Two Half Brothers
6:32 pm, January 29th, 2020
Florida man Donald Hartung was found guilty in the murders of his mother Voncile Smith, 77, and his half brothers John William Smith, 49, and Richard Thomas Smith, 47.
[...]

BREAKING: Hartung Convicted Of Murdering Three Family Members For Money : NorthEscambia.com
January 29, 2020
An Escambia County man has been found guilty of murdering three family members in 2015.

A jury returned the verdict late Wednesday afternoon against 63-year old Donald Hartung on Wednesday on three counts of first degree premeditated murder of his mother, 77-year old Voncile Smith and two half-brothers, 47-year old John Smith,and 49-year old Richard Smith.

Hartung showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read aloud. Sentencing hearings are expected to begin Monday and are expected to take about four days. The state is seeking the death penalty.
[...]
 
  • #163
I think that the jury got this right. I found the prosecution to be very solid and powerful.
 
  • #164
Good job jury! No expression from him - he knew he was finished! Throughout the whole trial he had a bemused expression. He doesn’t seem to care, as if he’s checked out. I don’t see a DP verdict for some reason. I think his age will play a factor and the fact that the victims have been tainted by some of the testimony.
 
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Donald Hartung Trial - Prosecution Closing Argument
 
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Donald Hartung Trial - Defense Closing Argument
 
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Donald Hartung Trial - Prosecution Rebuttal Closing Argument
 
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Update in red.

Wednesday, January 29th:
*Trial continues (Day 7)-Verdict reached! (@ 10am ET) – FL – Voncile Smith (77), Richard Thomas Smith (49) & John William Smith (47) (July 28, 2015, Pensacola) - *Donald Wayne Hartung, Sr. (63 in 2015; now 69) arrested & charged (10/27/15) with 3 counts of premeditated 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Info on case & trial info from 1/21/20 (Day 1) thru 1/24/20 (Day 4) reference post #138 here:
FL - Voncile Smith, 77, & two sons brutally murdered, Pensacola, 28 July 2015 *Arrest*

Trial began on 1/21/20.
1/27/20 Day 5: State witnesses: DNA analyst Jennifer Wilkerson. Former medical examiner Dr. Andrea Minyard. Prosecution rests. Judge denies defense motion for judgment of acquittal. Defense witnesses: Dennis Keith Waller (police procedure expert). Dr. Paul C. Larson (religion expert). Defense told the judge their case will probably take two days. The defense is expected to rest their case by early afternoon tomorrow. Trial continues on 1/28.
1/28/20 Day 6: Defense witnesses: Matt Infinger (case agent). Christine Collins. Dr. Jonathan Arden (Forensic pathologist). Proffer of Witness, Seaborn Roddenbery Jr, Candy Zuleger & Jennifer Wil. Defense rests. The defendant will not testify. Closing arguments tomorrow morning, 1/29 at 10am.
1/29/20 Day 7: Went over jury instructions. Closing arguments: Prosecutor Bridgette Jensen & Defense attorney. Jurors deliberated for 4 hours and came back with a verdict of guilty on all charges. Death penalty phase starts on Monday, 2/3.
 
  • #169
Sentencing Delayed For Triple Murderer Hartung : NorthEscambia.com

February 1, 2020

Sentencing has been delayed by a few days in the case of Donald Hartung.

Sentencing hearings were set to begin Monday but have been delayed to a Thursday [2/6] start due to witness availability. An Escambia County jury will decide he will spend the rest of his life in prison or be put to death for the triple murder of three relatives.
 
  • #170
Thursday, February 6th:
*Death Penalty Phase begins (@ 10am ET) – FL – Voncile Smith (77), Richard Thomas Smith (49) & John William Smith (47) (July 28, 2015, Pensacola) - *Donald Wayne Hartung, Sr. (63 in 2015; now 69) arrested & charged (10/27/15) with 3 counts of premeditated 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Info on case & trial info from 1/21/20 (Day 1) thru 1/29/20 (Day 7) reference post #168 here:
FL - Voncile Smith, 77, & two sons brutally murdered, Pensacola, 28 July 2015 *Arrest*

Trial began on 1/21/20 & ended on 1/29/20 with a guilty on all charges. Jurors deliberated for 4 hours.
2/3/20 Update: Death penalty phase starts today. 2/1/20: Penalty phase has been delayed due to availability of witnesses. Will now start on Thursday, 2/6.
 
  • #171
LIVE:
Watch Live: Donald Hartung Penalty Phase for Murders of His Mother and Half Brothers
Watch Live: Donald Hartung Penalty Phase for Murders of His Mother and Half Brothers

10:12 am, February 6th, 2020
Jurors in Escambia County, Florida will decide the fate of convicted murderer Donald Hartung, 63. He was found guilty on January 29 of killing his mother Voncile Smith, 77, and his half brothers John William Smith, 49, and Richard Thomas Smith, 47.
 
  • #172
Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) | Twitter

2h
WATCH LIVE: Donald Hartung penalty phase. Hartung is reading a statement to the judge now. https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/donald-hartung/watch-live-donald-hartung-penalty-phase-for-murders-of-his-mother-and-half-brothers/… #HartungTrial

1h
#HartungTrial - Donald Hartung spoke for at least an hour this morning requesting a mistrial saying his attorneys were ineffective, claims they withheld information from him. "I was duped and I was tricked."

1h
#HartungTrial - Hartung's attorneys are requesting a mental health evaluation. Judge says he appears rational and he's articulate. Doesn't see any need for a competency evaluation.
 
  • #173
'They were duped': Donald Hartung speaks in court for first time during penalty hearing
Thursday, February 6th 2020
[...]
At the start of proceedings Thursday morning, Hartung spoke in court for the first time since his trial began. A decision his attorneys were unaware he was going to make.


"I loved my jury," Hartung said in court. "They paid close attention, but your honor, they were duped, and you were duped."

In a 45-minute statement, Hartung claimed he is innocent and asked Judge Dannheiser for a mistrial.

"My DNA in your house where a crime has been committed is real evidence," Hartung read from a written statement. "My DNA in my mother's house where I frequented all the time, your honor, that is not even real evidence."

Hartung criticized his legal counsel for not allowing him to testify and attempted to refute many of the witness testimonies given during the trial portion of his case.

His request for a mistrial was denied by the judge, as well as his attorneys' requests to recuse themselves.

"You knowingly and voluntarily waived your right to testify during trial," Judge Dannheiser told Hartung. "That was the decision you made."
[...]
 
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@SeesSeas - unfortunately that video you posted in #174 doesn't work for me.... :(

Can you give a list of "what" happened in court? You know, opening statements, State witnesses' names & profession?

I did get to see a 45 min. video of Dr. Weidaman or Zeeman - couldn't understand his name - I'm going to assume he was a defense witness, the psychologist.

TIA if you can do this for me! :)
 
  • #176
Friday, February 7th:
*Death Penalty Phase continues (Day 2) (@ 8:30am ET) – FL – Voncile Smith (77), Richard Thomas Smith (49) & John William Smith (47) (July 28, 2015, Pensacola) - *Donald Wayne Hartung, Sr. (63 in 2015; now 69) arrested & charged (10/27/15) with 3 counts of premeditated 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Info on case & trial info from 1/21/20 (Day 1) thru 1/29/20 (Day 7) reference post #168 here:
FL - Voncile Smith, 77, & two sons brutally murdered, Pensacola, 28 July 2015 *Arrest*

Trial began on 1/21/20 & ended on 1/29/20 with a guilty on all charges. Jurors deliberated for 4 hours.
2/3/20 Update: Death penalty phase starts today. 2/1/20: Penalty phase has been delayed due to availability of witnesses. Will now start on Thursday, 2/6.
2/6/20 Day 1: Hartung spoke for at least an hour this morning requesting a mistrial saying his attorneys were ineffective, claims they withheld information from him. "I was duped and I was tricked." Hartung's attorneys are requesting a mental health evaluation. Judge says he appears rational and he's articulate. Doesn't see any need for a competency evaluation. His request for a mistrial was denied by the judge, as well as his attorneys' requests to recuse themselves. No more info available. Trial continues to 2/7.
 
  • #177
@SeesSeas - unfortunately that video you posted in #174 doesn't work for me.... :(

Can you give a list of "what" happened in court? You know, opening statements, State witnesses' names & profession?

I did get to see a 45 min. video of Dr. Weidaman or Zeeman - couldn't understand his name - I'm going to assume he was a defense witness, the psychologist.

TIA if you can do this for me! :)

Perhaps you can access the lengthy video (2:52:17) at this media link. . . scroll down to 2nd video:
DAY 1: Sentencing of Escambia County man Donald Hartung for triple-murder

I didn't view the entire day. :rolleyes: Still semi-retired. :cool: But I've listed some details below. :D

Donald Hartung PENALTY PHASE

Judge – Preliminary instructions
State – Opening statement
Defense – Opening statement

State:
Several Victim Impact Witnesses

Defense:
Stephen F. Zieman Jr, MD - Psychologist
Geoffrey William Colino, MD -Forensic Neurologist


Defense team doctor says Hartung has brain disease
Updated: Feb 6, 2020 / 10:01 PM CST
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — A neurologist called by the defense team of convicted murderer Donald Hartung says the 63-year-old has a neurodegenerative disease.

The doctor told jurors Thursday during a sentencing hearing he believes Hartung has frontotemporal dementia. The brain disease can cause parts of the brain to shrink and can cause violent behavior.
 
  • #178
Thanks - I'll give it a shot once I go thru my other thread cases since it's 2 hours long! OR!! I'll listen "who" the impact statements were and just use the rest of your list there! :D
 
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