Wade Wilson, a Fort Myers, Florida man convicted of killing two Cape Coral ladies in 2019, is dealing with the dying penalty at his sentencing scheduled for at this time.
A jury discovered Wilson, 30, responsible on June 12 of the murders of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, and after weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances, they beneficial the dying penalty.
A jury beneficial on June 25 in 9-3 and 10-2 votes for every of the victims that Wilson obtain the dying penalty.
Will probably be as much as Lee Circuit Decide Nicholas Thompson to impose capital punishment or life in jail with out parole.
Sentencing begins at 2 p.m.
Protection showcases lack of interplay with Wade Wilson
On a cross examination by Hollander, Coyne mentioned he by no means met Wilson, has not examined him and didn’t put together a separate presentation.
The state dismissed and mentioned it has no different witnesses.
Shirley says the protection doesn’t have some other witnesses.
Courtroom adjourns till 2 p.m.
Wade Wilson hospitalized in jail after fentanyl overdose, legal professional says
Based mostly on the totality of proof, Coyne says he discovered no harm to the cranium or the mind.
Assistant State Legal professional Sara Miller says Wilson was hospitalized whereas in jail for a fentanyl overdose.
Wilson is also awaiting trial on two extra expenses levied whereas he was in jail, together with a June 2023 drug-smuggling incident at Lee County Jail. In October 2020, Wilson, together with a person accused in a home violence case, was thwarted in a bid to flee Lee County Jail.
Coyne concludes there is no such thing as a harm to Wilson’s mind.
Protection legal professional Lee Hollander started a cross examination of Coyne.
Singular evaluation makes it ‘exhausting to attract conclusions’ on Wade Wilson
Coyne continued his clarification, saying he sees no proof of atrophy and he sees a “usually structured grownup mind.”
Coyne says “it’s exhausting” to attract conclusions from a single evaluation,” referencing Rubino’s assembly with Wilson final week. Coyne didn’t study Wilson.
Coyne mentioned the mind harm is related to drug use.
State’s skilled witness refutes Wade Wilson’s mind harm testimony
Dr. Thomas Coyne then took the stand on behalf of the state. He’s a neuropathologist and an affiliate health worker.
He mentioned he disagrees with Rubino’s findings and went via every level of Rubino’s presentation.
He mentioned the ventricles’ sizes are regular.
“You see no proof of that right here,” Coyne mentioned.
Convicted assassin says he’ll take into account assertion at sentencing.
Wilson says he’ll take into account addressing the courtroom within the afternoon. The choose will announce his sentence in a listening to scheduled for two p.m.
‘Please see it in your hearts to not take our son’
Wade Wilson’s dad and mom, Cindy and Steve Wilson continued within the letter: “the human continues to be in there.”
“Please see it in your coronary heart not take our son.”
They mentioned it gained’t deliver Melton and Ruiz again.
Letter from Wade Wilson’s dad and mom: System failed him.
After remaining silent throughout his trial, Wade Wilson select to stay silent on the motions listening to, as is his proper.
Shirley learn a letter from Wilson’s adoptive dad and mom.
“It’s been 5 years since this started,” Shirley learn.
“Wade was a joyful little one. Beloved his dad and mom,” they wrote. They mentioned Wilson grew to become delusional after his dependancy started.
“The system failed him on that fateful day in 2019,” they wrote.
Professional witness: Wade Wilson did medicine night time earlier than murders
Shirley confirmed Wilson has head trauma he didn’t report back to the skilled witness and neurologist Rubino.
Rubino mentioned he was conscious Wilson consumed medicine the night time earlier than the murders.
A mixture of Wilson’s mind accidents and the medicine he was on probably resulted within the murders, Rubino mentioned.
Professional witness says no paperwork to again up day head accidents
“He’s been battling psychological well being for a very long time,” Rubino mentioned.
Rubino says he suspects the pinnacle accidents are true, however he doesn’t have paperwork to corroborates the incidents.
He mentioned Wilson has decreased mind mass and first met Wilson final week.
Gardiner says no additional questions, Shirley says he has some additional questions.
Prosecuting legal professional challenges physician’s findings: ‘assuming lots’
Nonetheless, Gardiner says Wade Wilson’s adoptive sister, Wendy Wilson, discovered a CT scan was regular. He didn’t elaborate in courtroom when that check was carried out.
“You’re assuming numerous issues on this explicit case. Are you not, physician?” Gardiner requested Rubino.
Rubino says there’s no hydrocephalus after Gardiner requested particularly concerning the situation.
Based on the Mayo Clinic, hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in cavities referred to as ventricles deep throughout the mind. The surplus fluid will increase the dimensions of the ventricles and places strain on the mind.
‘You may’t faux’ mind harm, neurologist tells lawyer
As Gardiner begins asking questions, Rubino tells him, “You may’t faux (mind harm).”
As testimony continued, Rubino referenced the brutal slayings.
“The crime itself signifies he has some sort of harm,” he mentioned.
Physician reaches conclusions: cognitive and emotional disfunction
Rubino says he drew two conclusions. Cognitive and emotional disfunction, inflicting worse conduct and fewer pondering.He additionally mentioned he discovered proof of a mind harm, explaining that atrophy, due to the mind harm, takes time to develop.
The cross examination begins as Assistant State Legal professional Andreas Gardiner begins asking questions.
Rubino introduced a PowerPoint along with his findings Rubino begins presenting photographs of Wilson’s mind. He mentioned one of many mind’s ventricles is greater than the others.
Based on the web site VeryWell Well being, ventricles of the mind are: cavities throughout the mind that produce and retailer cerebrospinal fluid. This liquid surrounds your mind and spinal twine, cushioning them and defending them from trauma. It is usually liable for eradicating waste and delivering vitamins to your mind.
Rubino mentioned Wilson’s ventricles are small for his age, and he has some frontal lobe atrophy.
Wade Wilson suffered head accidents; confirmed psychological well being points at 11
Rubino famous Wilson was impulsive.
Rubino mentioned Wilson’s adoptive sister, Wendy Wilson, mentioned he started displaying psychological well being indicators after he was 11.
Rubino talked about Wilson’s head accidents: He suffered head accidents stemming from two crashes the place the drivers hit bushes.
Rubino mentioned Wilson suffered one concussion enjoying soccer and one other enjoying baseball. Rubino mentioned he ordered testing for Wilson after he discovered indicators of mind harm.
Neurologist says Wilson has indicators of mind harm
Rubino, who expenses $400 per hour, informed the courtroom the assessments he performs are damaged into visible, particular and government.
When requested to attract a clock, he drew two “X’s”.
Two officers had been current.“He acquired paranoid they had been watching him,” Rubino mentioned.
He discovered Wilson had uncommon eye actions, which he associated to mind harm.
Rubino mentioned he discovered indicators that might relate to Parkinson’s illness, but additionally present he had been handled for psychological well being.
Wade Wilson movement listening to will get underway
Tuesday’s morning’s motions acquired underway quickly after 9 a.m. with protection legal professional Kevin Shirley saying he anticipated one witness.
The witness, Dr. Mark Rubino caught in a protracted line.“It seems to be like half of Lee County is right here at this time,” Shirley mentioned.
Rubino testified that he met with Wilson, who was shackled and behind glass for the neurological examination.
First order of enterprise: Motions requested to vacate the decision
Certainly one of Wilson’s attorneys, Lee Hollander, filed a closing movement July 3 saying the courtroom erred a few Florida state statute that allowed a jury advocate dying if at the very least eight jurors voted in favor. Earlier than the brand new statute took impact April 1, 2023, a jury’s dying suggestion required jurors’ unanimous vote.
Previous to Wilson’s 2 p.m. Tuesday sentencing, Thompson has allotted time throughout a 9 a.m. listening to the identical day to rule on pending motions.
Sentencing delayed after scheduling points with specialists
Thompson on July 19 dominated that the sentencing for Wade Wilson, 30, be reset to Aug. 27.
That listening to lasted precisely 90 minutes. Throughout that point, Thompson heard arguments from protection attorneys Hollander and Kevin Shirley, in addition to Assistant State Attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner.
Sentencing set for two p.m.; consists of sufferer affect statements
The sentencing might take some time.
Throughout Wilson’s 2 p.m. sentencing, Thompson is anticipated to listen to sufferer affect statements. Then the choose will probably have a brief break earlier than returning Wilson’s sentence.