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A Florida man appearing as his personal legal professional at his loss of life penalty trial, however exhibiting erratic conduct in his opening assertion this week, even yelling on the jury, compelled his 11-year-old son to explain how his father injured him whereas allegedly killing his mom and sister.
Ronnie Oneal III is accused of the 2018 taking pictures and deadly beating of his girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron, 33, additionally of killing their 9-year-old daughter, who had cerebral palsy, with a hatchet, and of stabbing their 8-year-old son, who survived. Prosecutors say Oneal then set their Tampa-area home on fireplace afterward.
The boy, now 11, testified in court docket by way of distant video, describing what occurred to him and his household. However when cross examined by his father, who requested him “How did I harm you?” He mentioned: “You stabbed me.” Then he described how his father doused, then ignited the home, the Associated Press reported.
Florida Assistant State Lawyer Scott Harmon mentioned in court docket when the boy escaped the burning residence, “The primary phrases that got here out of this courageous boy’s mouth: ‘My daddy killed my mommy.’ “
However Oneal, 32, instructed jurors that investigators have been attempting to set him up and coerced his son to testify in opposition to him.
“The proof goes to point out that I like my kids,” Oneal mentioned. “The proof won’t present you that my son witnessed me beat his mother to loss of life, nor did he witness me shoot his mother. In actual fact, he didn’t witness a lot in any respect.”
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He additionally mentioned that throughout the trial, jurors would hear “a number of the most vicious, mendacity, fabricating, fictitious authorities you ever seen [sic].
“I look alone. However I’m backed by a mighty God,” Oneal mentioned. However he additionally shouted at jurors at one level.
“The proof goes to point out that legislation enforcement tampered with proof to satisfy their excessive burden of proof as a result of initially it wasn’t sufficient so [they] needed to tamper with proof,” he yelled.
Oneal has two expenses of first-degree premeditated homicide, two expenses of aggravated baby abuse, a first-degree arson cost, and a cost of resisting an officer with out violence, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Hillsborough County Sheriffs arrested Oneal in March 2018 and he pleaded not responsible the subsequent month, according to local station WTSP. He was decided not competent to face trial, however the state Division of Youngsters and Households wrote a letter to a choose that he might be tried. That choose dominated in 2019 that he was competent to face trial.
Nonetheless, Oneal opted in opposition to having a lawyer, selecting as a substitute to signify himself, understanding that he might face execution if he’s convicted.
In jury choice, he even mentioned that he believes within the loss of life penalty, regardless of being the one who can be put to loss of life. “On the subject of the loss of life penalty, I simply wish to allow you to all know that, me personally, I’m for it. If anyone has dedicated these crimes, they’re worthy of loss of life,” Oneal said.