Verdict possible tomorrow in Donald Smith trial A verdict could come as early as tomorrow in the case against the man charged with kidnapping, raping, and killing a local 8-year-old girl. He said he dressed as a maintenance worker and placed microphones in vents at the Duval County jail. During pre-trial testimony earlier this week, shocking details emerged when a medical examiner explained the significant injuries found on the little girls body. She says its a 1 in 35 quintillion match, meaning shes confident the only other person responsible could be an identical twin, if Smith had one. Donald Smith was standing trial on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery. Donald James Smith, 61, faces the death penalty if he is found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery, reported The Washington Post. Smith told Rayne. Last year, video was released by the State's Attorney Office in Florida, US, showing horrifying CCTV footage where Cherish is approached, along with her mother and sisters, by Smith at a Walmart in Jacksonville, northeastern Florida. Rayne didn't have a lot of details toprovide to the police. Domestic violence speaks many languages, has many colors and lives in many different communities. It's clear that it's difficult for #CherishPerrywinkle's mother Rayne Perrywinkle to listen to this 911 call. Don told Rayne he would getcheeseburgers in McDonalds. Medical Examiner Valerie Rao said that the girls injuries were extremely shocking, and the photos apparently show the damage that 61-yearDonald James Smith allegedly inflicted upon the 8-year-old in 2013. The swift guilty verdicts must come as a relieft to the medical examiner who performed an autopsy on the battered body the young girl. On cross-examination, the defense confirmed there was no foreign DNA under Cherishs finger nails. [Photo: Florida Department of Law Enforcement]. It took a Jacksonville jury less than 15 minutes to find Donald James Smith, 61, guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in Florida in 2013. When discussing Cherish with his mother, he said"what's her name again?" @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/nfpLo3x45s. The state and defense have rested in thecase against Donald Smith on Day 2 of his murder trial. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Clicca su Gestisci impostazioni per maggiori informazioni e per gestire le tue scelte. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Her intuition was warning her about Donald. I dont want to be one of those parents who go through this.Perrywinkle told a 911 operator. Jurors Cry Over Autopsy Photos On Day 2 in the trial of Donald Smith, many female jurors cried when graphic autopsy photographs of Cherish Perrywinkle were shown in court Tuesday. Rayne would later say shethought it was fine as McDonalds was inside Walmart so really they were notleaving the store and there were plenty of people still around. @ActionNewsJax #DonaldSmith, Lee says semen positive in rectal swab samples. After a lapse in time while discussing strategies to find the little girl, officers begancanvassing the area in search of the little girl. Smith, now 64, was accused of murdering Cherish Perrywinkle after a series of events that began when he met her mother, Rayne Perrywinkle, at a Dollar General store. DNA other than Cherishs could not be detected in the oral swab. The state rested after playing the recording. Even after all the horror he inflicted on Cherish the callousness of that statement is strikingandfurther confirms a man like Donald will never change and if giventhe chance will do it again. Meanwhile, the man accused of the brutal murder of the girl "decided to turn his back when autopsy pictures were shown", according to sources in court. This week kicked off the trial for the Florida man accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering Perrywinkle. In court videos seen by news.com.au, Rao was testifying for the Medical Examiner's office and provided disturbing details over the little girl's death. Shortly the recording from the jail will be played. Rao says she actually went out to the scene where Cherish was recovered. Instead theyve been arguing that he wouldnt receive a fair trial in Jacksonville or its surrounding areas. Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle became emotional in court Tuesday as she discussed the last moments of the young girl's life. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Cherish Perrywinkle was abducted, raped and strangled to death, CCTV images showing the Cherish leaving Walmart with the man who is accused of killing her, Donald Smith faces the death penalty is convicted of killing Cherish Perrywinkle, Medical Examiner Dr. Valerie Rao leaves the courtroom visibly upset, The Judge allowed a break in proceedings as the jury and medical examiner were left in tears by the graphic images, Smith turned his back to the court as graphic images from the child's post-mortem were shown to the jury, The State Attorney seen with Dr Rao as they go over the visual evidence to be presented to the court, CCTV images of Cherish crossing the Walmart car park are the last time she was seen alive, Horror injuries of Cherish Perrywinkle, 8, raped, tortured and strangled until her eyes bled by Walmart monster leaves murder jury in tears, Parents who killed teen by allowing weight to balloon to 23st before she died in squalor covered in maggots are jailed, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Man rushed to hospital with stab wounds after 'incident' at Hackney Central railway station as cops rush to scene, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Don wasn't interested in shopping for himself and in fact only added a bundle of rope to the shopping cart. He then offered to buy the mother a $100 gift card andsomehow convinced her to ride with him to pick up the card at a nearby Walmart. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. Smith was arrested 10 hours after the child was abducted after his vehicle was spotted by a police officer. I need just 5 minutes @FCN2go #donaldSmith. As CrimeOnline previously reported,OnJune 21, 2013,a man approached a single, struggling mother,Reyne Perrywinkle, at the Dollar General store onEdgewood Avenue West in Jacksonville. After utilizingK-9 units, little Cherishs lifeless body was found in a nearby swampy ditch. Instead, he abducted her from the Walmart they went to and the next morning . ", Even the state attorney and Medical Examiner seem to be getting caught by the enormity of the emotion. "In fact, hers was a brutal and tortured death.". Todays testimony was clearly difficult for some of the jurors, with many openly shedding tears as the autopsy photos were put in front of them. 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. The next day, the full autopsy was performed. "I just need five minutes. A verdict could come as early as tomorrow in the case against the man charged with kidnapping, raping, and killing a local 8-year-old girl. Smith, the man accused of the 2013 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, decided to turn his back to the screen when autopsy pictures were shown Tuesday. Of course it is a violent act but he wanted the rape to be viewed as him inflicting rage and violence on Cherish as opposed to him viewing her as a sexual object. I don't understand why he would leave right now unless he's going to rape her and kill her. It was something the entire city of Jacksonville was concerned about given that it was a child., Jurors are understandably becoming agitated and silently upset while looking at the injuries sustained to Cherish's body. Smiths DNA also matched samples from a rectal swab of Cherish. "Cherish did not die quickly, and she did not die easily," State Attorney Melissa Nelson told the jury a day earlier. There was no kicking or screaming. She didn't know Don at all and described him as a man with white hair who drove a white van. @ActionNewsJax, Defense moves for judgement of acquittal. They are not hiding in shadows. She sustained bruises to her legs, her arms, the hickey on her breast, and various scratches. Cherish had been strangled with such force that her eyeballs bled-the blood vessels burst in her throat, face and eyes. Cherish Perrywinkle's dress This is the dress that was worn by 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle when she was killed. All she knew was that she had a badfeeling about him and that he must have taken Cherish. That something, . It was a child that was abducted, it was something that the entire City of Jacksonville was concerned about, she says. "Doctors are people too," said the State of Dr. Rao. DAY 1:JSO officers responding to Cherish'smurder: 'Protect her, preserve the evidence'. In court, Raynes 911 call to the dispatcher was played. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on an 8-year-old Florida girl who was abducted, raped and murderedbecame emotional and had to interrupt her testimony at the trial of the man accused of the crime. You may be offline. She got into Don's van. Closing arguments will take place tomorrow, and then jury deliberations will begin #DonaldSmith #CherishPerrywinkle pic.twitter.com/Z8NfJTaNus. According to court documents . Cherish was also raped prior to her death, and Rao says injuries resulting from that were severe. There was just one problem with that though. February 13, 2018 / 12:38 PM The man, later identified as Smith, first offered to buy the moma dress. Walmart wasclosing and she had ashopping cart full of clothes, no gift card and nosign of Don, his wife or Cherish. What she sustained was tremendous force on her neck, such that she basically, she could not breathe. His DNA was found on and inside Cherish's body and Cherish's DNA was found on his penis. Prior Arrest . He has pleaded not guilty. Not so much at his Trial but in a prison recording of a conversation he had with his mother. @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/MwTPX7bR9X, Undercover officer placed microphones in vents at Duval County jail to capture communications between #DonaldSmith and another inmate. "Looking at her genital area and her anal area, she had so much trauma, the anatomy was totally. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. The defense called for a mistrial over the interruption in testimony, but the judge denied the motion,Matter tweeted. Smith, the man accused of the 2013 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 8-year-old Cherish. Cherish Perrywinkle was abducted, raped and strangled to death Donald Smith, 61, has appeared in court charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and rape of the eight-year-old girl in June. Smith had his back turned to the screen and did not view the photos, Matter reported. Her injuries revealed defensive wounds which showed this little 67lbs 8 year old girl fou ght for her life but she was no match for the monster who had kidnapped her. This article contains information regarding the autopsy of the victim and manner of her death. On Day 2 in the trial of Donald Smith, many female jurors cried when graphic autopsy photographs of Cherish Perrywinkle were shown in court Tuesday. Cherish was also raped prior to her death, and Rao says injuries resulting from that were severe. Perrywinkle can be heard saying: "I'm hoping he's not raping her right now because I've had that done to me and it's not fun.". @ActionNewsJax, Multiple women on the jury crying as more photos are shown. Donald saw an opportunity that day when he saw Rayne with her three girls. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4JAX I-TEAM has obtained all of the evidence against Donald Smith, who was convicted of raping and killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle. Jacksonville chief medical examiner Dr Valerie Rao stopped her testimony as images of the child were displayed in the Florida courtroom, saying: She had so much trauma, the anatomy was totally distorted by the injury she suffered. He told her he waswaiting for his wife andthat they had a $150gift card for Walmart that he would be happy for her to use to buy clothes for thegirls. HARROWING images of the battered body of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and brutally killed have leftan entire jury traumatised and in tears. Multiple jurors also cried, covered their mouths and turned away as the graphic photos were shown, CBS affiliate WJAX's Bridgette Matter reported via Twitter. There was also DNA evidence. The shopping trip was very focused around the girls and Rayne stayed with them in the children's section. Police were familiar with Don. That same man waited for Rayne outside the store. I dont understand why he would leave right now. The defense is moving for a judgment of acquittal. @ActionNewsJax, Lee says in Cherish oral swabs it was positive for semen. The man struck up a conversation with Rayne outside the store. The Associated Press contributed to this report. @ActionNewsJax, The next series of photographs are injuries. @ActionNewsJax, Rao explaining photographs, we will not see them, only Dr. Rao, the lawyers, and jury. The man struck up a conversation with Rayne outside the store. A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle became emotional in court Tuesday as she discussed the last moments of the young girl's life. Rayne said Smith told her that his wife would meet them at Walmart. Smith overheard Rayne explain to an . Jacksonville Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Valerie Rao testified that Cherish Perrywinkle sustained severe injuries from being strangled and raped. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/JtVFWHPQPu, Dr. Walerie Rao is the chief medical examiner in Duval County. Cherish was also raped prior to her death, and Rao says injuries resulting from that were severe. @ActionNewsJax, "Semen positive" in vaginal swabs. @ActionNewsJax, Carter says he collected purple flip flops as evidence. Todays testimony was clearly difficult for some of the jurors, with many openly shedding tears as the autopsy photos were put in front of them. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/t4j2hoddsZ. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. "I'm sorry I need to take a break," Rao said. Stay with us as the trial moves forward. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Rao was discussing the heinous murder of Cherish Perrywinkle, a little girl who was lured away from her mother while out shopping before being found dead just hours later in June, 2013. Eight-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle's body told the tale of her suffering before she was finally strangled to death. The suspect could face the death penalty if convicted. With the exception of the insect activity, Rao says they determined all of the injuries she suffered happened before her death. The force used to smother her was enough to make her nose and gums bleed. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. For the DNA that was collected from Cherishs neck, Lee says it was a match to Smith. Rao could not determine what exactly was used, but she determined the bruise pattern was wide, and generally consistent with an article of clothing, like a t-shirt. We are in recess as jurors, and Dr. Rao became emotional while photos of Cherish were shown. @ActionNewsJax, Undercover officer confirms pipe chase photos. He suggested getting food at the McDonalds inside the store and asked for Cherishto accompany him and pick out the food she wanted. Before Cherish was brought to the medical examiner's office a rape kit was conducted. Action News Jax facebook feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax twitter feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax youtube feed(Opens a new window), Six things we learned after two days of the Cherish Perrywinkle trial, Cherish's mothersays she never would have knowingly let girl leave with suspect, JSO officers responding to Cherish'smurder: 'Protect her, preserve the evidence'. Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist Valerie Rao took the witness stand in Cherish's murder trial on Tuesday and talked clinically about the extensive list of injuries she sustained. It is clear he did not want to be seen as a paedophile but make no mistake, that's exactly what he is. ", by Chilling Crimes 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Because of the nature of the case. Dr Rao, visibly shaken, then asked the court for a five-minute break. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/26zmR3z7uU, James Carter is the next witness, he was an officer with JSO. @ActionNewsJax, #DonaldSmith says he wishes NOT to testify. Lee was able to get a full DNA profile of Smith from samples that were sent to the lab. It took a Jacksonville jury less than 15 minutes to find Donald James Smith, 61, guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in Florida in 2013. Seeing a skipping and smiling Cherish with an older man would have looked like aregular grandfather andgranddaughter. Purple flip flops as evidence to take a break, '' said the state of Dr. Rao the! Of details toprovide to the shopping trip was very focused around the girls and stayed... 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