Sunday, November 18, 2007

Give him death, jury decides


A 7-5 vote recommends Timothy Permenter die. The judge has the final say. A hearing is Tuesday.

By JOSE CARDENAS, Times Staff Writer
Published November 17, 2007

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A jury recommended the death penalty Friday for Timothy Permenter, who was convicted earlier in the 2003 murder of his girlfriend, Karen Pannell.

Pinellas County Circuit Judge R. Timothy Peters did not sentence Permenter immediately. Peters, who has the option to follow the jury's recommendation or impose a life sentence, scheduled a status hearing Tuesday.

Jurors voted 7-5 for the death penalty. The same jury convicted Permenter, 40, of first-degree murder last month.

Prosecutors said Permenter stabbed Pannell 16 times, mostly around her neck and heart, and left her in a pool of blood in her kitchen.

He wrote the word "Roc" on the wall with her blood, they said. Roc was the name of one of Pannell's ex-boyfriends.

Pannell, 39, was an American Airlines employee at Tampa International Airport.

More than a dozen of her family members from Georgia and Florida attended the trial. A smaller group of the relatives was in court Friday.

A brother and former sister-in-law became teary-eyed when the jury made its recommendation.

During testimony earlier in the day, prosecutors said there were several aggravating factors jurors should consider when deciding between life in prison and a death sentence.

Permenter was a convicted felon on probation when he killed Pannell, prosecutors said. Six of the 16 felonies he was convicted of committing were violent.

But the main factor was the cruelty of the killing, prosecutors contended. Permenter probably stabbed Pannell once in the back, paralyzing her. Then he stabbed her 15 more times while on top of her, according to court testimony.

She was conscious during the attack and aware of her impending death, prosecutors said.

"She was looking up into the eyes of her murderer," said Assistant State Attorney Bill Loughery. "There's no question it was atrocious, heinous and cruel."

A forensic psychologist testified on Permenter's behalf that he believes Permenter is psychotic.

Because of his mental illness, the psychologist testified Permenter meets two statutory requirements that can mitigate against a death sentence.

The psychologist, Robert Berland, said he interviewed Permenter's extended family and friends. An ex-girlfriend said Permenter mumbled to himself when he thought he was alone, a sign that he is delusional.

"He doesn't perceive the world the same way," said Assistant Public Defender Bob McClure in his closing argument to jurors. "That mental illness is always in the background."

The defense tried to paint a picture of a dysfunctional upbringing Friday.

Permenter's mother, Donna Finch, gave birth to him as a teenager. She said she divorced Permenter's father after two years of marriage. The father left the state and never contacted his son.

Finch said she raised Permenter with her father, Alex D. Finch, a former Clearwater mayor and lawyer who was murdered in his office in 1989 when Permenter was in his early 20s.

But the psychologist testified other family members said Permenter and two sisters were raised mostly by Donna Finch's grandparents.

McClure told the jury Permenter would never get out of prison. He said his life was worth saving.

"Understand that society is going to be protected from him," said McClure, pointing to his client. "Tim Permenter is dressed in a nice suit. It's the last time in his life he's ever going to dress nicely again."

Jose Cardenas can be reached at jcardenas@sptimes.com or 727 4224.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The psychologist, Robert Berland, said he interviewed Permenter's extended family and friends. An ex-girlfriend said Permenter mumbled to himself when he thought he was alone, a sign that he is delusional."

LMAO! Well, I guess every single person I know is delusional! I mumble to myself probably everyday. I'm delusional. Give. Me. A. Break.

Anonymous said...

Yup, I talk to myself quite frequently. Better get the straight jacket!

Lovely said...

Guess Im a nut too lmao

Anonymous said...

He'll I'm insane I answers my self

Bill Cord said...

This guy ate the pizza ordered by the girlfriend after he killed her. Society would be protected from him if the death penalty had been applied to him instead of life in prison.

truth speaker said...

Fry his useless coward ass. What is wrong with this country that they would let this animal live. They probably vote for hillary ,thats just as bad

truth speaker said...

Fry his useless coward ass. What is wrong with this country that they would let this animal live. They probably vote for hillary ,thats just as bad

BarbieB said...

He certainly deserves the electric chair. However, the fact he didn't want life in prison may just end up being more of a hell for him than a quick execution. Shame it will cost the State millions of dollars to keep the creep there. If he's delusional then so is 90% of the population. Lol.

Anonymous said...

Useless piece of sh%t. Hope he's enjoying his daily bologna sandwiches and being bent over by the other animals behind bars.

Thymeoukuloues said...

he's not delutional... just mean and no self control.

Unknown said...

Anybody have any idea how he had zero blood on him n or his clothes?

Unknown said...

He planned the murder, set up his alibi before he returned to her house. He ate her pizza after inflicting deadly stabs. He most likely watched her die and she was aware he was there as she died. He attempted to get ROC, an innocent ex-boyfriend, held responsible for the murder. All these things make me believe he was of sound mind, no crazy.

Makaveli671 said...

Shut Up

Makaveli671 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Fry his useless coward ass. What is wrong with this country that they would let this animal live. They probably voted for trump, that's just as bad. Trump and his misogynistic, rapist friends like Kraft, Jeff Epstein, have been getting away with abusing women for decades. What's wrong with this country that we allow these monsters to walk free... Stand up for your mother's & sisters, and wives... don't tolerate this kind of behavior.

Unknown said...

That's only thing bothering me

Unknown said...

I not only talk to myself and answer myself I also give myself advice and I take it.

Anonymous said...

fuck this

ENIGMA6 said...

Indeed. Permanently Protected. Anyone who is so cold as to stab someone to death, then eat pizza over the body needs to be euthanized.

ENIGMA6 said...

Agree. Judges and juries these days don't have the stones to do what is just in cases like this.

ENIGMA6 said...

Let's hope so.

ENIGMA6 said...

Think they call that being a
Psychopath.

ENIGMA6 said...

Did he have time to change clothes and bathe? Or wash the clothes and bathe in the victims home? Or brought a change of clothes with him?

hanyum said...

Your statement is way too funny! Lol 😂😂😂😂

Unknown said...

Ha more like they voted for Trump all sociopathic republicans in Senate and Trump are killing this country in every way!!

Unknown said...

Wow, the judge actually had the choice to choose the death penalty if most but not all jurors vote for the death penalty? I thought that the only way the defendant would get the death penalty would be if ALL the jurors vote for the death penalty. I have heard of four examples where the only reason why the defendant didn't get the death penalty wasawas just because one of the jurors voted against the death penalty.