Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Michael Peter Fitzpatrick - Florida

  1. #1
    Guest
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    5,534

    Michael Peter Fitzpatrick - Florida




    Summary of Offense:

    In August of 1996, Laura Romines was living with her boyfriend, Joe Galbert, in a Motel 6 in Land O’Lakes, Florida. Police were called to the Motel 6 in response to a domestic battery call in which Galbert beat up Romines and dropped a bed on her head. A security guard at the motel, Stephen Kirk, tried to get Romines into a shelter, but was unsuccessful. He then invited her to stay with him and his roommate. On August 17, 1996, after two weeks at Kirk’s apartment, Romines was asked to leave. Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Kirk’s apartment to escort Romines from the apartment, and when they arrived, they tried unsuccessfully to get Romines into a shelter. One of the deputies drove Romines to a convenience store (7-11) in Hillsborough County and dropped her off at approximately 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.

    At the time, Romines had a laundry basket and about seven or eight plastic garbage bags full of her belongings. Michael Fitzpatrick worked for Pro Pizza and was making deliveries on the night of August 17, 1996. After one delivery, he returned and told the owners that he picked up a young lady at a convenience store and took her to the Sunny Palms Motel. Around 9:30 p.m., one of the owners was making a delivery, saw Fitzpatrick at the Sunny Palms Motel, and told him to get back to work. Fitzpatrick left work around 11:45 p.m. and took a pizza with him. Witnesses at the Sunny Palms Motel saw Fitzpatrick drop Romines off at the motel. Romines told one of the motel’s residents that she was looking for a place to stay and Romines was referred to A.J. Howard, who frequently allowed young women to stay at his house. Romines went to Howard’s house and was later picked up by Fitzpatrick when he left work. In the early morning hours of August 18, 1996, a nude Romines was seen standing on the side of a road, covered in blood – the result of a slit throat. Romines was airlifted to a hospital, but later died on September 5, 1996.

    Medical examiners determined the cause of death to be hemorrhaging and aspiration of blood due to an incised wound of the neck that penetrated the larynx and esophagus. Due to witness sightings of Fitzpatrick with Romines on the night of August 17, 1996, police began to focus on Fitzpatrick as the primary suspect. Fitzpatrick was asked to submit a blood sample for analysis. Fitzpatrick’s DNA profile matched DNA evidence, including semen and bodily fluids, taken from a rape kit administered to Romines at the hospital.

    Fitzpatrick was sentenced to death in Pasco County on November 2, 2001.

  2. #2
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,740
    According to the Florida Commision of Capital Cases, Mr Fitzpatrick's case has been reversed. I'm not sure if that's to a lower court or if it's for an entirely new sentencing or trial.

    http://www.floridacapitalcases.state...ils.cfm?id=150

  3. #3
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Quick investigation showed in December 2010 the Circuit Court granted Fitzpatrick’s 3.851 motion, vacating his judgments and sentences. That is in Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit. I didn't see a docket search option on their web site. I looked at the FL DOC and, as of April 3, 2011, he is still housed on death row at Union CI. Apparently a retrial isn't in the near future.

  4. #4
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    STATE OF FLORIDA v. MICHAEL PETER FITZPATRICK
    CASE NO. SC11-1509


    Set for oral argument before the Florida Supreme Court at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Live stream may viewed here
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  5. #5
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,740
    Just watched the arguments and this guy is getting a new trial. Never seen a state attorney on video be ripped apart that badly by the Florida Supreme Court. I think the defence counsel ended their arguments early as well they had pretty much won.

  6. #6
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    New Trial Ordered For Death Row Inmate

    The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man sentenced to death for a 1996 fatal stabbing.

    The court unanimously upheld a lower court's 2010 decision Thursday to grant a retrial to 51-year-old Michael Peter Fitzpatrick. Justices found that Fitzpatrick had ineffective help from his trial attorney, who should have consulted with experts on the DNA and other forensic evidence used against him.

    Fitzpatrick had been accused of raping and killing 28-year-old Laura Romines, whose boyfriend had recently kicked her out. She was found naked with a slit throat on the side of a rural Land O' Lakes road in August 1996. She died three weeks later.

    http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Ne...213475711.html.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  7. #7
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    13,014
    September 11, 2013

    Irish consular assistance granted to death row prisoner in Florida

    By IrishCentral Staff Writers

    The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to a newly conferred Irish citizen who is currently on death row in Florida.

    On Monday the retrial of Michael Fitzpatrick, 51, who is facing the death penalty, began in Florida.

    Fitzpatrick, 51, had been sentenced to death for raping and killing 28-year-old Laura Romines on August 18, 1996, in Pasco County. He was born in the U.S., but it is understood his parents originally came from Tipperary.

    Last week British based justice charity Reprieve called on the Government to get intervene.

    Reprieve case worker Hannah Gorman said his lawyers in his first trial "completely failed him."

    “All evidence against Michael is circumstantial,” Gorman added.

    In a statement on Sunday the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "Mr Michael Fitzpatrick was granted Irish citizenship last week.

    "As a result, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Mr Fitzpatrick and will notify the relevant US authorities of our interest in the case.

    "The department has met with and is in regular contact with Reprieve in relation to this case."

    http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Iri...223022801.html

  8. #8
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JimKay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Posts
    1,122
    The FSC decision: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/d.../sc11-1509.pdf

    If Ireland wants to claim him as one of theirs, we always could deport him.

  9. #9
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    13,014
    Now you don't think they'd really be wanting that now, do you? They're just up for the craic.

  10. #10
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JimKay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Posts
    1,122
    I deeply respect their concern for (not) one of their own. I suggest March 17 as his X date.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •