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Thread: Mark Anthony Poole - Florida Death Row

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    Mark Anthony Poole - Florida Death Row




    Facts of the Crime:

    On August 25, 2005, Mark Anthony Poole was sentenced to death in Polk County for the murder of Noah Scott and to life in prison for the attempted murder Scott’s fiancée. Noah Scott, 24, and his fiancée, whose name is intentionally omitted, were living in the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park in Lakeland, Florida. At the time, Scott’s fiancée was about five months pregnant with the couple’s first child. On the evening of October 12, 2001, Poole broke into the couple’s home as they were sleeping. His fiancée awoke in the middle of the night with a pillow being placed over her face and an intruder sitting on top of her. Poole began to rape her and sexually assault her, demanding to know where the money was. She resisted and begged Poole not to hurt her because of her pregnancy, but Poole repeatedly struck her with a tire iron, severing two of her fingers and causing her to move in and out of consciousness. During the attack, Scott attempted to stop Poole but was repeatedly struck in the head with the tire iron, rendering him unconscious. At some point after the attack, Poole left the bedroom to collect a cache of video games and game equipment. Before leaving, Poole re-entered the bedroom, touched her vaginal area and said “thank you.” The female victim fully regained consciousness the next morning at the sound of her alarm. She retrieved her cell phone and called 911. Shortly thereafter, police officers were dispatched to the home.

    Scott was pronounced dead at the scene. His fiancée was found severely injured in the hallway adjacent to the bedroom with multiple face and head wounds and missing part of her fingers. She was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where doctors treated nine lacerations to her head. Some were so deep they exposed her skull. Medical reports indicated that Scott was struck at least 13 times in the head. Several witnesses told police officers that they saw Poole or a man matching Poole’s description near the victims’ home on the night of the attacks. Pamela Johnson, Poole’s girlfriend, testified that on that evening, Poole left his house sometime in the evening and did not return until 4:50 a.m. Scott’s fiancée testified that Scott had owned a Sega Genesis, Sega Dreamcast, and a Super Nintendo. The night of the attacks, Poole sold the gaming systems to Ventura Rico, a man who lived in the same mobile home park as the victims. Melissa Nixon, girlfriend to Rico’s cousin, had witnessed the exchange. Nixon testified that the next morning, her son noticed blood on one of the gaming systems. DNA analysis confirmed that the blood found on the Sega Genesis box, Sega Dreamcast box, and the Super Nintendo matched the DNA profile of Scott. A vaginal swab confirmed that the semen found in the female victim was that of Mark Poole. From Poole’s home, police retrieved a blue polo shirt and the pair of Vans shoes Poole said he had been wearing on the night of the murder. A stain found on the left sleeve of one of Poole’s shirts matched the female victim’s blood type. A footwear examination revealed that one of the two footwear impressions found on a notebook in the victim’s trailer matched Poole’s left Vans shoe. The tire iron used in the crimes was found underneath a motor home near the victims’ home. After surviving the attack, Scott’s fiancée gave birth to a baby boy.

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    TALLAHASSEE - One death-row inmate convicted of killing and robbing an elderly man will be retried. Another who raped a pregnant woman and killed her husband will be resentenced.

    The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the new trial for Hollywood roofer Gabby Tennis, 28, who robbed and stomped to death 91-year-old Albert Vassella in 2003 to get money to pay for the right to marry a 16-year-old girl. The justices found Circuit Judge Susan Lebow erred by failing to hold a hearing before letting Tennis represent himself at his Broward County trial.

    The high court, meanwhile, upheld Mark Anthony Poole's convictions for first-degree murder, attempted murder, sexual battery and other crimes, but it vacated his death sentence because of cross-examination during the penalty phase of the Polk County trial.

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...tory?track=rss

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    Poole's Death Penalty Case Hearing Is Postponed

    A judge reluctantly postponed having a jury recommend whether Mark Poole should be executed for beating a Lakeland man to death with a tire iron during a 2001 home invasion.

    Related Links:
    Polk Death Row Inmates

    Potential jurors were to be chosen beginning May 16, but the selection won't begin until June 20.

    During a brief hearing Thursday, Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter did not hide his displeasure at having to delay the case.

    Poole's lawyers, Daniel Hernandez and Lee Adam Cohen, requested more time to have mental health experts evaluate their client.

    The judge said the work should have been done months ago.

    "I warned you all repeatedly," Hunter said.

    The judge explained that he spent about two years trying to shepherd the case to a conclusion, and didn't want to delay matters any longer.

    "I'm not happy," Hunter said.

    Poole, 47, was convicted of a brutal home invasion at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue late on Oct. 12, 2001, or early the next morning.

    Poole broke into the mobile home of 24-year-old Noah Scott and his pregnant fiancee and attacked them as they slept.

    Poole hit Scott at least 13 times in the head with a tire iron as Scott tried to save his fiancee from being raped.

    Poole also beat the woman with the tool, leaving nine cuts to her head with some so deep they exposed her skull.

    He stole video games and game equipment and went back to molest the woman before leaving.

    After about 30 minutes of deliberations, a jury found Poole guilty April 27, 2005, of the first-degree murder of Scott, the attempted first-degree murder of the woman, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    The same jury spent about as much time deliberating before unanimously recommending that he should be executed for Scott's death.

    Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance sentenced Poole to death on Aug. 25, 2005, describing Poole's actions as "conscienceless or pitiless and unnecessarily torturous."

    In December 2008, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Poole's convictions.

    However, the court overturned Poole's death sentence, saying Assistant State Attorney John Aguero erred when he asked witnesses about Poole's prior criminal history during the penalty phase of his trial.

    A new jury must hear evidence and arguments about whether Poole should be executed.

    Aguero told the judge that he was ready to move forward. He estimated he would call about 10 witnesses.

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...1134?p=2&tc=pg

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    Mark Poole's Death Penalty Hearing Under Way

    BARTOW - A new jury is considering whether Mark Anthony Poole should be sent back to Florida's death row for beating a Lakeland man to death with a tire iron and raping the man's pregnant 18-year-old fiancée during a 2001 home invasion.

    Poole's death sentence was overturned in 2008 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled his prior criminal history shouldn't have been discussed during the penalty phase of his trial.

    A new jury has been selected to recommend a punishment for Poole.

    Jurors won't have to decide if Poole, 48, of Lakeland, committed any crimes. His convictions still stand for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    Instead, jurors are being asked to review evidence, testimony and opposing arguments about whether Poole should be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison.

    Florida law requires Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter to give the jury's recommendation great weight.

    Poole is responsible for a brutal home invasion that took place at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue late at night on Oct. 12, 2001, or early the next morning.

    During Wednesday's opening statement, Assistant State Attorney John Aguero said Poole broke into the mobile home of 24-year-old Noah Scott and Scott's pregnant fiancée, and attacked them as they slept.

    Aguero said Scott tried to save his fiancée, but Poole continued to sexually assault the woman while simultaneously striking Scott with a tire iron.

    Medical reports state Scott was struck at least 13 times in the head.

    Poole also repeatedly struck the woman with the tool leaving her with "significant head injuries," said Aguero.

    She received nine cuts to her head with some so deep that her skull was exposed, according to medical reports.

    The Ledger is not publishing the woman's name, in keeping with its policy of not identifying victims of sexual assaults in most cases.

    Poole stole some video games and game equipment before leaving.

    Aguero said the injured woman struggled to find a working phone inside the home to call for help and had to direct police to the residence.

    Daniel Hernandez, one of Poole's lawyers, opted to give an opening statement later.

    Prosecutors began presenting evidence Wednesday with jurors looking at photographs of the home's bloody interior.

    The jury will continue to hear testimony Friday with the woman expected to speak about how the attack took place.

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...9808?p=2&tc=pg

  5. #5
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    Victim Testifies in Brutal Murder, Rape

    Mark Poole's convictions stand, but a new jury will select his punishment.

    BARTOW - The 28-year-old woman walked into the courtroom to again confront the man who broke into her home, raped her and beat her fiancé to death.

    Six years ago, her testimony helped send Mark Anthony Poole to Florida's death row. On Friday, she retook the witness stand in an effort to put him back there.

    A new jury is considering whether Poole, 48, of Lakeland, should be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison.

    Holding back tears, the woman told jurors how Poole shoved a pillow against her face and began his brutal home invasion attack in October 2001 at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue.

    The Ledger is not publishing the woman's name in keeping with its policy of not identifying victims of sexual assaults in most cases.

    Using a tire iron, Poole repeatedly struck the woman's 24-year-old fiancé, Noah Scott, in the head as he tried to save her from being sexually assaulted.

    She begged Poole to not hurt her because she was pregnant. He used the tool to strike her head multiple times.

    After stealing some video games and game equipment, he went back to fondle the woman and say, "Thank you."

    The woman testified that she passed in and out of consciousness but was awakened by her alarm clock and called 911.

    Medical reports state Scott, who died at the scene, was struck 13 times in the head.

    The woman received nine cuts to her head with some so deep that her skull was exposed. Their son was delivered successfully months later.

    In 2005, Poole was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    Poole's death sentence was overturned in 2008 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled his prior criminal history shouldn't have been discussed during the penalty phase of his trial. His convictions were left intact.

    Prosecutors finished their case Friday. The defense is expected to begin presenting evidence on Monday.

    Assistant State Attorney John Aguero read letters to the jury written by the victim as well as Scott's mother and his aunt.

    Cindy Scott wrote that her son was a giving, compassionate man with "beautiful blue eyes" and a "brilliant smile."

    Poole's lawyers, Daniel Hernandez and Lee Adam Cohen, argued that the letter from Scott's fiancée shouldn't include comments about her suffering. Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter ordered those remarks be removed.

    In those censored comments, the woman spoke about the enduring pain of the attack and her fight to break out of a reclusive shell. "I am still after almost 10 years having nightmares and panic attacks" she wrote.

    She continues to experience headaches and dizzy spells from her injuries. She wrote that she feels fortunate to not have brain damage and that she didn't lose her son.

    "I still wonder why this happened, and what would life be like if Noah was still alive," she wrote.

    "My son is a true miracle, and I am so grateful that I still have him. My son is my strength."

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...1410?p=2&tc=pg

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    Deliberations Begin Today in Brutal 2001 Murder Case

    Jurors are expected to begin deliberations today into whether Mark Anthony Poole should receive life imprisonment or the death penalty for a brutal 2001 home invasion.

    Lawyers will first present closing arguments for what they say is a proper punishment for the 48-year-old Lakeland man. Poole has previously been convicted of beating 24-year-old Noah Scott to death with a tire iron as well as raping Scott's pregnant fiancée and beating her with the tool.

    The attack took place at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue late at night on Oct. 12, 2001, or early the next morning. Poole was found guilty in 2005 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    His death sentence was overturned in 2008 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled his prior criminal history was inappropriately discussed during the penalty phase of his trial. His prior convictions stand. A new jury is being asked to recommend either life imprisonment or death.

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...338/sitemaps04

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    Jury Says Poole Should Die for Murder

    Jurors this afternoon recommended that killer Mark Anthony Poole should receive the death penalty for a brutal 2001 home invasion.

    The decision was announced at 2:42 p.m.

    The jury voted by 11-1 that the 48-year-old Lakeland man should be executed. They had spent about 2 1/2 hours deliberating.

    Poole was previously convicted of beating 24-year-old Noah Scott to death with a tire iron as well as raping Scott's pregnant fiancée and beating her with the tool.

    The attack took place at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue late at night on Oct. 12, 2001, or early the next morning.

    Poole was found guilty in 2005 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    His death sentence was overturned in 2008 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled his prior criminal history was inappropriately discussed during the penalty phase of his trial.

    A new jury was asked to recommend either life imprisonment or death.

    Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter must give the jury's decision great weight.

    A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...Die-for-Murder

  8. #8
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    Death Sentence Upheld For Mark Anthony Poole In 2001 Murder Case

    A judge ordered Friday that Mark Anthony Poole should be executed for beating a Lakeland man to death with a tire iron.

    This is the second time Poole, 48, has been sent to death row for the crime.

    In December 2008, the Florida Supreme Court ruled a second jury should hear evidence and recommend whether Poole should receive the death penalty.

    In his written order released Friday, Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter described Poole's savage attack at the Orangewood Village Mobile Home Park on North Florida Avenue.

    Noah Scott, 24, and his 18-year-old pregnant fiancée were asleep on the evening of Oct. 12, 2001.

    The Ledger is not publishing the woman's name, in keeping with its policy of not identifying victims of sexual assaults in most cases.

    Poole broke into the couple's home and began raping the woman, the judge wrote.

    Scott attempted repeatedly to defend his fiancée, but Poole struck him again and again with the tire iron while continuing to rape the woman.

    The judge wrote he "can only imagine the fear and pain experienced by Mr. Scott during the final moments of his life as he attempted to stop the brutal rape of his pregnant fiancée …"

    Scott was hit 13 times in the head with blows from the tire iron that cut deep gashes into his skin and fractured his skull.

    The woman begged Poole to not hurt her or her unborn child, the judge wrote.

    After Poole was finished raping her, he rolled the woman onto her stomach then struck her multiple times in the back of the head with the tire iron.

    The woman received nine cuts to her head and some were deep enough to expose her skull.

    Poole took some video games and game equipment before going back to the bedroom to fondle the woman and tell her, "Thank you."

    The woman was able to call for help. A doctor testified that she would have died if she had not been pregnant because her body had more fluid than she would normally have.

    The couple's son was delivered successfully months later.

    In 2005, a jury found Poole guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, sexual battery, armed burglary and armed robbery.

    Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance sentenced Poole to death after the jury unanimously recommended he should receive the punishment.

    The Florida Supreme Court overturned Poole's death sentence in 2008 because his prior criminal history was improperly discussed during the penalty phase of his trial.

    Poole was granted a new penalty phase so a second jury could recommend what an appropriate sentence should be.

    The second jury decided in June by an 11-1 vote that Poole should die. Hunter was required to give the jury's recommendation "great weight" when making his decision.

    http://www.theledger.com/article/201...9332?p=2&tc=pg

  9. #9
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    Horrific crime. I'm not suprised he's back on the row.

  10. #10
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    MARK ANTHONY POOLE v THE STATE OF FLORIDA

    In today's opinions, the Florida Supreme Court AFFIRMED the trial court’s resentencing of Poole to death.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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

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