JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Paul Hinson is seeing Donald Smith’s case through to the end.
He’s 1 of 12 jurors who convicted Smith of kidnapping, raping, and killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013.
Hinson tells Action News Jax, “Justice has to be served for Cherish.”
Jurors returned to the courthouse the week after the verdict and recommended the death penalty for smith.
“I never believed in monsters, I do now.” Cherish Perrywinkle’s father writing about #DonaldSmith pic.twitter.com/R2iEnMi1Xh
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) March 28, 2018
Hinson describes the tense process, “Over half were leaning towards the life sentence because they didn’t feel comfortable with the death sentence.”
"I never really believed in monsters. I do now." This is the written statement from Cherish Perrywinkle's father that was read in court this morning. https://t.co/7DC4mFp8Wx
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) March 28, 2018
Ultimately the juror says the autopsy photos convinced the entire panel.
“Seeing the brutality that he actually inflicted on Cherish was kind of heartbreaking and emotional,” explains Hinson.
Several of the jurors have kept in touch.
"I lost Cherish in the most violent way possible." - Rayne Perrywinkle tells judge as she glares directly at #DonaldSmith pic.twitter.com/jHhuaRyQiW
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) March 28, 2018
Hinson says they all hope the judge follows through on the recommended sentence, the death penalty.
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