A man who was convicted of murdering an 11-year-old girl and her babysitter in 1990 punched his own attorney and was wrestled to the ground in court Monday.
Joseph Zieler, 61, on Monday was sentenced to death in the slayings of 11-year-old Robin Cornell and her babysitter, Lisa Story, 32, who were raped and suffocated.
While in front of a judge, Zieler asked for the cameras in the room to be taken down before using an expletive and then elbowing attorney Kevin Shirley in the face.
Three bailiffs quickly tackled the man – who appeared to have ‘killer’ etched on his teeth – to the ground before escorting him out of the courtroom within seconds.
In May, a jury in Lee County, Florida recommended the death penalty and Monday’s appearance was to appeal to the judge hours before he gave his sentence.
Joseph Zieler (pictured) who was convicted of murdering an 11-year-old girl and her babysitter in 1990 punched his own attorney and was wrestled to the ground in court Monday
In May, Zieler was found guilty of assaulting and murdering 11-year-old Robin Cornell (left) and her 32-year-old babysitter Lisa Story (right) in May 1990
Zieler, who was arrested in 2016 – 26 years after the cold case murders – was expected to plead with the judge against the jury’s death recommendation.
After the elbow was thrown, Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning asked Shirley if he was okay to which the attorney responded that he had taken harder hits before.
The punch came as Zieler – who was still in handcuffs – appeared to be trying to quietly deliver a message to his long-time counsel.
‘It seemed like he didn’t want our conversation to be picked up by the microphones. So he waved me down and I bent over, and he struck me,’ Shirley told Fox 4.
Branning kept the convicted murderer outside the courtroom for several minutes as he ensured that Shirley was okay after the blow.
The mother of the 11-year-old girl Zieler murdered, Jan Cornell, was in court Monday and watched the incident play out, expressing shock and surprise.
After being dragged back in, the man reportedly growled at the judge and those watching, exposing the word ‘killer’ written on his teeth.
Despite the shocking message inside his mouth, he refused to have relatives speak on his behalf, claiming he is innocent in the crimes.
‘I have nothing to do with this,’ he said. ‘I maintain my innocence.’
Judge Branning ultimately denied a motion Zieler had filed for a new trial and decided not to overturn his conviction.
He was sentenced to death by the judge inside the courtroom several hours later.
Zieler, who was arrested in 2016 – 26 years after the cold case murders – was expected to plead with the judge against the jury’s death recommendation. Pictured: Zieler walking into court
Three bailiffs quickly tackled Zieler (pictured) and escorted him out of the courtroom
The convicted murderer appeared to have the word ‘killer’ etched onto his teeth in court
Jan Cornell (right) looks at pictures of Robin Cornell (center) and Lisa Story (right) during a joint press conference following the announcement that Zieler was sentenced to death
‘Justice for Robin and justice for Lisa has happened,’ said Jan Cornell on Monday afternoon
The sentence provides closure to the families who had been searching for justice since they were discovered inside a Cape Coral apartment more than 30 years ago.
Cornell and Story were found beaten, assaulted, and suffocated in May 1990.
In September 2016, police announced that Zieler had been arrested for their killings after police matched his DNA to traces found at the scene.
‘The semen that was found on the bed sheet where Robin was sleeping matches the defendant to a frequency over 1 and 700 billion,’ investigators said during the trial.
Story was looking after Cornell when Zieler attacked them.
Jan Cornell, Robin’s mother who had gone to stay at her boyfriend’s home for the night, returned the next day to find their bodies.
The murders were counted among famous unsolved crimes and were featured in America’s Most Wanted in 2010.
Jan returned to find the front door locked and entered the house through the back sliding doors, which had been left ajar.
Inside an upstairs bathroom, she found her daughter’s lifeless body lying face down.
During Zieler’s trial, Jan told the jury that the last thing she told her daughter was ‘Good night, I’m going to Donnie’s, I love you.’
She cried as she told those in the courtroom that he daughter was a vibrant fifth-grader who loved to jump rope and play outdoors.
Jan Cornell (left holding a picture of daughter Robin Cornell) stands alongside State Attorney Amira Fox (at podium) and Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore (in uniforn)
Throughout the trial, the defense argued that the attack on Cornell and Story was personal and alleged Zieler had it out for Jan.
‘This sounds like someone was really angry at you,’ said attorney Lee Hollander.
Zieler was found guilty in the murder by the jury in early May and was later charged with harassment of Jan Cornell, whom he sent a letter to from prison.
‘Justice for Robin and justice for Lisa has happened,’ said Jan in a press conference with State Attorney Amira Fox and Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore
Fox said she hoped the verdict would bring a sense of peace to the victims’ families.
‘I hope the verdict and sentence recommendation have finally brought some sense of justice and closure to the families of Lisa Story and Robin Cornell,’ Fox said.
‘I want to thank them for their incredible patience and understanding as we all worked together to bring this case to closure over the years,’ she continued.
DailyMail
