The man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend's daughter was found guilty by a jury Tuesday.
Sanel Saint Simon was accused of kidnapping Alexandria Chery in 2014, killing her, and dumping her body in the woods. Her body was discovered in July 2014 off a road near the Osceola-Polk county line.
After hours of deliberations, a jury found him guilty on three counts, including first-degree murder.
GUILTY
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) February 14, 2018
Sanel Saint-Simon found guilty of first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and false statements to law enforcement. #WFTV
Saint Simone looked straight ahead as the verdict came down.
When he stood up after the convictions, he could be seen swaying and yawning.
Chery’s mother watched with emotion inside the courtroom.
When she walked out of the courthouse, the only words she could muster were, “Thank you, Jesus.”
Jurors began deliberating about 12:45 p.m. after attorneys on both sides wrapped up their closing arguments.
About an hour into deliberations, a jury member asked the judge if they could have a dry erase maker, and whether they could view the evidence on a disk.
Saint-Simon showed no apparent response as the verdict was read. He yawned several times as the deputies got him to his feet to take him to jail. #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) February 14, 2018
However, the issue with allowing jurors to view electronic evidence requiring a computer, is that they must have a computer with nothing on it and no ability to connect to the Internet.
Court officials located a laptop the jury could use to review evidence during deliberations.
Alexandria Chery’s mother simply covered her mouth during the proceedings. Her son, Chery’s brother, walked out of the courtroom as soon as he heard “guilty” read for the third and final time. #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) February 14, 2018
Earlier Tuesday, closing arguments were presented in the case against Saint Simon.
“Alexandria Chery did not testify. But you heard from her because this evidence was her voice and is her voice this morning,” Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams said.
Williams made his closing argument as he stood in front of Saint Simon's pants, which a DNA expert testified were covered in Chery's blood.
“Her blood is on his pants. Specifically, on his right , front pant leg from the pants that were found in the washing machine,” he said.
Williams reminded jurors that Saint Simon called his uncle to try to convince him to conceal the fact that he borrowed his black Pontiac, which was relevant to the case.
“That one simple fact, leaving everything else aside, shows us what Sanel Saint Simon’s intentions were when he made the false statements to Ricardo Lee (investigator) on July 29," Williams said. “Three days before he killed her, he was planning what to do and the transportation he needed to do so.”
Chery's blood was found in the Pontiac as well.
“Sanel Saint Simon knew what he was about to do, and he wanted to make sure no one else would know," Williams said.
Williams also said Saint Simon was familiar with the area where Chery's body was found.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it was not an accident that he dumped her body there. It tells us that he committed this crime,” Williams told the jury.
Williams reiterated to the jury that Saint Simon's cellphone was “uncharacteristically” turned off during the time of the killing.
“Sanel Saint Simon knew what he was about to do. And he wanted to make sure no one else would know,” Williams said. “Why is Alex Chery’s phone using the same cell tower as the defendants at the same time? Because he had it in his pocket.”
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Defense attorney Peter Schmer argued that investigators were desperate to make an arrest.
“Every detective in this case felt an enormous amount of pressure to make an arrest, particularly when they have the sheriff watching over what they’re doing,” Schmer said. “This is a classic case of a rush to judgment.”
Schmer: “The state’s case is flimsy at best. It’s a deck of cards that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) February 13, 2018
“You can’t even prove to any degree of certainty that the victim was killed inside her apartment, let alone that Mr. Saint Simon did it,” he said.
The defense argued that Saint Simon had no motive in the case.
"They're asking you to speculate; to put on blinders and to simply assume that what Mr. Williams said happened," Schmer said. “Why? Why on earth would Sanel Saint Simon kill his 16-year-old daughter for no apparent reason?"
But prosecutors claim the killing was rooted in his sexual obsession with a teen who was like a stepdaughter, who he raised for 11 years.
Saint Simon did not take the stand.
Saint Simon was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and making false statements to law enforcement.
He was found guilty on all three counts and faces the death penalty.
The penalty phase of the trial is scheduled for April 16.
Cox Media Group
