2024-08-27 19:45:02
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Convicted Cape Coral murderer, Wade Wilson, will be sentenced on Tuesday. Judge Nick Thompson will decide if Wilson gets life in prison or the death sentence for killing Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
Watch Wade Wilson’s hearings live here:
Wade Wilson in court for sentencing
UPDATE 9:58PM
ASA Andreas Gardiner is now questioning Rubino.
“You’re relying solely on what Mr. Wilson is telling you, correct?,” Gardiner pushed.
Rubino answered by saying that Wilson’s neuro-exam wasn’t normal, so he was apt to believe Wilson.
“You’re assuming al ot of things, aren’t you, doctor?”, Gardiner retorted.
UPDATE 9:17 AM
Dr. Mark Rubino has taken the stand.
This is his 78th time testifying in a case.
Rubino says Wilson was bound and shackled during his first evaluation.
He tells the court he evaluated Wilson’s mental status using a montreal cognitive assessmentmeasuring memory, attention, language, delayed recall and association.
Rubino says during part of the test, Wilson became frustrated saying statements like “I can’t do this”.
The neurologist believed Wilson felt anxious due to police presence.
The rest of this particular test was provided without law enforcement present.
Rubino says Wilson told him he was “pretty normal” up until 11 years old, and that’s when told his parents he thought he was going crazy.
Rubino also says Wilson told him he sustained head injuries during a car crash – in which he lost consciousness.
Wilson said he went to the hospital, but didn’t receive treatment.
Wilson said he also sustained a head injury as a passenger in a car that also hit a tree.
He was seen by EMS but did not receive further medical attention.
Other injuries, Wilson told Rubino, were sustained from sports.
Rubino ordered further testing, including an MRI and a CT-PET Scan.
Only one was performed.
A brain scan displayed by Rubino in the courtoom indicates that Wilson has very small ventricles – space inside the brain with spinal fluid.
Rubino says Wilson has some frontal lobe damage.
Rubino concludes:
1. Ventrical asymmetry which indicates cognitive and emotional dysfunction
Rubino says this can cause less thinking, morse behavior and less likely to modify behavior
2. Evidence of brain injury (atrophy):
Rubino says this can make one more likely to get mad and not be able to calm down – causing one to be impulsive and less likely to act without consequence or plan. There is a higher likelihood to be agitated and irritated.
Rubino says this has probably been occurring over the last several years.
“Medication can be helpful,” Rubino says, in treating the psychiatric disease.
Wilson’s physical impairments are separate from psychiatric impairment.
“This can be treated,” Rubino says.
UPDATE 9:00 AM
Wade Wilson’s Spencer hearing is underway.
One witness, Dr. Mark Rubino (a neuorolgoist) is expected to take the stand
A motion was denied for Wilson to appear in street clothes. He is present in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles on his ankles.
UPDATE 7:00 AM
What to expect today
Wade Wilson is scheduled to have two hearings on Tuesday.
- The first is a Spencer Hearing at 9:00 am. It’s a chance for both the defense and the state to present evidence that may not have been in the trial, in an attempt to sway the sentencing decision.
- Judge Nick Thompson is then scheduled to sentence Wilson at 2pm
Watch Fox 4 Coverage of the Wade Wilson trial
Watch Fox 4 Investigations into Wade Wilson