Shanessa Chappie was killed in 2011. Now her accused killer is on trial.
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -
Soft spoken and disheveled, 37 year old William Routenberg acted as his own attorney in his second degree murder trial in a Pinellas courtroom today. Pinellas Judge Keith Meyer gave him several opportunities to call in a defense attorney,"If at any moment you change your mind and want to appoint a defense attorney, you let me know."
Routenberg is charged with murdering his 24 year old girlfriend Shanessa Chappie in 2011. In opening statements, prosecutor Della Connolly described how he killed her."He stabbed her in the neck and as she lay there dying,did he help her? Did he call paramedics? Did he take her to the hospital?,"said Connolly.
She told jurors how investigators found Chappie buried in the backyard of the home they shared in the Highpoint neighborhood in mid-Pinellas county. Routenberg countered, talking directly to jurors he said, "Please come back with a verdict of not guilty after you hear all the evidence."
Routenberg has a long criminal history. When he was 14 years old, he was convicted of raping an 11 year old girl at Riviera Middle School. If convicted of second degree murder he could face life in prison.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:40 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:40:25 GMT
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Friday night at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road in Largo.
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A detention deputy overheard the man accused of killing two Tampa police officers refer to himself as a child molester and say he repented for killing five people, according to court documents
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The military arm of the Better Business Bureau, BBB Military Line, reminded of possible scams targeting the active and retired military personnel and elderly veterans before the Memorial Day. Karen Nalven,
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The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
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Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
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Friday, May 24 2013 11:40 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:40:25 GMT
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Friday night at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road in Largo.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Friday night at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road in Largo.
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The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
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Shanessa Chappie was killed in 2011. Now her accused killer is on trial.
