Penalty phase begins to decide Joseph Zieler’s fate

The penalty phase has begun in the trial of convicted murderer Joseph Zieler. Life in prison or the death penalty are the only options, and now only eight of 12 jurors need to agree on the death penalty.

During Jan Cornell’s testimony, she told the jury she will never forget when she found her 11-year-old daughter Robin dead in their Cape Coral home.

“When I gave her breath, I knew she was dead,” Cornell said.

Robin and her babysitter, 32-year Lisa Story, were found to have been sexually assaulted and beaten to death by Zieler in 1990.

Randy Richards, who was Lisa’s fiancée, took the stand and reflected on the woman he was going to marry.

“It was just unbelievable how sad everything was, and it went on for years and years and years,” Richards said.

To Richards, the woman Zieler took away from him could not and was not replaced.

“Lisa was just someone that not only did I love greatly, but everyone loved her greatly,” Richards said. “Her impact across society was unbelievable.”

Richards said he and the Story family will never recover.

“Her mother you could see the deterioration daily,” Richards said. “She just started shriveling up to nothing her father the same way. The joy most feel on a daily basis it rips it right out of you.”

Lee Hollander, Zieler’s attorney, will appeal to the jury for a life sentence.

At one point during the trial, Zieler flashed the courtroom his middle finger and screamed at the jury. Judge Robert Branning had to tell him to stop.

“If you continue to act like this, I will have contempt proceedings. Is that clear? Is that in any way unclear?” Branning said. “I have never, ever had to speak to a defendant like this, and I regret you put me in this position, Mr. Zieler.”

Whether or not the jury recommends the death penalty for Zieler, Branning will make the final decision.