Martin Grossman

Martin Edward Grossman (January 19, 1965 – February 16, 2010) was convicted of first degree murder for his part in the December 13, 1984, Florida killing of wildlife officer Peggy Park. He was executed by lethal injection. In the days before his execution, there were a large number of appeals for clemency, ranging from petitions to pleas, as well as a request to halt the execution from Pope Benedict XVI.[1] Grossman, a Jewish American, received strong support from national and international Jewish organizations for his death sentence to be commuted.[2][3][4]

Martin Grossman
Born
Martin Edward Grossman

January 19, 1965
DiedFebruary 16, 2010(2010-02-16) (aged 45)
Florida State Prison, Starke, Florida
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
NationalityAmerican
Criminal statusExecuted
MotiveAvoid breach of probation
Conviction(s)First degree murder
Criminal chargeFirst degree murder
PenaltyExecution

Early life

Grossman, an only child, grew up having to care for his mentally and physically ill father and uncle, a full-time responsibility which led to his dropping out of the ninth grade. His father died when he was 15 years old, followed shortly by his uncle, grandfather and other relatives. Grossman experienced severe depression and used alcohol and a variety of narcotics such as marijuana and PCP. He also took prescription drugs, including Valium and barbiturates, readily available in his mother's medicine cabinet.[5]

Murder

On December 13, 1984, Margaret "Peggy" Park, a 26-year-old wildlife officer, came across Grossman (then aged 19) and Thayne Taylor (aged 17) shooting a stolen handgun in a wooded area of Pinellas County, Florida. Grossman, who was on probation for grand theft and other charges after burglarizing a former girlfriend's house, asked her not to turn him in for possessing a weapon and being outside Pasco County. Both were violations of his probation.[6]

As Park picked up her radio to call the sheriff's office, Grossman beat her on the head and shoulders with her flashlight. She was also beaten by Taylor. Park then managed to draw her gun and fire a warning shot. Grossman, a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier than Park, wrestled the gun away from her and shot her once in the back of the head.[6]

Grossman was convicted of first-degree murder, the jury unanimously recommending the death penalty. Taylor was convicted of third-degree murder. He was released in community supervision after serving two years and 10 months of a seven-year prison term.[6]

Arguments for clemency

Supporters of Grossman alleged that his trial was improperly handled and that there was mitigating evidence to justify being granted clemency by Governor Charlie Crist, such as the influence of narcotics, and incompetence on the part of the legal teams. However, all appeals were denied, with the United States Supreme Court allowing the execution and upholding the opinion of the Florida Supreme Court that the trial was handled properly and that all evidence was allowed to be presented.[7]

The defense originally hired psychologist Sidney Merin, PhD, to evaluate Grossman. However, the defense did not call Merin to the stand because his evaluation of Grossman was not favorable to Grossman's case.[8][9]

After Grossman was already convicted, the defense hired a second expert, North Carolina psychologist Rollin Bradshaw "Brad" Fisher Jr, PhD, to prepare a psychological report as part of Grossman's appeal of his conviction. Fisher wrote in his psychological report that testing on Grossman "did not reveal any signs of a current psychotic condition or of any major affective disorder."[10][11]

As part of its post-conviction appeal, the defense claimed that a childhood evaluation of Grossman said he scored 77 on an IQ test: a score which borders on mental retardation.[5][12] Grossman's lawyers also believed that the case was not properly demonstrated and that there was a lack of sufficient evidence. Also argued was that Grossman was convicted of premeditated murder, despite Grossman maintaining he had no intention of killing Park.[13] On the day of the execution, a final appeal was made to the United States Supreme Court for a hearing; it was ruled that the execution may proceed.[14]

Third-party appeals

Emails, faxes and letters were sent to the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist and to other prominent officials involved in the case. On the day of the execution nearly 50,000 calls, emails and letters were received by the office of the Governor urging him to grant clemency to Grossman. Additionally, over 35,000 signatures were gathered on a petition on Care2, a website, as a means to grant clemency to Grossman. Elie Wiesel (the Holocaust survivor and activist), Pope Benedict XVI, Chief Rabbis of Israel and over 200 prominent organizations sent letters to the Governor to plead against Grossman's execution.[15] The Governor declined to overturn the decision to execute Grossman.

Execution

Grossman was executed by lethal injection at 6:00 pm EST on February 16, 2010. After being visited in the morning by an aunt and two female friends, he spent his final afternoon praying with his spiritual advisor, Rabbi Menachem Katz.[16]

In a final statement, Grossman said he was remorseful and said he accepted responsibility for murdering Park.[16] He worked with Rabbi Dr Arthur Segal via mail with the process of Mussar Jewish Spiritual Renewal transformation. He recited the Jewish Shema prayer.[17] He was pronounced dead at 6:19 pm. Park's mother, sister, and brother traveled from out of state to witness the execution.[14][18] Grossman was the 69th inmate executed in Florida since the United States Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Florida ignores papal appeal for mercy". CathNewsUSA. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  2. Berger, Paul (4 February 2010). "Death row inmate requests tefillin". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  3. Benhorin, Yitzhak (7 February 2010). "Florida rabbis seek to prevent Jew's execution". ynet.co.il. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  4. Solomont, E. B. (16 February 2010). "US Jews rush to stay execution". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  5. Full transcripts of Dr. Brad Fisher's report and evaluation of Grossman, including his psychological history
  6. "Execution Set In Death Of Fla. Wildlife Officer". clickorlando.com. 12 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  7. News article on Florida Supreme Court denying Grossman's appeal
  8. http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/2010/SC10-118.pdf
  9. http://www.leagle.com/decision/20051592359FSupp2d1233_11454.xml/GROSSMAN%20v.%20CROSBY
  10. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/fl-supreme-court/1507068.html
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2014-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Transcripts from Grossman's appeal to the Florida Supreme Court
  13. Curtis Krueger (12 February 2010). "Groups call on Crist to halt execution of man who killed wildlife officer in Pinellas". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  14. Report on Grossman's execution from Associated Press via Bay News 9's website.
  15. "Florida executes killer Martin Grossman". BBC News. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  16. Story from WTSP in Florida
  17. Slideshow (2010-05-13). "Last Words Photo Gallery - - Crime Library". Trutv.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  18. Sarah Larimer (16 February 2010). "Fla. executes 45-year-old inmate for 1984 slaying". Associated Press. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  19. "Execution List: 1976 - present". Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved 12 January 2019.

20. https://www.createspace.com/1000243192

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