TAMPA, Fla. — There were some shocking moments in a Hillsborough courtroom Tuesday during what was supposed to be a basic status hearing for accused Seminole Heights killer Howell Donaldson III.
Despite a warning from the judge, Donaldson, who is accused of killing four people, spoke in open court, airing complaints about his deteriorating health behind bars.
His unexpected, self-serving list of questions for the court left victims’ families disgusted and upset.
Donaldson first asked the judge to allow him to be present at all future court hearings, which is a legal right Donaldson had originally waived. The judge granted Donaldson’s request.
“All right, so at this point, you will be transported for every hearing,” the judge said.
“I appreciate that,” Donaldson answered.
Donaldson also asked the court for enough money to get a copy of the transcripts from the court hearings he’d missed. The judge denied that request.
For the next three minutes, Donaldson told the court his incarceration was making him ill. He wasn’t specific, but he said some “unfortunate” things had happened to him in jail.
"I am an ex-college athlete and it’s hard for me to stand right now. I’m struggling to stand right now,” said Donaldson. “I know that I know my body and I know that I’m a strong guy. You asked me, I’m 26 years old. I shouldn’t be feeling like I’m 96 years old,” he said.
Donaldson asked to see a doctor at an outside hospital. The judge denied that request. But he did order a full evaluation by the medical facility staff at the jail, with any concerns passed along to the public defender.
“I feel like if I’m in there much longer that my heart and body won’t be able to last under what I’ve been enduring,” said Donaldson, who expressed interest in taking a more active role in his defense.
“He just personally didn’t give a damn about nothing,” said Tina Felton, whose bother Ronnie was Donaldson’s fourth alleged victim.
Felton, present for the hearing, says she could barely contain herself in court. If the man accused of killing her brother and three others was going to open his mouth, she would prefer to have heard something else.
“I thought, well, maybe he’ll say he did it. Or, 'I’m sorry.' Or something."
Casimar Naiboa, whose son Anthony was Donaldson’s third alleged victim, says court officials informed him about Donaldson’s courtroom conduct Tuesday. He called Donaldson a “psychopath”.
“This guy’s taking about feeling bad in jail after what he did,” said Naiboa. “Anthony’s no longer with us. We’re the one’s going through this.”
“I hope they don’t do nothing for him,” said Robert Hoffa, whose niece Monica Hoffa was Donaldson’s second alleged victim.
“Who cares if he was a college athlete?” asked Hoffa. “You were a college athlete before you became a murderer."
Donaldson’s parents, also at Tuesday’s hearing, said nothing about their son’s courtroom appearance.
The judge set the next court date for April 23rd.
As for Donaldson’s complaint about not-so-good things happening to him and trouble standing, relatives of the victims made their feelings clear.
“My brother can’t stand. My brother is laying for the rest of his life,” said Felton. “Those other three people are laying for the rest of their lives. How much more do we have to endure before you take responsibility for what you did?”
If Donaldson is found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
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