Michael Bernard Bell

Case overview

Michael Bernard Bell was sentenced to two death sentences for the murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith on 12/09/93.

Earlier in 1993, Michael Bell’s brother was killed by Theodore Wright. The shooting was deemed as justifiable homicide because Wright claimed he fired in self-defense. Bell vowed revenge for his brother’s death and swore to friends and family that he would kill Wright.

The offence

On the night of 12/09/93, Bell noticed Wright’s car in the area. Bell gathered two of his friends and an AK-47 assault rifle he had purchased the day before, and returned to the area where he had previously spotted Wright’s car.

Bell was unaware that Wright had sold the car to his half-brother, Jimmy West. Bell saw the car in the parking lot of a liquor lounge and waited for West to exit the club.

After a while, West, Smith, and another female left the lounge and started to enter the car. Bell proceeded to the driver’s side of the car, opened the door, and fired at point-blank range. West died immediately from 12 bullet wounds, and Smith died from four bullet wounds while in route to the hospital. The other female managed to duck away from the spray of the bullets.

Bell fired at a crowd of onlookers waiting outside the club before he fled to his aunt’s house.

Additional murder convictions

Bell was convicted of additional murders subsequent to the 12/09/93 murders for which he was convicted and sentenced to death.

• On 09/25/89, Bell shot and killed Lashawn Cowart and her two-year-old son Travis. Lashawn Cowart, Travis, and Bell were driving together when Bell stopped, exited the vehicle, and opened fire on the mother and son. Afterwards, an accomplice vehicle came and picked up Bell.
• On 08/18/93, Bell shot and killed Michael Johnson, the boyfriend of Bell’s mother. After the couple had an argument, Bell went to Johnson’s house and shot him to death on the front porch.

Trial

09/15/94 — Defendant was arrested. 09/29/94 — Defendant indicted on: Count I: First-Degree Murder (Jimmy West); Count II: First-Degree Murder (Tamecka Smith). 03/09/95 — The jury found the defendant guilty on Counts I & II. 03/17/95 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 12 to 0 majority, voted for the death penalty on Counts I & II.

Sentencing

06/02/95 — The defendant was sentenced as followed:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Jimmy West) — Death
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Tamecka Smith) — Death

Appeals

07/19/95 — Michael Bell filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. In his appeal, Bell argued that his court-appointed counsel was incompetent and that the court failed to allow him to represent himself under Faretta v. California. Bell also contended that the court falsely applied the cold, calculated and premeditated (CCP) aggravating factor and failed to recognize certain mitigating factors.

07/17/97 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences of death.

10/17/97 — The mandate was issued.

12/08/97 — Bell filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 02/23/98.

06/01/99 — Bell filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court. 01/13/00 — That motion was denied.

01/28/00 — Bell appealed the ruling on the 3.850 Motion in the Florida Supreme Court.

04/26/01 — The Florida Supreme Court remanded the case to the State Circuit Court, allowing an amended motion to be filed.

10/03/01 — An amended 3.850 motion was filed. 05/31/02 — The amended 3.850 motion was denied.

08/02/02 — Bell filed an appeal of that decision in the Florida Supreme Court.

Outcome

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences of death, and the mandate was issued on 10/17/97.

Other details

• Supreme Court of Florida opinion 8 6094 opinion SC0 2 -1 765 DC# 108426
• Date of birth: 11/24/70
• Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County
• Case #94-9776
• Sentencing Judge: The Honorable R. Hudson Olliff
• Trial Attorney: Ward L. Metzger – Assistant Public Defender
• Attorney, Direct Appeal: W.C. McClain – Assistant Public Defender
• Collateral Appeals: Christopher Anderson – Registry