Robert Alan Knight

Case details

Robert Alan Knight (DOB: 06/26/68) was convicted in a nonjury trial in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County (Case# 97-5175 CF). The sentencing judge was The Honorable Edward A. Garrison. The direct appeal was Curtis Levine – Assistant Public Defender. The attorneys named were Ann Perry & Jose Sosa – Assistant Public Defenders; William Hennis, III – CCRC-S for collateral appeals.

Timeline

• 07/08/93 — Date of offense: the murder of Richard Kunkel.
• 05/08/97 — Trial date: Knight was indicted as follows: Count I: First-Degree Murder; Count II: Armed Robbery; Count III: Burglary; Count IV: Grand Theft Auto (Hate Crime).
• 02/20/98 — Knight waived his trial by jury.
• 05/29/98 — Knight was sentenced to death by the trial judge.
• 05/29/98 — Sentencing included Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death; Count II: Armed Robbery – 3 years; Count III: Burglary – 15 years; Count IV: Grand Theft Auto (Hate Crime) – 5 years.
• 07/17/98 — Knight filed a Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 03/08/01 — Knight filed a Petition of Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.
• 04/30/01 — The Petition of Writ of Certiorari was denied.
• 09/27/01 — Knight filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court.
• 06/03/04 — The 3.850 Motion was amended.
• 11/02/2000 — Florida Supreme Court referenced: 770 So. 2d 663; November 2, 2000.

The offence

Knight was convicted for the murder of Richard Kunkel, which occurred on 07/08/93. Knight and two codefendants, Timothy Pearson and Dain Brennault, decided to go to a gay bar, lure a man away from the bar, and then beat and rob him.

Richard Kunkel was invited to leave the bar and go party with the defendants. Kunkel left the bar and followed the defendants to Miami Subs in his own car. When they were finished eating, the defendants convinced Kunkel to leave his car there and ride with them to the party.

Knight then drove out to a secluded area where they stopped twice and got out of the car to urinate. Before getting back into the car after their second stop, Knight pointed a gun at Kunkel and told him to turn around and take off his jeans. As Kunkel was complying, Knight fired a single shot into Kunkel’s back. Kunkel fell to the ground and began crying for help.

Knight then told Pearson and Brennault to search Kunkel’s pockets. Pearson searched Kunkel’s pockets, but Brennault refused. Knight and Pearson then dragged Kunkel’s body from the road to the side of a canal where he was left to die, and where his body was later discovered.

Knight then threatened to kill Brennault and Pearson if they told anyone about the murder. They returned to Miami Subs where Kunkel had left his car. Knight stole Kunkel’s car and took it for a joyride. Later that night, the three men burglarized Kunkel’s house.

Investigation and questioning

When Brennault and Pearson were originally questioned by the police about the murder, they denied knowing anything about it, but both men later confessed.

Knight bragged about the murder to Christopher Holt, who later testified along with Pearson and Brennault against him at trial.

Trial

Knight was indicted and convicted in a nonjury trial.

During the guilt phase of his trial, Knight represented himself, assisted by standby counsel, Mr. Sosa. The indicted counts were:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Armed Robbery
• Count III: Burglary
• Count IV: Grand Theft Auto (Hate Crime)

On 02/20/98, Knight waived his trial by jury.

Sentencing

On 05/29/98, Knight was sentenced to death by the trial judge. On 05/29/98, Knight was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death
• Count II: Armed Robbery — 3 years
• Count III: Burglary — 15 years
• Count IV: Grand Theft Auto (Hate Crime) — 5 years

Codefendant information

Timothy Craig Pearson (DC# 197554): Pearson was convicted for Accessory After the Fact and Armed Robbery. He was sentenced to three years for each offense (CC# 97-5175).

Dain Harold Brennault (DC# W04705): Brennault was convicted for Accessory After the Fact for his involvement. He was sentenced to five years on probation (CC# 99-13031).

Evidence revealed that neither of the codefendants knew Knight planned to kill Kunkel.

Appeals and post-conviction

Knight filed a Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 07/17/98. The Florida Supreme Court found that Knight knowingly and intelligently waived his appointed defense counsel, and that an inquiry was not required to determine if counsel was incompetent before discharging them. After discharging the court-appointed counsel, the Court once again offered assistance of court-appointed counsel at the beginning of the trial even though not required to do so. The Court also stated that Knight’s prior felony conviction could be used as an aggravating factor in sentencing. The Court affirmed his conviction and sentence on 05/29/98.

Knight filed a Petition of Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 03/08/01, which was denied on 04/30/01.

Knight filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court on 09/27/01, which was amended on 06/03/04. The motion was described as currently pending.

Outcome

Knight’s conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court, and his Petition of Writ of Certiorari was denied.

Other details

Florida Supreme Court Docket #SC93473 listed Ronald Knight, Appellant, vs. State of Florida, Appellee. The case citation given was 770 So. 2d 663.