32-year old Ronnie Oneal III, a man accused of murdering his 8-year old son’s mother and sister, cross-examined his own son on the stand while acting as his own defense attorney. Ronnie is accused of wounding his son with a knife, and trying to burn him. The trial is taking place in Florida before Judge Michelle Sisco, who seemed enthralled by the human drama taking place in front of her. Oneal allegedly shot and beat the boy’s mother in a vicious killing and killed the boy’s disabled sister with a hatchet. Oneal is trying to establish that a shooting occurred outside, and that his son allegedly changed his story. Oneal greeted his son and said it was good to see him, and the boy agreed that it was good to see his father too. The boy was steadfast in his defense of his story, telling his own father, “You stabbed me.” Oneal tried to garner sympathy by establishing that he took his family to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. Oneal faces execution if he is found guilty. Oneal said in his opening statement that he may have said “Allahu Akbar” on repeated occasions.
Here is Oneal’s opening statement, which made headlines.
