LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Wisner Desmaret was found guilty on all counts in the murder trial of Fort Myers Police Officer (FMPD) Adam Jobbers-Miller who was killed in the line of duty more than four years ago.
Fox 4 followed this case from the moment the news broke of the shooting nearly four years ago. Like many, we waited for a week before learning the news that Officer Jobbers-Miller died from his injuries.
Jurors deliberated for about three and a half hours before it was announced the guilty verdict was decided. At times the jury did ask questions about the evidence.
Around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the jurors unanimously agreed that Desmaret who acted as his own lawyer was guilty on all charges that were part of the capital murder case.
The most we saw from the now-convicted officer killer was him having his head down at times, but overall not much emotion. After Desmaret heard jurors one by one say he killed Officer Jobbers-Miller back in 2018, he told the judge he did not want to return to court on Thursday for the penalty phase.
The first guilty verdict talked about the jury believing Desmaret killed Officer Jobbers-Miller—But the other 7 guilty verdicts mean the jury also believed Desmaret also tried to kill another officer and assault a third officer.
Desmaret is now closer to the possibility of receiving the death penalty. The jury believed Desmaret wanted to carry out what prosecutors called a violent rampage so he could get a gun.
Prosecutors stated in opening and closing arguments that this all started because Desmaret attacked a group of three men at a Marathon gas station looking for a gun and eventually stole a cell phone. When FMPD officers including Officer Jobbers-Miller responded it escalated to Officer Jobbers-Miller chasing Desmaret as he ran.
There was a tussle between the 29-year-old officer and Desmaret which resulted in the Officer being shot execution style.
Because Desmaret defended himself, the court-appointed lawyer Lee Hollander was there to give legal advice.
“No… I mean it could have been this, or it could have been fewer convictions but I am not surprised. The state did a good job," said Attorney Lee Hollander.
All through the trial, Attorney Hollander brought up concerns over Desmaret's mental health. Desmaret's family told us they did not want to speak because they'd received death threats.
Fort Myers Police toldFox 4's Briana Brownleethat FMPD will comment after the penalty phase and there is a possibility Officer Jobbers-Miller's father will address the court.
The penalty phase starts Thursday at 8:30 am.
