The man charged with killing a Nova Southeastern University professor inside his Plantation home was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday. The victim’s wife Linda Morrissey and prosecutor Tom Coleman spoke about the verdict.
The man charged with killing a Nova Southeastern University professor inside his Plantation home was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday.
After a day of deliberations, a jury convicted Randy Tundidor Sr. in the April 2010 killing of Dr. Joseph Morrissey.
"It's so horrible, this is just a part of the whole thing," Morrissey's wife, Linda, said after the verdict was read. "I can't explain it, it's a horrific experience and for us there will never be closure, we will never get over this, and we have to learn to live our lives this way."
Tundidor Sr. was also found guilty on two counts of attempted murder, armed burglar, armed robbery, kidnapping and arson. He'll face the death penalty when he's sentenced in September.
The 45-year-old showed little emotion as the verdict was read. His attorney said he wouldn't comment until after Tundidor Sr. was sentenced.
"You guys sat through the trial and you heard the evidence," prosecutor Tom Coleman told reporters after the jury gave the verdict. "You look at the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Morrissey, the planning that went into it, the torture he went through, I think all of those things speak for themselves."
"I'm very exhausted, I'm very tired, it's been a long two years for us," Linda Morrissey said.
Prosecutors say Joseph Morrissey was in the process of evicting Tundidor Sr., his tenant, when Tundidor Sr. murdered him in his home with the help of his son, Randy Tundidor Jr.
In an odd twist that pitted father against son, Tundidor Jr., 23, testified against his father during the trial, claiming Tundidor Sr. recruited him to put "a scare" into Morrissey.
During his testimony, Tundidor Jr. said his father told him Morrissey "has to die" and said he watched his father stab Morrissey in the stomach twice.
Prosecutors say the Morrissey house was set on fire after the stabbing. Linda Morrissey and the couple's 5-year-old son were able to escape the burning home.
Tundidor Jr. agreed to testify against his father as part of a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He'll avoid the death penalty but could spend life behind bars.
The elder Tundidor claimed his son killed Morrissey. Several inmates from Broward County Main jail testified that they befriended Tundidor Jr. and that he told them his father was innocent.
Morrissey, 46, was a science professor at Nova who worked on cancer research.
"It's hard to even explain right now because I'm so overwhelmed, the whole thing was very painful, from the first day that this happened to today I don't think that I've ever found any relief," Linda Morrissey said.
