Jury recommends death in '86 murder

The man was convicted in 1987 of killing his elderly landlords, but an appeal led to a new penalty phase.

By CHRISTOPHER GOFFARD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 15, 2002

TAMPA -- A jury recommended the death penalty Thursday for Alphonso Green, 16 years after he murdered his elderly landlords with a butcher knife as he tried to take back his rent check.

Green, 51, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1987 for the murders of Robert Nichols, 77, and his wife, Dora, 72. But on appeal Green argued that his lawyer, Stuart Umbarger, was ineffective at trial.

That led to a new penalty phase.

"These people died a horrendous, terrifying, painful death," prosecutor Shirley Williams told the jury that voted 10-2 for death. "Mr. Nichols had to watch his wife be butchered in front of his eyes."

The Nichols had tried to evict Green the day before he murdered them. In his defense, Green claimed a mysterious man named Bobby had committed the murders -- a man the prosecution argued did not exist. Green's family said he was a good man whose character was warped by cocaine.

Circuit Judge William Fuente will decide whether to accept the jury's recommendation or sentence Green to life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Patricia Anderson, 61, the victims' daughter, said she was pleased with the verdict. Throughout the trial, she said, Green "seemed like he was just staring at me with snake eyes."

Tom Anderson Sr., 63, the victims' son-in-law, said he spent two days cleaning up the bloody apartment after the murders.

"If (Green) had shown any remorse, it wouldn't have hurt me if he would have gotten life instead of the death penalty," he said.

-- Christopher Goffard can be reached at 226-3337 or goffard@sptimes.com.

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