On June 25, 1987, at 6:30 a.m., a passerby, Harry Lee, found Rama Sharma’s body on a path in the woods near Sharma’s convenience store in Pasco County. Evidence showed that Sharma was stabbed thirty-one times and died approximately ten to fifteen minutes after the last wound was inflicted.
Samuel Derrick was implicated in the murder by his friend, David Lowry, who testified at trial that Derrick told him that he killed Sharma.
After arrest, Derrick confessed that he intended to rob the store and jumped Sharma as he left the store. When Sharma turned to run back to the store, Derrick grabbed him. Sharma recognized Derrick and started screaming, and Derrick admitted stabbing Sharma "to shut him up." Derrick tore off a piece of his shirt that had blood on it and took $360 from Sharma’s pocket. Derrick disposed of the knife in the woods and some clothing and shoes in a pond.
Source: Florida Commission on Capital Cases
Source: Florida Commission on Capital Cases
Samuel Derrick was implicated in the murder by his friend, David Lowry, who testified at trial that Derrick told him that he killed Sharma.
After arrest, Derrick confessed that he intended to rob the store and jumped Sharma as he left the store. When Sharma turned to run back to the store, Derrick grabbed him. Sharma recognized Derrick and started screaming, and Derrick admitted stabbing Sharma "to shut him up." Derrick tore off a piece of his shirt that had blood on it and took $360 from Sharma’s pocket. Derrick disposed of the knife in the woods and some clothing and shoes in a pond.
Source: Florida Commission on Capital Cases
Source: Florida Commission on Capital Cases