Supreme Court of Florida

Conviction of defendant for first-degree murder and a sentence of death are affirmed where: 1) there is competent substantial evidence to support that the murder was premeditated here; 2) defendant's claim that admitting a detective's comments was error because they offered an opinion as to his guilt and that he was unfairly prejudiced by the testimony is rejected; 3) trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the victim's father's testimony as the testimony was relevant, and its probative value outweighed any prejudice to defendant; 4) trial court did not err in ordering the defense to turn over to the prosecution raw data from the defense's mental health expert prior to the penalty phase; 5) defendant has not shown how certain challenged testimony affected his sentencing; 6) defendant's claim that portions of the victim's father's victim impact statement should not have been read to the jury is rejected; 7) CCP aggravating circumstance was supported by competent substantial evidence, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion when applying weight to the mitigating circumstances in this case; 8) defendant's sentence is proportionate and the trial court did not err in imposing the death sentence; 9) defendant's Ring claim is rejected; and 10) the evidence is sufficient to support the convictions.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/07/2010
• Published 10/07/2010

Judges

• Per Curiam

Court

• Supreme Court of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• James S. Purdy, Bill McCollum