Smith v. State

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of the kidnapping, capital sexual battery, and first-degree murder of an eleven-year-old girl. The trial court sentenced Appellant to death for the murder. The Supreme Court affirmed Appellant’s convictions and sentences on appeal. Appellant subsequently filed a motion for postconviction relief pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, presenting several claims. The postconviction court summarily denied all claims. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Appellant’s argument that criminal defense counsel should have unlimited authority to conduct interviews to probe jurors for possible misconduct was without merit; (2) the postconviction court properly denied Appellant’s claims that the trial court improperly instructed the jury regarding its role; (3) the postconviction court did not err when it held that Florida’s capital sentencing statute is not unconstitutional; and (4) Appellant’s challenge to the constitutionality of Florida’s lethal injection procedures was without merit. View "Smith v. State" on Justia Law