Jeffries v. State

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s conviction for first-degree murder, vacated his death sentence, and remanded for a new penalty phase, holding that there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant’s convictions but that, under Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), Defendant was entitled to a new penalty phase.After a trial, the jury recommended the death penalty by a vote of ten to two for Defendant’s murder conviction. Upon weighing the aggravation and mitigation, the trial court sentenced Defendant to death. The Supreme Court held (1) competent, substantial evidence supported Defendant’s convictions under both premeditated murder and felony murder; (2) death was a proportionate punishment in this case; but (3) considering the nonunanimous jury recommendation and reasoning, there was a sentencing error under Hurst, and the error was not harmless. View "Jeffries v. State" on Justia Law