A murder is classified as a capital offense when it involves certain aggravating factors that elevate its severity and moral culpability, warranting the possibility of capital punishment. In Florida, several specific circumstances can make a murder a capital offense:
Premeditation: The murder was planned and intentionally carried out without any pretext of moral or legal justification.
Felony Murder: The murder occurred during the commission of another serious felony, such as robbery, sexual battery, arson, kidnapping, burglary, or aggravated child abuse.
Victim Characteristics: The victim was a police officer, public official, firefighter, or paramedic performing his or her official duties, or a child under a certain age.
Prior Convictions: The crime was committed by a person previously convicted of a felony.