Opinion ID: 1096637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: hac and harmful error

Text: I do not agree that after striking the HAC aggravator, on which the jury was instructed and which the trial court found, this Court can state beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to the imposition of the death penalty. Under Hill v. State, 643 So.2d 1071, 1073 (Fla.1994), which is cited by the majority, error in finding an impermissible aggravator can only be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if there is no reasonable possibility that the evidence presented in mitigation is sufficient to outweigh the remaining aggravators. In this case, there was a nine-to-three vote on the advisory sentence and substantial mitigation, including the finding that the murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance, the age of the defendant at the time of the offense, and the defendant's lack of a significant history of prior criminal activity. Thus, the erroneous submission of the weighty aggravator of HAC [10] to the jury and the trial court's reliance on HAC in the sentencing order cannot be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in their effect on the jury recommendation and imposition of the death penalty. Consequently, I believe that striking the HAC aggravator alone requires that we reverse Diaz's sentence and remand for a new penalty phase.