Opinion ID: 1684899
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence From the Record

Text: Overton contends that the trial court was required to specify evidence in the record that conclusively demonstrates he is not entitled to relief, and he relies on Ortiz v. State, 884 So.2d 70 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004), to support this position. In Ortiz, the Second District noted that a 3.853 motion cannot be summarily denied unless the record conclusively demonstrates that the appellant is entitled to no relief. See id. at 71. Contrary to the assertions of Overton, the trial court did identify evidence in the record that conclusively demonstrates that Overton is not entitled to relief. The trial court specifically noted that it is unknown where the tape here came from and when the hair may have become attached to the tape. With this crime occurring in a residence, the trial court also noted that, as a practical matter, hair can be left behind by any person who may enter a residence and it would be impossible to determine when the hair was deposited in the MacIvor residence. See Overton, 801 So.2d at 881. Thus, DNA testing would not establish that the person whose DNA matched the hair had any connection with this crime. Additionally, it was demonstrated during the trial that the hair did not visually match Overton or the victims; thus, the record demonstrates that the fact that the hair did not come from Overton had no bearing on Overton's death sentences. Unlike the appellant in Ortiz, the trial court here indicated which portions of the record conclusively demonstrate that Overton is not entitled to relief.