Opinion ID: 1103334
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: alleged errors

Text: Fitzpatrick alleges that the trial court committed the following errors that could have rendered his sentence of death unreliable: admitting his grand theft conviction and admitting hearsay regarding his aggravated battery conviction; requiring the prosecutor to present mitigating evidence to the jury; sentencing him to death without the benefit of a comprehensive presentence investigation (PSI); and submitting to the jury and finding of the aggravating circumstance that the homicide was committed during a sexual battery. Each will be addressed in turn. First, contrary to Fitzpatrick's assertion, the trial court's admission of Fitzpatrick's grand theft conviction was not in error. Section 921.141(5)(a) of the Florida Statutes (2001) allows the trial court in sentencing to consider the following aggravating circumstance: The capital felony was committed by a person previously convicted of a felony and under sentence of imprisonment or placed on community control or on felony probation. Fitzpatrick was not only previously convicted of a felony, grand theft, but he was on probation for grand theft at the time of the murder. The trial court, therefore, was within its authority pursuant to section 921.141(5)(a) of the Florida Statutes (2001) to admit the grand theft conviction as an aggravating circumstance. See Jackson v. State, 530 So.2d 269, 273 (Fla.1988) (Evidence of the particular offense for which appellant was on parole may be admitted to establish the aggravating factor permitted by section 921.141(5)(a), Florida Statutes....). Further, Fitzpatrick contends that the trial court erred in admitting the grand theft conviction to demonstrate Fitzpatrick was on parole for purposes of satisfying section 921.141(5)(a) of the Florida Statutes when his eligibility for this aggravator could have been accomplished by using his conviction for aggravated battery. At the time of the murder, Fitzpatrick was on parole for both grand theft and aggravated battery. The trial court was neither required to use the aggravated battery conviction nor precluded from using the grand theft conviction to establish the on probation aggravator, and therefore, no error occurred. Next, Fitzpatrick asserts that the trial court erred in allowing Fitzpatrick's probation officer, George Kranz, to provide testimony in the penalty phase concerning the details of the aggravated battery committed by Fitzpatrick. This Court has held that it is appropriate in the penalty phase of a capital trial to introduce testimony concerning the details of any prior felony conviction involving the use or threat of violence to the person rather than the bare admission of the conviction. Rhodes v. State, 547 So.2d 1201, 1204 (Fla. 1989). Further, this Court explained that [t]estimony concerning the events which resulted in the conviction assists the jury in evaluating the character of the defendant and the circumstances of the crime so that the jury can make an informed recommendation as to the appropriate sentence. Id. Moreover, this Court has previously held that a police officer may give hearsay testimony concerning a defendant's prior violent felonies. See Jones v. State, 748 So.2d 1012, 1026 (Fla.1999). Applying these principles, we hold that the trial court properly allowed the probation officer to give hearsay testimony concerning Fitzpatrick's prior violent felony. Moreover, Fitzpatrick could have cross-examined Kranz, thereby undermining the contention that he was not afforded an opportunity to rebut Kranz's hearsay testimony. See Rhodes, 547 So.2d at 1204 (While hearsay evidence may be admissible in penalty phase proceedings, such evidence is admissible only if the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut any hearsay statements.). On this basis, we conclude that the trial court did not err. Second, Fitzpatrick asserts that the trial court erred by requiring the State to present mitigation for Fitzpatrick. This Court has stated we expect and encourage trial courts to consider mitigating evidence, even when the defendant refuses to present mitigating evidence. Muhammad v. State, 782 So.2d 343, 363 (Fla.2001). This Court has repeatedly emphasized the duty of the trial court to consider all mitigating evidence `contained anywhere in the record, to the extent it is believable and uncontroverted.' Id. (quoting Farr v. State, 621 So.2d 1368, 1369 (Fla.1993)). This requirement applies with no less force when a defendant argues in favor of the death penalty, and even if the defendant asks the court not to consider mitigating evidence. Id. (quoting Farr, 621 So.2d at 1369). [T]he trial judge must carefully analyze all the possible statutory and nonstatutory mitigating factors against the established aggravators to ensure that death is appropriate. Grim v. State, 841 So.2d 455, 462 (Fla.2003) (quoting Robinson v. State, 684 So.2d 175, 177 (Fla.1996)). In the instant action, the trial court correctly followed this Court's dictate that mitigating evidence must be considered and weighed when, after Fitzpatrick refused to present mitigation, it instructed the prosecution to present the mitigating evidence to Fitzpatrick's jury. See Grim, 841 So.2d at 462; see also Muhammad, 782 So.2d at 361-62 (holding that the trial court erred when it gave great weight to the jury's recommendation in light of the defendant's refusal to present mitigating evidence and the failure of the trial court to provide for an alternative means for the jury to be advised of available mitigating evidence). Here, when Fitzpatrick refused to present mitigating evidence, the trial court provided an alternative means for the jury to be advised of available mitigating evidence by instructing the prosecutor to present the mitigation. The prosecution presented one witness, Fitzpatrick's parole officer, and introduced one exhibit. The mitigation presented through the parole officer's testimony included that Fitzpatrick had a problem with drugs and alcohol, that Fitzpatrick had attempted to commit suicide, Fitzpatrick's family history, and Fitzpatrick's employment history. The trial court not only instructed the jury on the aggravators and mitigators but specifically instructed the jurors that they could consider the mitigating circumstances outlined in section 921.141(6)(f), Florida Statutes (2001), if established by the evidence, and the trial court articulated each mitigator for the jury. Accordingly, this Court concludes that no error occurred below. Third, Fitzpatrick asserts that the trial court erred in sentencing Fitzpatrick without the benefit of a comprehensive presentence investigation (PSI). This Court requires the preparation of a PSI in every case where the defendant is not challenging the imposition of the death penalty and refuses to present mitigation evidence. Muhammad, 782 So.2d at 363. This Court explained: To be meaningful, the PSI should be comprehensive and should include information such as previous mental health problems (including hospitalizations), school records, and relevant family background. In addition, the trial court could require the State to place in the record all evidence in its possession of a mitigating nature such as school records, military records, and medical records. Id. at 363-64 (emphasis added). Fitzpatrick contends that without the military records, which were requested but never received, the trial court should not have proceeded to sentence Fitzpatrick. This Court in Muhammad did not absolutely require a trial court to consider a defendant's military records to ensure a comprehensive PSI but only stated that the trial court could require the State to place in the record all evidence in its possession of a mitigating nature such as school records, military records, and medical records. Id. The rationale behind this Court requiring a comprehensive PSI is to allow the trial court to have before it all the available information regarding the defendant. The substance of the PSI, not the form, is what is important. Therefore, despite the trial court not physically having the military records in the PSI, the trial court was apprised of Fitzpatrick's military background and specifically weighed the mitigation resulting from Fitzpatrick's military service when deciding whether death was the appropriate sentence. Fitzpatrick has offered no indication that any relevant facts of his military service were neglected, and thus no error occurred. Finally, Fitzpatrick asserts that the evidence was insufficient to submit the sexual battery charge to the jury, and because the jury was allowed to consider sexual battery as an aggravating circumstance at the penalty phase, Fitzpatrick is entitled to a new penalty trial. Contrary to Fitzpatrick's assertion, the evidence at trial was sufficient to support a finding of sexual battery. Specifically, the evidence demonstrated that Romines was found nude with her bloody undergarment wrapped around her waist near her breasts, her breasts were deep purple, there was a penetrating wound in the breast area that was either another stab wound or a bite mark, there was puffiness around her head, there was bruising on her arms, her legs were covered in scratches, and there was a cigarette burn on her leg. Fitzpatrick's DNA was consistent with the DNA present on Romines' vaginal swabs, and Fitzpatrick was the last person seen with Romines alive. This Court has determined that when the facts contained in the record are sufficient to support the finding of sexual battery, they also stand sufficiently strong to support the aggravating circumstance under section 921.141(5)(d) of the Florida Statutes. See Lightbourne v. State, 438 So.2d 380, 391 (Fla.1983) (determining the evidence was sufficient to demonstrate sexual battery and to support the felony murder aggravator where viable sperm and semen traces were discovered in the victim's vagina indicating sexual relations at approximately the time of death, the defendant's blood type was consistent with semen and blood tests, and pubic hair found at the crime scene was miscroscopically matched with those of the defendant); see also Bogle v. State, 655 So.2d 1103, 1108 (Fla.1995) (holding the felony murder aggravating factor based on sexual battery was proven beyond a reasonable doubt where the victim was found nude, the DNA extracted from the semen in the victim's vagina was consistent, although not a positive match, with the defendant's DNA, a pubic hair found on the crotch area of the defendant's pants was consistent with the pubic hair of the victim, and the medical examiner testified that the sexual activity occurred within three hours of the victim's death). Consistent with this Court's precedent, we conclude that the facts contained in the record were sufficient to support the finding of sexual battery, and also stood sufficiently strong to support the aggravating circumstance under section 921.141(5)(d) of the Florida Statutes. Accordingly, we conclude there was no error.