Opinion ID: 1896204
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Course of a Felony Aggravator

Text: Chamberlain argues that the murder in the course of a felony aggravator in section 921.141(5)(d), Florida Statutes, violates the Florida and United States Constitutions because it neither performs a narrowing function nor reasonably justifies the imposition of a more severe sentence. This Court has repeatedly rejected this claim. See, e.g., Owen v. State, 862 So.2d 687, 704 (Fla.2003), petition for cert. filed, No. 03-9345 (U.S. Mar. 3, 2004); Johnson v. Moore, 837 So.2d 343, 348 (Fla.2002); Blanco v. State, 706 So.2d 7, 11 (Fla.1997). Further, as noted below, the course of a felony aggravator is merged with, and subsumed within, the pecuniary gain aggravator.