Opinion ID: 3054693
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Direct Appeal & Resentencing

Text: On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court vacated the death sentences of both Farina brothers because a qualified prospective juror had been erroneously excused for cause during their joint trial. See Farina I, 680 So. 2d at 1157-58; Jeffrey Farina I, 680 So. 2d at 398-99. The brothers then received a new joint penalty proceeding before a new jury. See Farina III, 937 So. 2d at 617. The new jury unanimously recommended a sentence of death for both of the Farinas, and the trial court imposed that penalty after finding five statutory 3 Case: 12-13260 Date Filed: 09/30/2013 Page: 4 of 39 aggravating factors, three statutory mitigating factors, and 15 non-statutory mitigating factors. See id. 1 Mr. Farina once again appealed his death sentence, arguing among other things that the prosecutor had improperly struck two prospective jurors based on race, but this time the Florida Supreme Court affirmed. See Farina v. State, 801 So. 2d 44, 48-49 (Fla. 2001) (Farina II).