Opinion ID: 1826001
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 26

Heading: Victim Under 12 Years of Age Aggravator

Text: Stephens argues that the aggravating circumstance and jury instruction for a victim under 12 years of age is unconstitutionally overinclusive, arbitrary, and automatically applicable to homicides committed regardless of the circumstances. Stephens did not object at trial to the constitutionality of this aggravator in order to preserve the claim for appeal. Thus, appellate counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to raise this claim on direct appeal because even if he had done so, this Court would have declined to address the merits of the claim. See Lukehart v. State, 776 So.2d 906 (Fla.2000). This claim is also without merit because Stephens can show no error in instructing the jury on this aggravator because the record undisputedly proves that the child victim, at the age of three years and four months, was less than twelve years old at the time of the murder. Accordingly, habeas relief is denied on this claim.