Opinion ID: 1927773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: order for clarification

Text: This cause is before us on direct appeals from two judgments of guilty of murder in the first degree, a judgment of guilty for involuntary sexual battery, and sentences of death and life imprisonment, respectively, imposed upon the judgments. In reviewing the findings of fact supporting the death sentences, it appears that the trial judge considered all of the mitigating and aggravating circumstances enumerated in Section 921.141, Florida Statutes (1975). However, in light of the trial judge's following statement: Not only does the Court find aggravating circumstances in that the capital felonies were committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of a rape, but further finds that the capital felonies were especially heinous, atrocious and cruel, and finds that there are insufficient mitigating circumstances as enumerated in Section 921.141, Florida Statutes, to outweigh the aforesaid aggravating circumstances.... a more detailed statement of findings of fact delineating the aggravating and mitigating circumstances found to exist is required. This additional information is necessary to enable this Court to properly review the death sentence in accordance with our pronouncement in Tedder v. State, 322 So.2d 908, 910 (Fla. 1975), that: In order to sustain a sentence of death following a jury recommendation of life, the facts suggesting a sentence of death should be so clear and convincing that virtually no reasonable person could differ.... Accordingly, the trial court is directed to submit an amended, more explicit, written findings of fact to this Court within twenty (20) days from the date of this order. In that the record on appeal in this cause will be supplemented by such amended written findings of fact, appellant is hereby granted leave to file a supplemental brief within twenty (20) days from the date the amended findings of fact are filed. In the event a supplemental brief is filed by appellant, appellee is hereby allowed ten (10) days from the date such supplemental brief is filed within which to file a brief in response thereto. Any such brief as may be filed shall be limited to the matters or issues presented by the amended findings of fact. It is so ordered. ENGLAND, C.J., and ADKINS, BOYD, OVERTON, SUNDBERG and HATCHETT, JJ., concur.