Opinion ID: 1607200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 22

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Smith has not challenged the sufficiency of the evidence, but this Court has a mandatory obligation to review the sufficiency of the evidence in every case in which a sentence of death has been imposed. See Jones v. State, 963 So.2d 180, 184 (Fla.2007); Fla. R.App. P. 9.142(a)(6) (In death penalty cases, whether or not insufficiency of the evidence or proportionality is an issue presented for review, the court shall review these issues and, if necessary, remand for the appropriate relief.). In determining the sufficiency of the evidence, the question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could have found the existence of the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Simmons v. State, 934 So.2d 1100, 1111 (Fla.2006) (quoting Bradley v. State, 787 So.2d 732, 738 (Fla.2001)). We conclude that the record contains competent, substantial evidence to support Smith's convictions for the first-degree murders of Brown and Wilson. The State presented evidence that Smith solicited the murder of Brown in order to eliminate her as witness against him in another murder case and that Smith admitted his involvement in numerous statements after Brown's murder. The State also presented evidence that Brown died from asphyxia caused by being smothered with the bed pillow and did not die from a drug overdose. The State also presented evidence that Smith ordered his subordinates to kill Anthony Fail because he was robbing Smith's drug holes, that there was an earlier unsuccessful attempt to shoot Fail, and that Wilson was shot by accident in a second attempt to kill Fail. Multiple bullets were fired at Wilson's vehicle from another vehicle that sped away from the scene. Wilson died from numerous gunshot wounds that caused massive trauma to her body. Based on a review of the evidence presented in this case, a rational trier of fact could have found the existence of the elements of the crime[s] beyond a reasonable doubt. Simmons, 934 So.2d at 1111 (quoting Bradley, 787 So.2d at 738). Thus, there was sufficient evidence to support Smith's convictions.