Opinion ID: 1882486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 30

Heading: juror misconduct occurred in mr. muhammad's resentencing in violation of the sixth, eighth, fourteenth amendments to the united states constitution and the corresponding provisions of the florida constitution.

Text: As with claim XVI the defendant is alleging juror misconduct, in that several jurors had seen the newspapers and jurors inadvertently overheard a conversation regarding the defendant in an elevator. This matter was litigated on direct appeal where the defendant claimed it was error to remove the jurors due to the conversation with court personnel. The Florida Supreme Court found no abuse of discretion in the removal of these jurors. Knight v. State, 746 So.2d at 433. As this claim was raised on appeal it is procedurally barred. Cherry v. State, 659 So.2d 1069 (Fla.1995). Additionally, as for the issue concerning newspaper allegations, the record reflects that the jurors were interviewed by the court. (RST 2823-2839). The court found the answers credible and the defendant objected to the removal as one of the jurors was an African American. This claim is refuted by the record. Additionally, it could have been raised on direct appeal and accordingly it is procedurally barred. Accordingly, this claim is denied without evidentiary hearing.