Opinion ID: 1813007
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Finding of CCP

Text: In order to find the CCP aggravating factor, the jury must determine that the killing was the product of cool and calm reflection and not an act prompted by emotional frenzy, panic, or a fit of rage (cold); that the defendant had a careful plan or prearranged design to commit murder before the fatal incident (calculated); that the defendant exhibited heightened premeditation (premeditated); and that the defendant had no pretense of moral or legal justification. Franklin v. State, 965 So.2d 79, 98 (Fla.2007) (citing Jackson v. State, 648 So.2d 85, 89 (Fla. 1994)). It is the State's burden to prove CCP beyond a reasonable doubt. See Walker v. State, 957 So.2d 560, 581 (Fla. 2007). A determination of whether CCP is present is properly based on a consideration of the totality of the circumstances. Wike v. State, 698 So.2d 817, 823 (Fla.1997); see also Lynch v. State, 841 So.2d 362, 372 (Fla.2003). [T]he facts supporting CCP must focus on the manner in which the crime was executed, e.g., advance procurement of weapon, lack of provocation, killing carried out as a matter of course. Lynch, 841 So.2d at 372 (quoting Looney v. State, 803 So.2d 656, 678 (Fla.2001)). In this case, the trial court's finding of CCP included the fact that Hudson took a loaded firearm to the apartment; he discussed the impending murder with Peller for a substantial period of time; Peller offered no resistance and was shot in the head execution-style; and the murder was not spontaneous or impulsive. The trial court found the murder involved heightened premeditation over and above what is required for unaggravated first-degree murder, noting that the degree of ruthlessness is evident in the fact that Hudson let Peller use the telephone to call his father to say goodbye and then shot the unarmed, unresisting victim in the head. Hudson informed Peller that he had been sent there to kill him, evidencing a prearranged plan. The trial court correctly concluded there was no pretense of moral or legal justification. It is significant that Hudson was in the apartment for at least forty-five minutes before the shooting. Even though Hudson may have agonized over the final act and tried to get out of the shooting by calling someone, he clearly had ample opportunity to reflect upon his actions, following which he decided to shoot Peller execution-style. Id. at 371 (quoting Looney, 803 So.2d at 678). Heightened premeditation necessary for CCP is established where, as here, the defendant had ample opportunity to release the victim but instead, after substantial reflection, acted out the plan [he] had conceived during the extended period in which [the] events occurred. Alston v. State, 723 So.2d 148, 162 (Fla.1998) (quoting Jackson v. State, 704 So.2d 500, 505 (Fla.1997)); see also Looney, 803 So.2d at 679. This evidence alone would be sufficient to establish heightened premeditation, but coupled with the facts that Peller's murder had been planned weeks in advance and that Hudson took the murder weapon to the scene, heightened premeditation is clearly proven. The evidence was also sufficient to support the trial court's finding that the murder was calculated. Hudson calculated and prepared in advance to shoot Peller and took the loaded murder weapon to the apartment where he found Peller alone. The shooting was not done in a fit of rage but according to a prearranged plan, and the evidence clearly established that it was also cold. The fact that Hudson did not immediately kill Peller does not make the murder less cold, calculated or premeditated. In the end, Hudson picked up a blanket to muffle the shot and killed Peller with a single gunshot to the head. The trial court recognized and applied the correct rule of law and had before it competent, substantial evidence to conclude that the cold, calculated and premeditated (CCP) aggravator was present. Accordingly, this claim is without merit.