Opinion ID: 1959135
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: doubling

Text: We also conclude there was not an improper doubling of aggravators regarding the trial court's finding that both the avoid arrest aggravator and CCP existed. In the case at bar, the State properly established that Nelson's motive for killing Brace was to eliminate her as the sole witness to burglary and sexual battery, i.e., Nelson admitted that he killed her so that she could not call the police and identify him; he subdued her by putting her in the trunk after the initial crimes were committed; he took her to a remote location to kill her. Further, the State properly proved that the manner in which Brace was killed resulted from a heightened premeditation, i.e., Nelson drove around with the victim in the trunk for several hours before killing her; when his initial plan was foiled he took her to another location; it took several attempts before Nelson succeeded in killing her. Therefore, the avoid arrest aggravator and CCP were considered as separate aspects of the crime and were supported by distinct facts in this case. See Stein v. State, 632 So.2d 1361, 1366 (Fla.1994) (holding that a trial court can properly find both the avoid arrest aggravator and CCP in the same case, [s]o long as each aggravator is supported by such distinct facts); see also Gore v. State, 706 So.2d 1328, 1334 (Fla.1997).