Opinion ID: 1584057
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Hayward has specifically challenged the sufficiency of evidence as to identification, premeditation, and whether a robbery was actually accomplished. [15] Even if Hayward had not challenged the sufficiency of evidence, this Court has a mandatory obligation to review it in every case in which a sentence of death has been imposed regardless of whether the appellant has challenged the evidence. See Jones v. State, 963 So.2d 180, 184 (Fla. 2007); Fla. R.App. P. 9.142(a)(6). 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)). [I]f the State's evidence is wholly circumstantial, not only must there be sufficient evidence establishing each element of each offense, but the evidence must also exclude the defendant's reasonable hypothesis of innocence. Pagan v. State, 830 So.2d 792, 803(Fla.2002). Nonetheless, contrary to Hayward's assertion, the evidence in his case was not purely circumstantial. Thus, it is unnecessary to apply the special standard of review applicable to circumstantial evidence cases and unnecessary to require the State to disprove Hayward's hypothesis that he was merely an observer. Moreover, even if this case were purely circumstantial, we would find that Hayward's hypothesis of innocence was disproven by competent, substantial evidence. The evidence showed that Destefano told his assailant, I don't have no more, after which Destefano was brought to his knees by a shot from a .22 caliber revolver. Then, while standing above him, the assailant took aim again and shot a second time into Destefano's chest. Destefano told the police officer he shot at his assailant with his larger .357 caliber revolver and McDowell testified he heard two gunshots followed by a louder gunshot and saw the assailant examine his bleeding hand under a streetlight. Hayward suffered a gunshot wound that same morning. Destefano also told the officer that he did not know what happened to his revolver. Shortly after the murder, Hayward sold a silver revolver that matched the description of Destefano's revolver. Additionally, Hayward had a bloody ten-dollar bill in his possession on the morning after the murder. Finally, Destefano himself told the police officer that he had been robbed. [16] This evidence establishes not only a robbery by the taking of Destefano's money at gunpoint, i.e., by use of force, violence, assault, or putting in fear, [17] but it also establishes a premeditated intent to kill by the assailant. [18] As to identity, Hayward took the stand at trial and admitted that he was the person McDowell saw searching Destefano's car. However, his admitted search of the victim's vehicle cannot explain the presence of the large amount of Hayward's blood found on Destefano's pants. Indeed, bloodstains were found on the pants in many varied patterns: spattered horizontally, dripped from above, and wiped or crushed into the fabric of Destefano's back pockets. Nor can the presence of Hayward's blood on Destefano's pants be attributed to a careless police officer handling the evidence. Further, given Hayward's multiple versions of what happened, the jury reasonably discounted his other robber theory. Taken together, this provided competent, substantial evidence of identity and rebutted Hayward's theory of innocence. [19] Therefore, we conclude the evidence is sufficient to support the convictions in this case.