Opinion ID: 1142334
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Detailed Victim Impact Evidence Regarding the Victim's Good Qualities

Text: In Bernard, we stated that victim impact evidence which goes beyond the purpose of showing the victim's individual identity and to verify the existence of survivors reasonably expected to grieve and suffer because of the murder treads dangerously on the possibility of reversal because of the influence of arbitrary factors on the jury's sentencing decision. The defendant claims that his conviction and sentence should be reversed because the state was erroneously allowed to introduce victim impact evidence beyond this limitation. As discussed above, the state called three of the murder victim's survivors at the sentencing phase. [9] Each testified briefly. Lisa Reeves, the victim's younger sister, stated that illness during Ponsano's high school years prevented her from graduating and from bearing children. She recalled that Ponsano loved children very much, and that her infertility had a dramatic effect upon her life. According to Reeves, Ponsano was a giving person who took care of others, including Reeves' oldest daughter, Wendy, who looked upon Ponsano as a mother. As to the effect of Ponsano's death upon her life, Reeves testified that she has suffered, and that she misses her sister very much. Wendy Reeves, the victim's 13-year-old niece, stated that she was very close to Ponsano, and called her mother. She testified that they spent almost every day together, and that she discussed her problems with Ponsano. Wendy stated that she missed her aunt very much, and that she felt like a part of her life was taken away when Ponsano died. James Shatzel, the victim's fiancé, testified that Ponsano was a great person. He stated that she was the best thing that he ever had, and that he would probably never have another like her. He said that Ponsano treated him lovingly, and cared deeply for his two children from a previous marriage. He stated that he loved her very much, and that he and his children miss her. Shatzel testified that he found out about the shooting while working at his job at Capital City Press. He recalled reading about the events as they came off the press, and that this was not a pleasant way to find out that his fiancé had been shot. Shatzel went immediately to the hospital, and stayed there until Ponsano was pronounced dead two days later. Shatzel stated that if he had one more chance to talk to Ponsano he would tell her that he was sorry that their plans were thrown out the window, and that he wishes it could have been him instead of her. Under Bernard, [w]hether or not particular evidence renders a hearing so fundamentally unfair as to amount to a due process violation must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Bernard, 608 So.2d at 972. Under the facts of this case, we do not consider this testimony beyond the scope of admissible victim impact evidence. It did not contain detailed descriptions of Ponsano's good qualities or of the survivor's sufferings as cautioned against in Bernard. Rather, each of the three witnesses simply gave general statements about Ponsano's virtuous nature, and her love for children. No specific examples were elicited, and the state did not dwell upon this topic. See and compare, State v. Scales, supra . Such evidence is admissible under Bernard to show that the defendant should have known that the victim was a unique person. After all, the defendant knew Ponsano, having worked side-by-side with her at Cajun's for almost six months. Additionally, each of the three witnesses gave general statements dealing with the impact of Ponsano's death upon their lives. All testified that they missed her very much, and that they were deeply affected. Such responses are to be expected under the circumstances. The state did not question these witnesses about particular aspects of their grief, and the witnesses did not give detailed responses to general questions. See and compare, State v. Scales, supra . General evidence of the impact of the murder upon the victim's survivors is admissible under Bernard. This argument lacks merit.