Opinion ID: 1949657
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: amazon's absence from the jury view

Text: Amazon next challenges his absence from the jury view of the crime scene. He argues that he was unaware that testimony would be presented during the view (explanations by investigators of what they found and where they found it), and that it was fundamental error for the trial court to accept the waiver by his attorneys rather than to conduct a hearing to determine whether Amazon knowingly and voluntarily waived his presence. Following oral argument before this Court, we relinquished jurisdiction of the case for an evidentiary hearing on the circumstances surrounding the waiver. The trial judge concluded that Amazon knowingly and intelligently waived his presence. A capital defendant is free to waive his presence at a crucial stage of the trial. Peede v. State, 474 So.2d 808 (Fla. 1985). Waiver must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. Francis v. State, 413 So.2d 1175 (Fla. 1982). Counsel may make the waiver on behalf of a client, provided that the client, subsequent to the waiver, ratifies the waiver either by examination by the trial judge, or by acquiescence to the waiver with actual or constructive knowledge of the waiver. See State v. Melendez, 244 So.2d 137 (Fla. 1971). Here, trial counsel clearly waived Amazon's presence knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily. Amazon knew of the waiver, because he had been consulted by his attorneys on the point and advised to waive his presence. He authorized his attorneys to make the waiver. His authorization was knowing and intelligent and as voluntary as any decision made by a client who relies upon and accepts advice of counsel. Amazon subsequently acquiesced to the waiver, with actual notice, and now cannot be heard to complain. [1]