Opinion ID: 1988657
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Other Analogous Florida Override Cases

Text: The jury override death sentence imposed in Garden's case is consistent with Mills and is consistent with jury override death sentences affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court in other similar cases. In Echols v. State, [70] the crime was felony murder. It occurred during the commission of a robbery and burglary in the home of the victim by a person previously convicted of violent felonies. Four aggravators were found. [71] In addition to the other factors, the trial judge found that, like Garden, the defendant failed to exhibit any remorse. In upholding the jury override, the Florida Supreme Court noted that lack of remorse could be used as evidence to negate mitigation. [72] As with Garden, the defendant's age was also addressed. The Florida Supreme Court noted that if age is to be afforded weight as a mitigating factor, it must be listed with some other characteristics of the defendant or crime such as immaturity or senility. [73] In Burr v. State, [74] the felony murder was committed during the course of a robbery of a convenience store and was cold, calculated and premeditated. As in Garden, the felony murder was committed without any pretense of moral or legal justification. [75] The sentencing judge also found that the murder was committed to avoid a lawful arrest. Because of the presence of aggravators and the absence of any mitigation, the Florida Supreme Court held that the trial judge's death sentence was the appropriate penalty, and the jury's life recommendation was unreasonable. [76] In Porter v. State, [77] the Florida Supreme Court affirmed an override of a unanimous jury recommendation of life. The defendant, age 22, murdered an elderly man and his wife. As with Garden, the felony murder occurred during the commission of a robbery. The sentencing judge found three aggravating factors, including that the murders were especially heinous, atrocious and cruel, and that the defendant killed to avoid arrest. While some mitigating circumstances were found, the sentencing judge determined that those circumstances did not outweigh the aggravating factors and sentenced the defendant to death. In affirming the override, the Florida Supreme Court stated, `mere disagreement with the force to be given [mitigating evidence] is an insufficient basis for challenging a sentence.' [78]