Opinion ID: 1901682
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Proportionality and Sufficiency of the Evidence

Text: It is well settled that this Court conducts its proportionality review in capital cases by performing a comprehensive analysis in which it determines whether the crime falls within the category of both the most aggravated and the least mitigated of murders, thereby providing for uniformity in the application of the sentence. Rose v. State, 787 So.2d 786, 804 (Fla. 2001). We conclude that in comparison with other decisions of this Court upholding the imposition of the death penalty, the sentence given Mr. Cox is not disproportionate. The instant murder was a carefully planned, conscienceless act that fully deserves the application of the CCP and HAC aggravating factors. This Court has made it clear that these factors are two of the most serious aggravators set out in the statutory sentencing scheme. Larkins v. State, 739 So.2d 90, 95 (Fla.1999). Additionally, the trial court properly applied the prior conviction for violent felonies and the under a sentence of imprisonment aggravators. In mitigation, the trial court found thirty-two nonstatutory mitigating factors, nineteen of which it accorded slight or little to some weight. [16] The pitiless murder perpetrated by the appellant can certainly be characterized as one of the most aggravated and least mitigated murders before this Court. Kramer v. State, 619 So.2d 274, 278 (Fla. 1993). In the past, we have deemed the death penalty the appropriate punishment in cases where less aggravation and more mitigation existed. See Rose v. State, 787 So.2d 786 (Fla.2001) (upholding the death penalty where four aggravatorsmurder committed while on probation, prior violent felony, murder committed during a kidnapping, and HACand eleven nonstatutory mitigators properly applied); Mansfield v. State, 758 So.2d 636 (Fla.2000) (death penalty deemed proportional where HAC and crime committed during the commission of a sexual battery aggravators found, and five nonstatutory mitigating circumstances found); Way v. State, 760 So.2d 903 (Fla. 2000) (death penalty proportional where trial court found prior violent felony, murder committed during the commission of a felony, HAC, and CCP aggravators; two statutory mitigators; and seven nonstatutory mitigating circumstances); Sliney v. State, 699 So.2d 662 (Fla.1997) (finding the death penalty proportional where the murder occurred during a robbery and murder was committed to avoid arrest, two statutory mitigators existed, and a number of nonstatutory mitigators applied). Thus, the death sentence is proportional here. While not challenged by the appellant, it is clear that the evidence introduced in the instant case was sufficient for the jury to have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Allen Cox murdered Thomas Baker. Multiple witnesses provided the facts which corroborated the State's theory that Cox became angry that he had been made the victim of a theft, tracked down a person he thought was involved in the theft, and killed him. The only contradictory evidence introduced at trial was the testimony of the appellant himself. We find that sufficient evidence exists in support of the jury's decision finding Cox guilty of first-degree murder.