Opinion ID: 1882486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 42

Heading: AN INVALID PRIOR CONVICTION WAS INTRODUCED INTO EVIDENCE AT MR. MUHAMMAD'S RESENTENCING PROCEEDING TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF AN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN VIOLATION OF JOHNSON V. MISSISSIPPI, 486 U.S. 578 (1988), AND DUEST V. SINGLETARY, 997 F.2d 1336 (11th CIR.1993).

Text: Defendant again alleges that his sentencing was premised on an invalid prior conviction, that being the murder of James Burke. (Bradford County case) Claims that a death sentence is invalid because of the alleged invalidity of prior violent felonies are procedurally barred because they could have and should have been raised on appeal. Eutzy v. State, 541 So.2d 1143, 1146 (Fla.1989). The claim is also legally insufficient. Defendant must show that the prior conviction upon which the prior violent felony aggravator was based has been vacated. Buenoano v. State, 708 So.2d 941, 942 (Fla.1998). The conviction for the murder of Mr. Burke has not been vacated. This claim is lacking merit. Accordingly, this claim is denied without an evidentiary hearing.