Opinion ID: 1859587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: State's Cross Appeal

Text: The State argues that the trial court erred in allowing defense counsel to make an inappropriate argument to the jury. In his closing argument and over objection, defense counsel discussed the cases of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Charles Manson. This issue is controlled by our decision in Herring v. State, 446 So.2d 1049 (Fla.1984), receded from on other grounds, Rogers v. State, 511 So.2d 526, 533 (Fla.1987): We have previously held that evidence concerning sentences imposed upon co-defendants must be admitted in the penalty phase in order to allow the jury to know all the facts and circumstances surrounding an offense and its participants. These cases do not hold, however, that the circumstances and sentences in other death penalty cases must be admitted in the sentencing phase of the trial. Evaluating the sentences of other defendants in unrelated crimes involves a number of variables. There is no requirement in [ Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 98 S.Ct. 2954, 57 L.Ed.2d 973 (1978)] for the admission of such evidence in the sentencing phase. What Lockett does require is the admission of evidence that establishes facts relevant to the defendant's character, his prior record, and the circumstances of the offense in issue. The jury's responsibility in the process is to make recommendations based on the circumstances of the offense and the character and background of the defendant. The trial court, in determining the sentence to impose, must use its judicial experience in evaluating and weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances with the recommendation of the jury. The use of sentences imposed on other defendants relates to the proportionality of the sentence and is an appropriate element to be considered by the trial judge in imposing sentence upon the defendant, but is not a matter for the jury. This Court also has the responsibility to determine whether the sentence is proportionate with other death penalty cases. Id. at 1056 (citations omitted). As in Herring, we agree with the State that defense counsel's argument to the jury regarding the sentences of specifically identified killers in other capital cases was not relevant to the determination of the appropriate sentence for appellant's role in the instant murder.