LeCroy v. State, 533 So. 2d 750 (Fla. 1988)

Cases | LeCroy v. State, 533 So. 2d 750 (Fla. 1988) | 2018

The defendant was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a firearm and was sentenced to death and two counts of thirty years’ imprisonment after murdering a husband and wife. After the jury recommended the death penalty, the judge agreed to hear victim impact evidence from relatives of the victims. On appeal, the defendant made many challenges, including that it was error to allow the victim impact evidence. The supreme court held that, although subsequent cases have determined that § 921.143 does not give relatives the right to be heard, the trial court’s decision to hear testimony on aggravating factors only was harmless error because it was not presented to the jury. The convictions and sentences were affirmed.