Knight v. State
Annotate this CaseDefendant was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of his cousin's girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter. Defendant appealed his convictions and sentences of death. The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's motion for mistrial and in finding no discovery violations. The court also held that there was no basis that would disqualify the jury from rendering a penalty recommendation. The court rejected defendant's challenge to the constitutionality of Florida's death sentencing scheme. The court further held that the record demonstrated that there was competent, substantial evidence to sustain defendant's convictions. The court finally held that based on the evidence set forth, the aggravators the trial court found, and the totality of the circumstances, defendant's death sentences were proportionate compared to other death sentences the court had upheld. Accordingly, the court affirmed the convictions and sentences.
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