Paramore v. State

251 So. 2d 344, 1971 Fla. App. LEXIS 6159
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedJune 8, 1971
DocketNo. 70-934
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 251 So. 2d 344 (Paramore v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Paramore v. State, 251 So. 2d 344, 1971 Fla. App. LEXIS 6159 (Fla. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

PEARSON, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal to review the order denying the defendant’s petition in a CrPR 1.850, 33 F.S.A., proceeding.

On October 10, 1967, Emmett James Pa-ramore was indicted for the crime of rape. A jury trial was had and the jury found Paramore guilty of rape without a recommendation of mercy. Defendant was ad[345]*345judicated guilty of rape and sentenced to death in the electric chair.

Paramore entered his appeal to the Supreme Court of Florida to review the judgment and sentence. The Supreme Court affirmed the adjudication of guilt and sentence. Paramore v. State, Fla.1970, 238 So.2d 604.

Subsequently, Emmett Paramore filed his motion for relief under CrPR 1.8S0. In his motion, he raised four points. These points are stated verbatim as follows: (1) “Court-appointed counsel’s failure to allow the movant to take the witness stand was to the detriment of the movant;” (2) “The movant’s judgment of conviction and sentence is unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutionally rendered on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix — this error is supplemental to the former because the right to rebuttal was denied the movant;” (3) “The evidence admitted against the movant was insufficient and illegally obtained; viz., fingerprints and other articles;” (4) “The exclusion of prospective jurors, because they voiced general objections against capital punishment — thus exposed the mov-ant to a partial jury.”

The trial court concluded the petition was without merit and denied same. Paramore filed his notice of appeal to review the order denying his petition. Appellant’s court appointed counsel who has labored ardently in appellant’s behalf1 has been unable to support from the record appellant’s allegations in (1) and (2).

On this appeal appellant urges two points. The first is that certain fingerprint evidence was improperly admitted at the trial. We have examined the allegations under this point and it is clear that they amount to nothing more than an attempt for a second appeal. The contentions regarding the admissibility of the fingerprint evidence hinge entirely upon matters which could have been argued upon the appeal from the judgment and sentence. They in no way raise a constitutional question. Under these circumstances, we are without power to grant the appellant a second appeal, Gobie v. State, Fla.App.1966, 188 So.2d 33; Chayter v. State, Fla.App.1965, 176 So.2d 382.

Appellant’s second point urges that the exclusion of prospective jurors for cause upon the ground that they objected to capital punishment violated appellant’s constitutional rights under the holdings in the Supreme Court of the United States in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968); Boulden v. Holman, 394 U.S. 478, 89 S.Ct. 1138, 22 L.Ed.2d 433 (1969); and Maxwell v. Bishop, 398 U.S. 262, 90 S.Ct. 1578, 26 L.Ed.2d 221 (1970).

During the voir dire examination of the jurors, the following occurred: Juror Jur-main said that she objected to capital punishment. She stated, however, that she could find the defendant guilty of rape depending on the evidence. The trial judge then advised her that the defendant could still receive the death penalty, if a majority did not recommend mercy and realizing this, could she still find the defendant guilty of rape. She answered in the negative and was excused for cause.

A similar result was reached during the examination of Juror Vernon. He indicated that he could return a verdict in a rape case that carried a life sentence. The trial judge then asked him realizing that a majority might not vote for mercy could he still, find the defendant guilty of rape. Mr. Vernon answered in the negative and was excused for cause.

Juror Elder testified that she objects to capital punishment, that she could not return a verdict that carried with it the death penalty and that she felt “rather deep about this.” The trial judge excused Mrs. Elder.

[346]*346Next, the trial judge excused Juror La-Bell after the following cursory examination :

MR. JACOBS: Do you have any objection to capital punishment?
MRS. LaBELL: Yes, I do.
MR. JACOBS: Would this objection prevent you from .returning a verdict that rendered the defendant guilty, no matter what the evidence produced?
MRS. LaBELL: Yes.
MR. JACOBS : I appreciate your frankness.
THE COURT: You are excused, ma’am. Thank you very much.

Again, the trial judge excused another juror (Stirman) with the following cursory examination:

MR. JACOBS: Do you have any objection to capital punishment?
MR. STIRMAN: Yes, sir.
MR. JACOBS: Would this objection prevent you from returning a verdict that carried with it the death penalty, no matter what the evidence is that is produced ■ from the witness stand ?
MR. STIRMAN: Yes.
MR. JACOBS : I appreciate your frankness.
THE COURT: You are excused. Thank you very much.

Juror LeBlanc was then excused in the following manner:

MR. JACOBS: Do you have any objection to capital punishment?
MR. LeBLANC: Yes, I do.
MR. JACOBS: I will ask you the same question that I asked the others.
Would this objection, sir, prevent you from returning your verdict that carried with it the death penalty, no matter what the evidence produced from this witness stand?
MR. LeBLANC: I am afraid so.
THE COURT: Any objection, Mr. Cow-art?
MR. COWART: No.
THE COURT: You are excused, sir. Thank you very much.

Next, Juror Viera was quickly disposed of for cause as appears from the following:

MR. JACOBS: He is also a cabinetmaker.
Do you have any objection to capital punishment, sir?
MR. VIERA: I do.
MR. JACOBS: No matter what the evidence produced, you would be unable to return a verdict that carried with it the death penalty?
MR. VIERA: Yes.
THE COURT: Mr. Cowart?
MR. COWART: Okay.
THE COURT: No objection. You are excused, sir. Thank you very much.

The trial judge likewise summarily excused Juror Waters for cause as follows:

MR. JACOBS: Mrs. Waters, do you have any objection to capital punishment?
MRS. WATERS: Yes, I do.
MR. JACOBS: Is your objection so strong, ma’am that no matter what the evidence, you could not return a verdict that carried with it the death penalty?

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Related

Mack v. State
365 So. 2d 811 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1979)
Kinney v. State
253 So. 2d 267 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1971)

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Bluebook (online)
251 So. 2d 344, 1971 Fla. App. LEXIS 6159, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paramore-v-state-fladistctapp-1971.