Robards v. State
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of the first-degree murders of two Clearwater residents and received two sentences of death. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's judgments of conviction and sentences of death, holding (1) Defendant's argument that his penalty phase counsel penalty provided ineffective assistance did not warrant relief on direct appeal, as ineffective assistance of counsel claims are not cognizable on direct appeal; (2) Defendant's death sentences were not unconstitutional because they were based on a seven-to-five bare majority recommendation by the jury; (3) the trial court did not commit error in suggesting to the State that it seek the prior capital felony aggravating circumstance; (4) the State's closing argument during the guilt phase did not warrant a new trial; (5) substantial evidence supported each of Defendant's convictions; and (6) Defendant's death sentences were proportional to similar cases where the Court affirmed the sentence of death.
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