Brant v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed Charles Grover Brant’s convictions and death sentence arising from the murder and sexual battery of Sara Radfar. The court concluded that the death sentence was proportionate in light of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances and affirmed the convictions and sentences. The court also reviewed the sufficiency of Brant’s guilty plea to first-degree murder.

Holdings

1. The death sentence was proportionate because the weighty aggravating circumstances—the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravator and the commission of the murder during a sexual battery—outweighed the mitigating circumstances when the totality of the circumstances was compared with similar capital cases.
2. The guilty plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered, and competent, substantial evidence supported the first-degree murder conviction.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Brant's death sentence was disproportionate in light of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
2. Whether the record established that Brant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
3. Whether the evidence was sufficient to support the first-degree murder conviction following the guilty plea.

Disposition

affirmed