Donte Jermaine Hall v. State of Florida

Summary

Justice Pariente concurs with the conviction but dissents from the majority’s finding that the especially heinous, atrocious and cruel (HAC) aggravator applies to Hall’s murder, arguing that the record lacks evidence of Hall’s intent to cause or indifference to the victim’s suffering. The opinion emphasizes that HAC requires a defendant‑level intent or indifference, not merely the victim’s perception, and would strike the HAC finding. It would leave only the other three aggravators to support the death‑penalty sentence.