Billy Jim Sheppard, Jr., Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed Sheppard's convictions for two murders and the death sentence imposed for Wimberly's murder. It held that any errors involving the interrogation videotape, a codefendant's statement, eyewitness fear testimony, and an alleged juror impropriety were either unpreserved, nonfundamental, or harmless beyond a reasonable doubt; it also found the death sentence proportionate and the evidence sufficient. The concurring-in-result opinion agreed with the disposition but would have treated the codefendant's statement as hearsay and emphasized that police opinions about a defendant's guilt should not be presented to the jury.