Steven Anthony Cozzie, Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed Cozzie's first-degree murder conviction and death sentence, rejecting challenges to juror-cause rulings, rebuttal mental-health testimony, the avoid-arrest aggravator, penalty-phase evidence, and the constitutionality of the capital-sentencing process. It also independently concluded that the evidence was sufficient and that the death sentence was proportionate, and held that any sentencing error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Justice Pariente, concurring in result, would find error in admitting lack-of-remorse testimony but harmlessness; Justice Quince, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would find the sentencing error harmful; and Justice Polston, joined by Justices Canady and Lawson, would find no sentencing error.