Robert Craft v. State of Florida

Summary

The court affirmed Craft’s first-degree murder conviction and death sentence. It held that Craft did not waive mitigation because he presented family testimony and made a statement, but the trial court acted within its discretion in limiting the presentation, weighing the mitigation, declining to require additional evidence or appoint special counsel, and treating two overlooked mitigating circumstances as harmless. The court also rejected challenges to the aggravator findings and competency procedure, and its mandatory review confirmed that Craft’s guilty plea was knowing, intelligent, voluntary, and supported by competent substantial evidence.