James Hitchcock v. State of Florida

SC03-2203 | SC04-1286

Mr. Hitchcock was convicted of the first-degree murder of 13-year-old Cynthia Driggers, who was strangled in 1976. He was sentenced to death three times but each sentence was overturned on appeal to either the U.S. Supreme Court or this Court. After a fourth penalty hearing, Mr. Hitchcock was sentenced to death a fourth time. This Court upheld that sentence on direct appeal, and Mr. Hitchcock filed a postconviction motion in the trial court. The trial court denied Mr. Hitchcock's motion. Mr. Hitchcock appealed that ruling to this Court, which sent the case back to the trial court for a hearing on the guilt-phase issues. The trial court again denied relief. The Court now considers Mr. Hitchcock's appeal of the trial court's denial of all postconviction claims.

Orange County