Merrit Alonzo Sims v. State of Florida

SC04-1879

Mr. Sims was convicted of the 1991 murder of police officer Charles Stafford, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop. The jury voted 8-4 to recommend a death sentence and he was condemned. This Court upheld the conviction and sentence on direct appeal and Mr. Sims filed a challenge in circuit court. That post-conviction motion was denied and Mr. Sims appealed to this Court. The case was sent back to the circuit court, with directions to hear evidence on one of the issues raised by Mr. Sims. After that hearing, the circuit court ruled against Mr. Sims and the case returned to this Court.

Miami-Dade County