Monday, APRIL 03, 2000
Newton Carlton Slawson vs The State of Florida

No.90,045

HillsboroughCounty


Slawson was convicted and sentenced to death on four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Gerald & Peggy Wood and their two children Jennifer and Glendon, and this Court affirmed on direct appeal. Collateral counsel later filed a postconvction motion on Slawson's behalf and appealed to this Court after the trial court summarily denied the motion. While such appeal was pending, Slawson moved to have collateral counsel discharged and the appeal dismissed. After several proceedings, the trial court determined that Slawson was competent to make a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of counsel and proceedings. That determination is now before the Court for review.