Case Brief: Duest v. State

1. HaroldSowardsII
CJ 322, Tu/Th 9:30
10/13/15
Duest v State
462 SO. 2d 446 (Fla. 1985)
1. Facts
 Feb.15, 1982, LloydDuestseenbywitnessescarryingaknife inhiswaistbandandtells
themhe is goingto “roll a fag”
 Seenat a gay bar withJohnPope whomhe leaveswith
 Pope’sroommate comeshome toanunlockedhouse,lights/stereoonandbloodonthe
bed
 Sheriff comesandfindsPope deadinapool of bloodwithmultiple stabwoundsinthe
bathroom
 DuestarrestedonApril 18, 1982
 DuestconvictedinCircuitCourt,BrowardCo. for1st
degree murder,deathsentence is
imposed
 Appeals
 Supreme Courtaffirmsandsupportsthe decision
2. Issue
Was there sufficientevidence of premeditatedmurdertoconvictLloydDuesthaschargedin the
indictment?
3. Holdings
Yes,affirmed
4. Reasoning
RecordshowsDueststatesthat he getsmoneyfrom“rollinggayguys” andthat he intendedto
do that the day the victimwasmurdered.He wasseenat a gay bar and leftwiththe victimand
had inhispossessiona7 inch knife the dayof the murderand cause of the deathwasstabbing.
Thisis enoughcircumstantial evidence toconvicthim.11 stabwoundsshowsthatthe murder
was heinous.Theyuse Morganv.State,415 So.2d 6 (Fla.1982) to supportthisfact.