6/7/18 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Leonard P. Gonzalez Jr. v. State of Florida, SC17-1146
Mr. Gonzalez was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings, who were fatally shot in 2009. The jury voted 10-2 to recommend a death sentence on both counts, and the trial court condemned Mr. Gonzalez to death. This Court upheld both convictions and death sentences on direct appeal. Mr. Gonzalez filed postconviction challenges in the trial court claiming trial counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the grand jury indictment and request a change of venue due to intense media coverage as well as a claim that he was entitled to be resentenced pursuant to this Court’s decision in Hurst v. State. The court granted resentencing, but the remaining challenges were denied. This appeal followed.
Watch more oral arguments from 6/7/18: