Phippen v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed James Leroy Phippen's convictions for first-degree murder, held that the evidence supported premeditation, rejected claims of jury instruction error and double jeopardy, but vacated the death sentences because the aggravating circumstance of pecuniary gain was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and remanded for a life sentence without parole for twenty‑five years.