Thomas v. State

ROBERTS, Justice.

This is a direct appeal from a verdict and judgment convicting appellant of murder in the first degree without recommendation to mercy. Jurisdiction of the appeal attaches under Section 4(2), Article V, Florida Constitution, F.S.A.

The victim of the homicide was a young college student who was working as a taxicab driver during his summer vacation. He was found in his cab, fatally wounded and covered with blood, not long after a passenger, later identified as the appellant, had called for a cab and had been picked up by that driven by the victim. From evidence adduced by the…