Stano v. State

Gerald Stano appeals his conviction of first-degree murder and sentence of death. We have jurisdiction pursuant to article V, section 3(b)(1), Florida Constitution, and affirm both the conviction and sentence.

In 1981 Stano confessed to having killed a young woman in 1974, and a grand jury indicted him for first-degree murder. When the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, the court declared a mistrial. On retrial the jury convicted Stano as charged and recommended the death penalty, which the trial court imposed.

Numerous members of the venire for the second trial had been exposed to…