The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly. This information, however, is subject to change and may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon for statistical or legal purposes.
MORRISON, Jr., Raymond (B/M)
DC# 113388
DOB: 10/16/68
Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case# 97-991-CFA
Sentencing Judge, Trial: The Honorable Henry E. Davis
Attorney, Trial: Refik Eler – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Chet Kaufman – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: D. Todd Doss – Registry
Date of Offense: 01/08/97
Date of Sentence: 12/18/98
Circumstances of the Offense:
Raymond Morrison was sentenced to death on 12/18/98, for the murder of 82-year-old Albert Dwelle.
On 01/08/97, Morrison visited his girlfriend, Sandra Brown, at her apartment. The victim lived across from Brown’s apartment. At approximately 9:00 p.m., Morrison told Brown he was going to take out the trash. Morrison did not return to the apartment.
Morrison was arrested on 01/10/97 for an unrelated offense. When he was taken into custody, he asked Officer Richardson if the arrest was about an old man. The officer told Morrison it was an unrelated offense but homicide detectives wanted to question him. Morrison was then read his constitutional rights. In the car, Morrison learned Richardson was a pastor at a local church. They talked about religion and the steps Morrison needed to take to get his life in order.
Morrison was then interviewed by the detectives about the murder of Dwelle. While being interviewed, Morrison stated that he wanted to talk to Officer Richardson again. The detectives paged Officer Richardson, who then went and spoke with Morrison. After speaking with Officer Richardson, Morrison gave a written statement of what took place on 01/08/97. He stated that at 9:00 p.m., he started smoking crack with a man named “Big Man.” They ran out of crack and Morrison knocked on Dwelle’s door and asked him for a cigar. Dwelle told Morrison he could not come into his apartment. After taking the cigar from Dwelle, Morrison asked for a light. While Dwelle went into his bedroom to retrieve a light, Morrison entered the apartment and followed him into the bedroom. Morrison then noticed some money in a shirt pocket that Dwelle had hanging from a chair. He grabbed the money. When Dwelle saw Morrison take his money, he picked up a knife and started swinging it around. Morrison then claimed he grabbed Dwelle’s arm and swung him around so he was facing away from him. When Morrison did that, the man began lashing the knife over his shoulder. While doing so, Morrison claimed that Dwelle accidentally cut his throat and then started swinging the knife even harder. Morrison also claimed that he did not notice that Dwelle had cut himself. Then, Dwelle accidentally stabbed himself in the neck. Morrison then stated that he laid Dwelle down and took the knife to hide it.
Morrison then went back to “Big Man” and asked him to drive him out of town. When they got to Marietta, they spent the money on drugs and prostitutes. Morrison was also seen selling coins that resembled coins that were missing from Dwelle’s apartment. They then went back to the apartment complex where Morrison stated that he saw his Uncle Cap. Morrison stayed with his uncle until the police picked him up on 01/10/97. Morrison later led the police to where he hid the knife that was used to kill the victim.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
|
OFFENSE DATE |
OFFENSE |
SENTENCE DATE |
COUNTY |
CASE NO. |
PRISON SENTENCE |
|
03/29/88 |
Robbery N/Firearm or D/Weapon (Attempted) |
09/27/88 |
Hamilton |
8800082 |
2Y 6M 0D |
|
03/29/88 |
Uttering forgery |
09/27/88 |
Hamilton |
8800083 |
2Y 6M 0D |
|
04/06/89 |
Cocaine-sale or purchase |
04/19/89 |
Duval |
8904833 |
1Y 6M 0D |
|
09/30/89 |
Escape |
10/13/89 |
Duval |
8912517 |
1Y 3M 0D |
|
04/01/91 |
Aggrav. Assault/battery |
07/15/91 |
Duval |
9104122 |
3Y 0M 0D |
Trial Summary:
01/23/97 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder
Count II: Armed Robbery
Count III: Burglary with an assault
09/25/98 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment
10/08/98 Jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0
12/18/98 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-degree murder – Death
Count II: Armed robbery – Life
Count III: Burglary with an assault – Life
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 94,666
818 So. 2d 432 (Fla. 2002)
01/11/99 Appeal filed
03/21/02 FSC affirmed convictions and sentence of death
05/29/02 Rehearing denied
05/29/02 Mandate issued
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 02-5837
123 S. Ct. 406; 154 L. Ed. 2d 308
08/15/02 Petition filed
10/15/02 Petition denied
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 97-991-CFA
Pending
09/18/03 Motion filed
Factors Contributing to the Delay of the Imposition of the Sentence:
Morrison’s Direct Appeal took approximately three years to decide by the Florida Supreme Court.
Case Information:
Morrison filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 01/11/99. Among his claims, he contended that the trial court erred during the jury selection and in allowing certain statements from the prosecutor during closing arguments. Morrison also claimed that the trial court erred in excluding testimony aimed to impeach the State’s witness and in denying his motion for acquittal of the charges against him. The Court found no merit in any of his claims and affirmed his convictions and sentences on 03/21/02.
Subsequently, Morrison filed for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 08/15/02, which was denied on 10/15/02.
On 09/18/03, Morrison filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, which is currently pending.
Report Date: 05/28/03 EMC
Approved: 06/17/03 WS
Updated: 11/30/09 CAR