Scott v. State

The facts of this case are set out fully in our opinion on direct appeal. See Scott v. State, 411 So. 2d 866 (Fla. 1982). In 1978 Paul Scott and an accomplice, Richard Kondian, beat and bludgeoned to death an acquaintance, James Alessi, and then stole his car and several pieces of jewelry. Scott was arrested in California and charged with first- degree murder. Evidence of guilt included the following: Just prior to the murder, Scott and Kondian told a friend, Charles Soutullo, of their plan to rob and kill Alessi and asked him to join them (Soutullo declined); Scotts fingerprints were found throughout the murder scene; and when he was arrested, Scott had in his possession jewelry similar to that stolen from Alessi.