465 So. 2d 432 - Singleton v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 6 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 9 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"The capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel compared to other capital offenses. While all capital offenses are heinous, atrocious, or cruel to some extent, this one was especially so. It involved the unprovoked and brutul murder of a nun who was in a cemetery praying for the dead. [Singleton] robbed and murdered her after she had told him she would pray for him. Death was not instantaneous, but on the contrary Sister Ann was terrorized and subjected to pain before she died. Furthermore, although this finding is not necessary to the conclusion, the evidence convinces the court that Sister Ann was buried alive, being suffocated by the towel only after she was bound hand and foot and buried face down under debris. This capital offense stands out among the common run of capital offenses as one that is outrageously and extremely wicked, vile, and shockingly evil. Accordingly, the § 13-11-6(8) aggravating circumstance does exist. "In summary, the court finds beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty that the § 13-11-6(4) [offense committed during the commission of a robbery] *Page 169 and § 13-11-6(8) aggravating circumstances exist in this case."”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 806 F. Supp. 936 - Singleton v. Thigpen · 548 So. 2d 167 - Ex Parte Singleton

2. “palpably contrary to the weight of the evidence”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 585 So. 2d 165 - Gilchrist v. State