DC#  J08118
DOB:  09/06/1959

Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case# 97-6680 CFA
Sentencing Judge:  The Honorable L. Haldane Taylor
Trial Attorney:  Refik W. Elder – Private  
Attorney, Direct Appeal:  W.C. McLain – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Robert A. Norgard – Registry

Date of Offense:  03/06/97

Date of Sentence:  07/24/98

Circumstances of the Offense:

In June of 1997, the defendant told a police officer in Louisiana that he had killed an individual in Jacksonville, Florida.  

He revealed that he had beaten a man to death during a robbery.  Miller met with a detective, was informed of his rights, and recounted the events of 04/04/97.    

Prior to the incident, Miller stated he drank three to four quarts of beer and had smoked ten dollars worth of crack cocaine.  He stated that he then began to look for money and more beer.  

He found a dented six-foot pipe in a park. Miller then walked behind a building and saw a man sleeping under a blanket.  He stated that he did not intend to rob the victim until he was standing over him with the pipe.  

Miller asserted that he hit the victim, Albert Floyd, with the pipe to disable him and avoid a struggle.  Miller stressed that his intention was not to kill the man.  He struck the man again to avoid resistance. His reasoning was that homeless people carried guns and knives, and his objective was to prevent injury to himself.

The woman sleeping next to Mr. Floyd was Linda Fullwood.  Ms. Fullwood stated that she woke up to find a man beating Mr. Floyd with either a stick or a pipe.  Ms. Fullwood screamed and Miller struck her with the pipe.  

Miller stated that he acted without thinking and hit Fullwood instinctively.  Jimmy Hall, who was walking along Duval Street, heard Ms. Fullwood’s screams and ran to the scene.  Mr. Hall stated that he saw a man beating two people with a pipe.  He estimated the pipe was four to five feet long with a bent end.

Mr. Hall saw the assailant using both of his hands to swing the pipe.  Mr. Hall yelled for the assailant to stop.  Miller stated that when Mr.  Hall yelled he realized what he was doing and fled.  Mr. Floyd died from three blows to the head, which fractured his skull and penetrated the brain.

Miller stated that he turned himself in because he thought that the victim’s family was looking for him, his conscience was bothering him, he knew what he did was wrong, and he wanted to apologize to the victim’s family.  Once Miller was transferred to Jacksonville, Miller showed a detective the scene of the crime along with walking the detective through the events of the crime.

Trial Summary:

06/26/97          The defendant was indicted on the following:

Count I:           First-Degree Murder

Count II:          Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon

06/25/98          Defendant was found guilty by the trial jury of First-Degree Murder

07/14/98          The jury recommended death by a vote of 7-5

07/24/98          Defendant was sentenced as follows:

Count I:           First Degree Murder – Death

Count II:          Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon – 25 years