Freddie Lee Hall

Case information

Freddie Lee Hall was indicted on one count of First-Degree Murder in Sumter County, Florida. The case involved the murder of Deputy Lonnie Coburn and the assault, rape, beating, shooting, and killing of Karol Hurst.

Hall was identified as having an accomplice named Ruffin. Ruffin was also involved in the crimes described for Hall.

Hall’s date of birth was 07/21/45. The date of offense was 02/21/78. The Fifth Judicial Circuit and Sumter County Case # 78-52 were associated with the case. The sentencing judge was The Honorable John W. Booth. The trial attorneys were Morton D. Aulls & H.D. Robuck, Jr. (Private Attorney). Direct appeal representation included Morton D. Aulls & H.D. Robuck, Jr. (Private) and Larry B. Henderson – Assistant Public Defender (1993). Collateral appeals involved Eric Pinkard & James Driscoll – CCRC-M.

Timeline

• 02/21/78 — Karol Hurst was leaving the Pantry Pride grocery store in Leesburg, Florida at approximately 3:00 p.m. when Hall approached her; Hall and an accomplice, Ruffin, were looking for a car to use in a robbery. Hall forced Hurst into their car, drove away with Hurst and Ruffin following in another car, and Hurst was taken to a wooded area where she was beaten, raped, and shot; the body was dragged further into the woods.
• 02/21/78 (evening) — Hall and Ruffin walked into a convenience store in Hernando County, Florida; the store clerk called the sheriff substation located across the street; Deputy Lonnie Coburn responded and met Hall and Ruffin in the store’s parking lot; during a confrontation, Deputy Coburn was disarmed and shot and killed with his own gun; Hall and Ruffin fled; the pair were spotted and pursued by another deputy, during which gunfire was exchanged; Hall and Ruffin abandoned their car and were later apprehended; Deputy Coburn’s gun was found in the abandoned car.
• 03/07/78 — Hall was indicted on one count of First-Degree Murder.
• 06/08/78 — Trial venue changed from Sumter County to Putnam County.
• 06/23/78 — Jury returned guilty verdict.
• 06/26/78 — Jury recommended death penalty by a majority vote.
• 06/27/78 — Hall was sentenced to death.
• 07/16/81 — The Florida Supreme Court (FSC) vacated Hall’s conviction and sentence and remanded to the trial court with instructions to enter a judgment and sentence of Second-Degree Murder.
• 09/09/82 — A death warrant for Hall was signed by the Governor; the execution was set for 10/06/82.
• 09/28/82 — Hall filed a 3:850 Motion with the Circuit Court; it was denied on 10/01/82.
• 10/02/82 — A 3.850 Motion Appeal, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and a Stay of Execution were filed with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 10/05/82 — The FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion, denied the Petition for Habeas relief and the Stay of Execution.
• 10/05/82 — A Stay of Execution was issued by the U.S. District Court, Middle District, and expired on 06/03/83.
• 09/30/82 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District.
• 05/18/83 — Hall’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court was denied.
• 05/16/84 — The case was remanded for an evidentiary hearing.
• 01/29/85 — The State filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 05/13/85 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the State’s petition.
• 02/28/85 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 05/13/85 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied Hall’s petition.
• 01/08/86 — The U.S. District Court denied relief.
• 11/17/86 — The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed this decision.
• 07/06/87 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 10/13/87 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition.
• 10/14/87 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court arguing that the court did not consider non-statutory mitigating circumstances in the sentencing phase of the trial.
• 05/12/88 — The Florida Supreme Court denied the petition.
• 08/11/88 — A second death warrant was signed by the Governor, scheduling the execution for 09/20/88.
• 08/23/88 — Hall filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court; it was denied on 09/09/88.
• 09/12/88 — Hall filed a 3.850 Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 09/14/88 — During the deliberation in this appeal, the Florida Supreme Court issued a Stay of Execution.
• 03/09/89 — The Florida Supreme Court vacated Hall’s death sentence and remanded it for resentencing with a new jury; the court ordered that all future Hitchcock claims be raised in 3.850 motions, not Habeas petitions.
• 01/23/91 — Hall filed a pro se Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court; it was denied, without comment, on 02/26/91.
• 02/21/91 — Hall was resentenced to death; the jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 8-4.
• 03/08/91 — Hall filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 01/14/93 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the resentence.
• 05/17/93 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 10/04/93 — The U.S.
• 02/14/97 — Hall filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court; it was denied on 10/30/97.
• 12/15/97 — Hall filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 07/01/99 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
• 08/02/00 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court citing ineffective assistance of trial counsel; it was denied on 05/10/01.
• 08/07/00 — Hall filed a federal Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S.
• 01/29/01 — The U.S. District Court administratively closed the case pending resolution of the state-level Habeas Petition.
• 07/26/01 — The U.S. District Court administratively reopened the case.
• 03/20/03 — The U.S. District Court stayed proceedings pending the resolution of the 3.850 Motion.
• 07/12/04 — The U.S. District Court administratively closed the case pending resolution of state-level proceedings.
• 08/10/01 — Hall filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court citing mental retardation issues; the motion was pending before the court.
• 10/12/01 — Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court; it was denied on 02/19/02.
• 02/19/02 — The U.S.
• 11/30/04 — Hall filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court citing claims of mental retardation; the motion was pending before the court.

The offence

Assault, rape, and killing of Karol Hurst

On 02/21/78, Karol Hurst, who was twenty-one years old and seven months pregnant at the time, was leaving the Pantry Pride grocery store in Leesburg, Florida at approximately 3:00 p.m. when Hall approached her. Hall and Ruffin were looking for a car to use in a robbery when Hall approached Hurst and forced her into their car. Hall drove the car away, with Hurst and Ruffin following in another car. Hurst was driven to a wooded area, beaten, raped, and shot, and then the body was dragged further into the woods.

Hall and Ruffin were both present and principals in the murder of Deputy Coburn and the assault and murder of Hurst. Both Hall and Ruffin aided and abetted each other in the commission of the crimes.

Murder of Deputy Lonnie Coburn

On the evening of 02/21/78, Hall and Ruffin walked into a convenience store in Hernando County, Florida. The conduct of the pair aroused the suspicions of the store clerk, who called the sheriff substation located across the street from the store. Deputy Lonnie Coburn responded to the call and met Hall and Ruffin in the store’s parking lot, where witnesses saw Deputy Coburn approach Hall and Ruffin.

Although conflicting evidence existed, at some point in the confrontation between Hall, Ruffin, and Deputy Coburn, Deputy Coburn was disarmed and shot and killed with his own gun. Hall and Ruffin fled the scene. The pair were spotted and pursued by another deputy, during which gunfire was exchanged between the pair and the deputy. Eventually, Hall and Ruffin abandoned their car and were later apprehended. Deputy Coburn’s gun was found in the abandoned car.

Investigation and arrest

Deputy Lonnie Coburn responded to a call from a store clerk at a convenience store in Hernando County, Florida and met Hall and Ruffin in the store’s parking lot. Hall and Ruffin were later spotted and pursued by another deputy, with gunfire exchanged. Hall and Ruffin abandoned their car and were later apprehended.

Trial

Hall was indicted on one count of First-Degree Murder on 03/07/78. Trial venue changed from Sumter County to Putnam County on 06/08/78.

On 06/23/78, the jury returned a guilty verdict. On 06/26/78, the jury recommended death penalty by a majority vote. On 06/27/78, Hall was sentenced to death.

Hall and Ruffin were tried separately for the murder of Hurst. Ruffin was convicted and was originally sentenced to death; however, he was later resentenced to life imprisonment. Ruffin and Hall were tried together for the murder of Deputy Coburn. Ruffin was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Additional indictment information included that Hall and Ruffin were indicted on 03/09/78 for the First-Degree Murder of Deputy Coburn (Hernando County Case# 78-39). On 05/31/78, the sentencing jury recommended the death penalty for Hall by a majority vote, and on 06/01/78, he was sentenced to death.

Sentencing

First sentencing

Hall was sentenced to death on 06/27/78 following the jury’s 06/26/78 majority recommendation.

Vacatur and resentencing

On 03/09/89, the Florida Supreme Court vacated Hall’s death sentence and remanded it for resentencing with a new jury. On 02/21/91, Hall was resentenced to death, and the jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 8-4.

Appeals

Direct appeal

Hall filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 06/20/78 (FSC Case# 54,423), alleging that the conviction must be overturned because the evidence of guilt was circumstantial, does not preclude all hypotheses of innocence, and no evidence exists of premeditation.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death on 07/16/81. A separate instruction also stated that on 07/16/81, the FSC vacated Hall’s conviction and sentence and remanded to the trial court with instructions to enter a judgment and sentence of Second-Degree Murder.

Hall filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/08/91, citing numerous issues including juror selection bias; exclusion of sympathetic juror instructions; exclusion of co-defendant’s conviction; exclusion of sympathetic witness testimony; improper consideration of jury recommendation by the judge; the re-sentencing court improperly found additional aggravating factors; the state did not prove two aggravating factors—avoid or prevent arrest and cold, calculated, and premeditated murder; unconstitutional vagueness of the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravating factor; findings of mitigating evidence; and death sentence not proportionate with his codefendant’s sentence. The FSC affirmed the resentence on 01/14/93.

Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 05/17/93; it was denied on 10/04/93.

3.850 and habeas proceedings in Florida

Hall filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 09/28/82; it was denied on 10/01/82. A 3.850 Motion Appeal, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and a Stay of Execution were filed with the Florida Supreme Court on 10/02/82. The FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion, denied the Petition for Habeas relief and the Stay of Execution on 10/05/82.

Hall cited issues in that appeal including that the court improperly denied the motion to vacate, ineffective assistance of counsel, Hall was not present at some stages of the jury selection, and sentencing errors.

After the U.S. District Court stay and subsequent habeas developments, Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 10/14/87 arguing that the court did not consider non-statutory mitigating circumstances in the sentencing phase of the trial. The FSC denied the petition on 05/12/88. The proceedings included that prior to this appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hitchcock v. Dugger (1987) that courts must consider non-statutory, as well as statutory mitigating circumstances, in the sentencing phases of capital trials.

Hall filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 08/23/88; it was denied on 09/09/88. Hall filed a 3.850 Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 09/12/88, citing that the court erred in not weighing non-statutory mitigating circumstances in the sentencing phase of the trial. During deliberation in this appeal, the FSC issued a Stay of Execution on 09/14/88. On 03/09/89, the FSC vacated Hall’s death sentence and remanded it for resentencing with a new jury, ordering future Hitchcock claims to be raised in 3.850 motions, not Habeas petitions.

Hall filed a pro se Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 01/23/91; it was denied, without comment, by the FSC on 02/26/91.

Hall filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 02/14/97; it was denied on 10/30/97. Hall filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 12/15/97. The FSC affirmed the lower court’s denial on 07/01/99. That motion appeal cited five issues including unconstitutionality of Florida’s capital sentencing statute in that it allows for the execution of a mentally retarded inmate, Hall is not competent to be resentenced, electrocution is cruel and unusual punishment, trial court’s summary denial of all but one of Hall’s thirty-three claims violated due process guarantees, and fundamental error that aggravators outweighed mitigating circumstances in the resentencing.

Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 08/02/00 citing ineffective assistance of trial counsel; the FSC denied it on 05/10/01.

Hall filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 08/10/01 citing mental retardation issues; it was pending before the court.

Hall filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 11/30/04 citing claims of mental retardation; it was pending before the court.

Federal habeas and Supreme Court certiorari

Hall filed a federal Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District on 08/07/00. On 01/29/01, the USDC administratively closed the case pending resolution of the state-level Habeas Petition. On 07/26/01, the USDC administratively reopened the case, which was currently pending before the court. On 03/20/03, the USDC stayed proceedings in the case pending the resolution of the 3.850 Motion. On 07/12/04, the USDC administratively closed the case pending resolution of state-level proceedings.

Hall filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District on 9/30/82 that was denied on 05/18/83. The case was remanded for an evidentiary hearing on 05/16/84. The State filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 01/29/85 and it was denied on 05/13/85. Supreme Court on 02/28/85 and it was denied on 05/13/85.

On 01/08/86, the USDC denied relief, and the USCA affirmed this decision on 11/17/86. Supreme Court on 07/06/87 and it was denied on 10/13/87. Supreme Court on 10/12/01 and it was denied on 02/19/02.

Outcome

Hall was sentenced to death on 06/27