Jack Sliney

Case information

Jack Sliney was sentenced to death on February 14, 1994.

Sliney was sentenced as follows on that date:

• Count I: First-Degree Premeditated Murder — Death
• Count II: First-Degree Felony Murder — Nolle Prossed
• Count III: Robbery with a Deadly Weapon — Life, less 607 days for time served

Sliney also was sentenced to ten years for Robbery with a Deadly Weapon.

Timeline

• 07/03/92 — Sliney was indicted on Count I (First-Degree Premeditated Murder), Count II (First-Degree Felony Murder), and Count III (Robbery with a Deadly Weapon).
• 10/01/93 — Sliney was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.
• 11/04/93 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 7 to 5 majority.
• 02/14/94 — Sliney was sentenced: Count I (Death), Count II (Nolle Prossed), Count III (Life, less 607 days for time served).
• 03/08/94 — Sliney filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 07/17/97 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence.
• 09/18/97 — Rehearing was denied.
• 10/20/97 — A mandate was issued.
• 12/17/97 — Sliney filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
• 02/23/98 — The United States Supreme Court denied the petition.
• 02/19/99 — Sliney filed a 3.850 Motion in the Charlotte County Circuit Court.
• 03/31/99 — Amended motion was filed.
• 04/12/99 — Amended motion was filed.
• 06/19/01 — A consolidated motion was filed.
• 04/29/02 — Evidentiary hearing was held.
• 05/09/03 — Evidentiary hearing was held.
• 10/10/03 — Amended motion was filed.
• 11/17/03 — Amended motion was filed.
• 12/14/04 — The motion was denied.
• 01/03/05 — Sliney filed a 3.850 appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 08/19/05 — Sliney filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Florida Supreme Court.

Background

Jack Sliney filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 03/08/94.

Trial

On 07/03/92, Sliney was indicted on the following counts:

• Count I: First-Degree Premeditated Murder
• Count II: First-Degree Felony Murder
• Count III: Robbery with a Deadly Weapon

On 10/01/93, Sliney was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

On 11/04/93, upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 7 to 5 majority.

Sentencing

On 02/14/94, Sliney was sentenced as follows:

Appeals

Direct Appeal

Sliney filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 03/08/94. He raised several issues on Direct Appeal:

• Sliney contended that his confession was forced and should not have been admitted.
• Sliney argued that the tape from the gun sale between Capeles and Sliney should not have been allowed.
• Sliney argued that the tape of Marilyn Blumberg’s 911 call should not have been allowed.
• Sliney argued that the trial court erred in not allowing inmates to testify that they heard Witteman, the codefendant, confess.
• Sliney argued that the trial court erred in not allowing adequate preparation time.
• Sliney argued that the trial court erred in finding aggravating factors.
• Sliney argued that the penalty of death was disproportionate to the crime committed.

The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentence on 07/17/97.

Rehearing was denied on 09/18/97.

A mandate was issued on 10/20/97.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Sliney filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on 12/17/97.

The United States Supreme Court denied the petition on 02/23/98.

3.850 Motion and related proceedings

On 02/19/99, Sliney filed a 3.850 Motion in the Charlotte County Circuit Court.

Amended motions were filed on 03/31/99 and 04/12/99.

A consolidated motion was filed on 06/19/01.

Evidentiary hearings were held on 04/29/02 and 05/09/03.

Amended motions were filed on 10/10/03 and 11/17/03.

The motion was denied on 12/14/04.

On 01/03/05, Sliney filed a 3.850 appeal with the Florida Supreme Court. The appeal is currently pending.

Habeas corpus petition

Sliney filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Florida Supreme Court on 08/19/05.

The petition is currently pending.

Outcome

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence on 07/17/97, and it did not find errors warranting reversing the conviction or sentence.

Rehearing was denied on 09/18/97, and a mandate was issued on 10/20/97.

The United States Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari on 02/23/98.

The 3.850 appeal filed on 01/03/05 is currently pending, and the habeas corpus petition filed on 08/19/05 is currently pending.

Other details

Capeles was mentioned in connection with “the tape from the gun sale between Capeles and Sliney.”

Marilyn Blumberg was mentioned in connection with “the tape of Marilyn Blumberg’s 911 call.”

Witteman was identified as the codefendant in connection with inmates hearing Witteman confess.