The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly.  This information, however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

MORRISON, Jr., Raymond (B/M)

DC#    113388

DOB: 10/16/68

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Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case# 97-991-CFA

Sentencing Judge, Trial: The Honorable Henry E. Davis

Attorney, Trial:  Refik Eler – Assistant PublicDefender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Chet Kaufman – Assistant PublicDefender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: D. Todd Doss – Registry

Date of Offense: 01/08/97

Date of Sentence: 12/18/98

Circumstances of the Offense:

Raymond Morrison was sentenced to death on 12/18/98, for themurder of 82-year-old Albert Dwelle. 

On 01/08/97, Morrison visited his girlfriend, Sandra Brown,at her apartment.  The victim lived across from Brown’s apartment. Atapproximately 9:00 p.m., Morrison told Brown he was going to take out thetrash.  Morrison did not return to the apartment.

Morrison was arrested on 01/10/97 for an unrelatedoffense.  When he was taken into custody, he asked Officer Richardson ifthe arrest was about an old man.  The officer told Morrison it was anunrelated offense but homicide detectives wanted to question him. Morrison was then read his constitutional rights.  In the car, Morrisonlearned Richardson was a pastor at a local church.  They talked aboutreligion and the steps Morrison needed to take to get his life in order.

Morrison was then interviewed by the detectives about themurder of Dwelle.  While being interviewed, Morrison stated that he wantedto talk to Officer Richardson again.  The detectives paged OfficerRichardson, who then went and spoke with Morrison.  After speaking withOfficer Richardson, Morrison gave a written statement of what took place on01/08/97.  He stated that at 9:00 p.m., he started smoking crack with aman named “Big Man.”  They ran out of crack and Morrison knocked onDwelle’s door and asked him for a cigar.  Dwelle told Morrison he couldnot come into his apartment.  After taking the cigar from Dwelle, Morrisonasked for a light.  While Dwelle went into his bedroom to retrieve alight, Morrison entered the apartment and followed him into the bedroom. Morrison then noticed some money in a shirt pocket that Dwelle had hanging froma chair.  He grabbed the money.  When Dwelle saw Morrison take hismoney, he picked up a knife and started swinging it around.  Morrison thenclaimed he grabbed Dwelle’s arm and swung him around so he was facing away fromhim.  When Morrison did that, the man began lashing the knife over hisshoulder.  While doing so, Morrison claimed that Dwelle accidentally cuthis throat and then started swinging the knife even harder.  Morrison alsoclaimed that he did not notice that Dwelle had cut himself.  Then, Dwelleaccidentally stabbed himself in the neck.  Morrison then stated that helaid Dwelle down and took the knife to hide it. 

Morrison then went back to “Big Man” and asked him to drivehim out of town.  When they got to Marietta, they spent the money on drugsand prostitutes.  Morrison was also seen selling coins that resembledcoins that were missing from Dwelle’s apartment.  They then went back tothe apartment complex where Morrison stated that he saw his Uncle Cap. Morrison stayed with his uncle until the police picked him up on01/10/97.  Morrison later led the police to where he hid the knife thatwas used to kill the victim.

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

01/23/97         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder

                                   Count II:         Armed Robbery

                                  Count III:        Burglary with an assault

09/25/98         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

10/08/98         Jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0

12/18/98         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-degree murder – Death

                                   Count II:         Armed robbery – Life

                                   Count III:        Burglary with an assault –Life

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 94,666

818 So. 2d 432 (Fla. 2002)

01/11/99         Appeal filed

03/21/02         FSC affirmed convictions and sentence of death

05/29/02         Rehearing denied

05/29/02         Mandate issued

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari

USSC# 02-5837

123 S. Ct. 406; 154 L. Ed. 2d 308

08/15/02         Petition filed

10/15/02         Petition denied

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 97-991-CFA

Pending

09/18/03         Motion filed

Factors Contributing to the Delay of the Imposition ofthe Sentence:

Morrison’s Direct Appeal took approximately three years todecide by the Florida Supreme Court.

Case Information:

Morrison filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida SupremeCourt on 01/11/99.  Among his claims, he contended that the trial courterred during the jury selection and in allowing certain statements from theprosecutor during closing arguments.  Morrison also claimed that the trialcourt erred in excluding testimony aimed to impeach the State’s witness and indenying his motion for acquittal of the charges against him.  The Courtfound no merit in any of his claims and affirmed his convictions and sentenceson 03/21/02.

Subsequently, Morrison filed for a Writ of Certiorari to theUnited States Supreme Court on 08/15/02, which was denied on 10/15/02.

Report Date:    05/28/03       EMC                           

Approved:       06/17/03         WS

Updated:         11/30/09         CAR