Fla. Stat, (1981) - Florida State University College of Law

he was 16, becguse she was pregnant, (T, 2326-2327).,
than with mey Em her jda; the defendant was unemployed and twk w e
of his son and daughter, (T. 2327-2330), The defendant developed a drug
and alcohol problm and sought professlonal help, but Elaine was not
supportive. (T. 2330). For shooting Billy Lonq, the defendant served
a six-mnth jail sentence in a work-release center and then successfully
qleted a term of pmabation (T, 2331-23321,
Elaine supported
The defendant had att-ted suicide when Elaine left him.
(T. 2332). Elaine was the ddnant figure h the mrriage. (T. 2333)-
The defendant was a god father and was very close to his two children,
ages 11 and 9. (2338-2339).
(2) Nellie Filbert, the defendant's grandmther, testified that the
defendant was not a selfish child, but had always gone out of his way to
help her; that his father drank too mch and mistreated his mther;
that the defendant's behavior changed after he hqan seeing Elaine
Parker and using dgugs; and that he was a good father to his children.
(T. 2342-23441.
(3) Nellie Ballard, a neig-hbr of the defendant's,told the jury abut
hm the defendant had taken her husband to the hospital three or four t k s
a month for over a yeax, as a favor and without re-imbursemmt (T. 2346-
23481, that he was a good father to his children, (T. 2348), that the
defendant had always been polite and courteous towards ha, (T, 2346) ,
and that she muld not hesitate to ask him for help if she needed it.
(T. 2348).
(4) Gail Palnver, the defendant's cousin, testified that the defendant
was a good father who WE@ very close to his children (T, 2351-23521,
and that he had ccanforted her through a crisis involving her baby. (T. 2352-
2354).
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