In re Amendments to Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Instruction 7.7
| Decision Date | 13 October 2011 |
| Docket Number | No. SC10–113.,SC10–113. |
| Parties | In re AMENDMENTS TO STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—INSTRUCTION 7.7. |
| Court | Florida Supreme Court |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
Bart Schneider, Lake Mary, FL; Richard M. Summa, Assistant Public Defender, Second Judicial Circuit, Tallahassee, FL, Charmaine M. Millsaps, Tallahassee, FL, and Michael T. Kennett, Tallahassee, FL, Responding with comments.
On the Court's own motion, we previously amended instruction 7.7 (Manslaughter) of the Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases on an interim basis and then published the amended instruction for public comment. In re Amends. to Std. Jury Instrs., 41 So.3d 853 (Fla.2010). Having reviewed the comment and response from the Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases (Committee), as well as the comments filed by individual members of The Florida Bar, and having heard oral argument, we now further amend the language of the instruction to clarify that it requires an intentional act not constituting negligence.
Accordingly, we authorize for publication and use instruction 7.7 as set forth in the appendix to this opinion.1 The instruction is effective immediately. New language is indicated by underlining, and deleted language is struck through. In authorizing the publication and use of the instruction, we express no opinion on its correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal correctness of the instruction.2 We further caution all interested parties that any comments associated with the instruction reflect only the opinion of the Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their correctness or applicability.
It is so ordered.
APPENDIX
§ 782.07, Fla. Stat.
To prove the crime of Manslaughter, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. (Victim) is dead.
Give 2a, 2b, or 2c depending upon allegations and proof.
2. a. (Defendant's) intentionally committed an act (s) or acts that caused the death of (victim).
b. (Defendant) intentionally procured an act that caused the death of (victim).
c. The death of (victim) was caused by the culpable negligence of (defendant).
The defendant cannot be guilty of manslaughter by committing a merely negligent act or if the killing was either justifiable or excusable homicide:
Negligence:
Each of us has a duty to act reasonably toward others. If there is a violation of that duty, without any conscious intention to harm, that violation is negligence.
Justifiable Homicide:
The killing of a human being is justifiable homicide and lawful if necessarily done while resisting an attempt to murder or commit a felony upon the defendant, or to commit a felony in any dwelling house in which the defendant was at the time of the killing. § 782.02, Fla. Stat.
Excusable Homicide:
The killing of a human being is excusable, and therefore lawful, under any one of the following three circumstances:
1. When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means with usual ordinary caution and without any unlawful intent, or
2. When the killing occurs by accident and misfortune in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient provocation, or
3. When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune resulting from a sudden combat, if a dangerous weapon is not used and the killing is not done in a cruel or unusual manner.
§ 782.03, Fla. Stat.
Give only if 2a alleged and proved, and manslaughter is being defined as a lesser included offense of first degree premeditated murder.
In order to convict of manslaughter by act, it is not necessary for the State to prove that the defendant had an intent to cause death, only an intent to commit an act that was not merely negligent, justified, or excusable and which caused death.
Give only if 2b alleged and proved.
To “procure” means to persuade, induce, prevail upon or cause a person to do something.
Give only if 2c alleged and proved.
I will now define “culpable negligence” for you. Each of us has a duty to act reasonably toward others. If there is a violation of that duty, without any conscious intention to harm, that violation is negligence. But culpable negligence is more than a failure to use ordinary care toward others. In order for negligence to be culpable, it must be gross and flagrant. Culpable negligence is a course of conduct showing reckless disregard of human life, or of the safety of persons exposed to its dangerous effects, or such an entire want of care as to raise a presumption of a conscious indifference to consequences, or which shows wantonness or recklessness, or a grossly careless disregard for the safety and welfare of the public, or such an indifference to the rights of others as is equivalent to an intentional violation of such rights.
The negligent act or omission must have been committed with an utter disregard for the safety of others. Culpable negligence is consciously doing an act or following a course of conduct that the defendant must have known, or reasonably should have known, was likely to cause death or great bodily injury.
§ 782.07(2)-(4), Fla. Stat. Enhanced penalty if 2c alleged and proved. Give a, b, or c, as applicable.
If you find the defendant guilty of manslaughter, you must then determine whether the State has further proved beyond a reasonable doubt that:
a. (Victim) was at the time [an elderly person] [a disabled adult] whose death was caused by the neglect of (defendant), a caregiver.
b. (Victim) was a child whose death was caused by the neglect of (defendant), a caregiver.
c. (Victim) was at the time [an officer] [a firefighter] [an emergency medical technician] [a paramedic] who was at the time performing duties that were within the course of [his][her] employment. The court now instructs you that (official title of victim) is [an officer] [a firefighter] [an emergency medical technician] [a paramedic].
Definitions. Give if applicable.
“Child” means any person under the age of 18 years.
§ 782.03, Fla. Stat.
“Dangerous weapon” is any weapon that, taking into account the manner in which it was used, is likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
“Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age, organic brain damage, or physical, mental, or emotional dysfunctioning, to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for the persons own care or protection is impaired.
“Disabled adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who suffers from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation due to developmental disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness, or who has one or more physical or mental limitations that restrict the persons ability to perform the normal activities of daily living.
“Facility” means any location providing day or residential care or treatment for elderly persons or disabled adults. The term “facility” may include, but is not limited to, any hospital, training center, state institution, nursing home, assisted living facility, adult family-care home, adult day care center, group home, mental health treatment center, or continuing care community.
As applied to an Elderly Person or a Disabled Adult.
“Caregiver” means a person who has been entrusted with or has assumed responsibility for the care or the property of an elderly person or a disabled adult. “Caregiver” includes, but is not limited to, relatives, court-appointed or voluntary guardians, adult household members, neighbors, health care providers, and employees and volunteers of facilities.
As applied to a Child.
“Caregiver” means a parent, adult household member, or other person responsible for a child's welfare.
§ 825.102(3)(a) or § 827.03(3)(a), Fla. Stat. Give 1 or 2 as applicable.
“Neglect of [a child”] [an elderly person”] [a disabled adult”] means:
1. A caregiver's failure or omission to provide [a child] [an elderly person] [a disabled adult] with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain [a child's] [an elderly person's] [a disabled adult's] physical and mental health, including, but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and medical...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Knight v. State
...not constituting negligence, but that amendment to the instruction is not at issue here. In re Amendments to Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—Instruction 7.7 , 75 So.3d 210, 211 (Fla. 2011).1 Knight II passes upon the previously-raised waiver issue as well as a new issue raised ......
-
In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—Report 2017-06
...], 1994 [ 636 So.2d 502 ], 2005 [ 911 So.2d 1220 ], 2006 [ 946 So.2d 1061 ], 2008 [ 997 So.2d 403 ], 2010 [ 41 So.3d 853 ], 2011 [ 75 So.3d 210 ], and 2017 [ 213 So.3d 680 ], and 2018.7.7(a) AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER § 782.07(2), § 782.07(3), and § 782.07(4), Fla. Stat.In the absence of an ex......
-
Haygood v. State
...(victim). c. The death of (victim) was caused by the culpable negligence of (defendant).In re Amendments to Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—Instruction 7.7, 75 So.3d 210, 211 (Fla.2011).3 We turn now to the certified question in this case: If a jury returns a verdict finding a ......
-
United States v. Garcia-Perez, 13–20482.
...into defendants' mental states as to death. 54. In re Amendments to Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases–Instruction 7.7, 75 So.3d 210, 211 (Fla.2011). 55. Id. (defining negligence as follows: “Each of us has a duty to act reasonably toward others. If there is a violation of that du......