Rockerman v. State, 1D00-1092.
Decision Date | 06 December 2000 |
Docket Number | No. 1D00-1092.,1D00-1092. |
Citation | 773 So.2d 602 |
Parties | Robert ROCKERMAN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. |
Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Nancy A. Daniels, Public Defender; Tracy T. Murphy, Assistant Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General; Karen M. Holland, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.
We affirm Robert Rockerman's conviction for burglary of a dwelling with the intent to commit assault or battery therein in violation of section 810.02(1), Florida Statutes (1997). In doing so, we reject his contention that the trial court erred when it declined to instruct the jury on the justifiable use of non-deadly force. No substantive evidence supported this affirmative defense.
A defendant is entitled, upon request, to a jury instruction on any theory of defense the substantive evidence supports. See Arthur v. State, 717 So.2d 193, 194 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998)
; Williams v. State, 588 So.2d 44, 45 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991); Smiley v. State, 395 So.2d 235, 236 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). In determining whether to give the requested instruction, the trial court should consider the evidence in the main case without weighing the evidence. See Kiernan v. State, 613 So.2d 1362, 1364 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993); Kilgore v. State, 271 So.2d 148, 152 (Fla. 2d DCA 1972). Weighing the evidence is the province of the jury. See Spence v. State, 678 So.2d 459, 460 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996). "It is axiomatic that a defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on the theory of his defense if there is evidence in the record to support it." Holley v. State, 423 So.2d 562, 564 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982); see Williams, 588 So.2d at 45; Solomon v. State, 436 So.2d 1041, 1041 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983). At issue in the present case is whether evidence offered solely for purposes of impeachment by prior inconsistent statements is properly viewed as support for an affirmative defense.
One Frank McFarland, among others, testified that Mr. Rockerman opened Nellie Redson's screen door, pushed past her, grabbed Mr. McFarland, dragged him outside and hit him in the eye. On cross-examination, Mr. McFarland denied having attacked or having told anyone that he had attacked Mr. Rockerman:
The jury was entitled to conclude that, as the information alleged, Mr. Rockerman entered Nellie Redson's home on December 21, 1998, without her consent, and battered Frank McFarland first inside then outside on the porch; and that he did so without physical provocation.
Ms. White testified that she was present when the conversation between Mr. Powers and Mr. McFarland took place and that she heard Mr. McFarland say that he had pushed Mr. Rockerman. The defense never sought to have the testimony of either witness admitted for any purpose other than impeachment.
"[A] prior inconsistent statement standing alone is insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Moore, 485 So.2d 1279, 1281 (Fla.1986). See Joyce v. State, 664 So.2d 45 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995)
; Santiago v. State, 652 So.2d 485 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995); McNeil v. State, 433 So.2d 1294, 1295 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983) ( ); Kimbler v. State, 360 So.2d 1270, 1270 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978) ( ). Similarly, an affirmative defense cannot rest on evidence offered solely to impeach a witness by proving prior, inconsistent statements.
Here defense counsel conceded at trial that the testimony of both defense witnesses was admissible only for impeachment purposes, and undertook to instruct them to limit their testimony accordingly. See § 90.608(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1999); see...
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