Summary
In Gilley v. State, 422 So.2d 358 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982), we affirmed the trial court in a two-to-one decision, the dissenting judge dissenting for the same or similar reasons that the majority now urges in reversing.
Summary of this case from Cruz v. StateOpinion
No. AJ-230.
November 24, 1982.
Appeal from Circuit Court, Duval County; A.C. Soud, Jr., Judge.
Neal L. Betancourt, Jacksonville, for appellant.
Jim Smith, Atty. Gen., and Kathryn L. Sands, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.
We have considered the briefs, the record, and the oral argument of counsel and find no reversible error. The judgment and sentence of the trial court is, therefore, AFFIRMED.
McCORD and MILLS, JJ., concur.
ROBERT SMITH, Jr., C.J., dissents.
In my opinion the trial court unduly and prejudicially limited appellant's valuable right of cross-examination by forbidding questions to the prosecution witness Smith concerning his conversations with authorities that, should he plead guilty and testify against appellant, the prosecutor would recommend no more than a 10-year sentence for Smith and the court would consider even a probationary sentence. Though as the trial court noted Smith forfeited any benefit of that agreement by going to his separate trial, persisting vainly in his not guilty plea, Smith after conviction still expected and hoped for leniency in sentencing, and he hoped to earn it by testifying for the state in appellant's separate trial. Appellant's counsel was entitled to show not only that the witness Smith hoped for leniency but also the basis in his mind for that undoubted hope, whether well-founded or not.
In my opinion the trial court also unduly restricted counsel's cross-examination into the credibility and competency of the same witness, by foreclosing questions concerning Smith's drug usage and its effect upon his ability to testify clearly and truthfully.
I would reverse the judgment and require a new trial.