RICHARD HICKS, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1980-01-22
No. 78-310
Before HENDRY, BARKDULL and SCHWARTZ, JJ.
378 So. 2d 1342 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1980) Positive Treatment
Cited by 4 cases

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Synopsis

Richard Hicks was convicted of robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. He appealed, challenging the trial court's decision to allow the prosecution to present a rebuttal witness who was not on the state's pre-trial witness list, arguing the witness testified about his alibi rather than merely impeaching the alibi witness's credibility.


Holding

The trial court properly permitted the introduction of Suarez's testimony because it impeached the credibility of the alibi witness Alberta Stanley rather than impeaching the alibi per se. The failure to list Suarez as a rebuttal witness did not preclude his testimony when it attacked the witness's credibility rather than the defendant's alibi.


Headnotes

[1] A witness's testimony that impeaches the credibility of an alibi witness does not constitute rebuttal testimony that directly discredits the defendant's alibi for purpose…

[2] A defendant's alibi defense may be rebutted by evidence that impeaches the credibility of the alibi witness, even if that witness was not disclosed on the State's list of…

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Key Quotes

“the State shall file the names of witnesses the State proposes to offer in rebuttal to discredit the defendant's alibi at the trial of the cause”

Establishes the statutory requirement under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.200 for pre-trial disclosure of rebuttal witnesses

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Facts & Procedural History

Hicks was charged with robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm occurring on February 11, 1976, at approximately 3:30 P.M. Hicks's alibi was that …

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Opinion of the Court
BARKDULL, Judge.

BARKDULL, Judge.

The appellant, having been informed against for the crimes of robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm while engaged in a criminal offense, filed notice of alibi and had, prior to trial (pursuant to Fla.R.Cr.P. 3.200) filed a motion to compel the State to furnish him with a list of rebuttal witnesses.

At the time of trial, the appellant’s alibi was that at the time of the criminal offense (February 11,1976) he was home participating in a party being given in his honor. His only alibi witness was Alberta Stanley, who testified that she arrived at home at approximately 3:30 P.M., having gotten off work at approximately 3:15 P.M. from North Dade Hospital, and that there was a party on February 11, 1976 for the defendant. The evidence had previously indicated that the robbery occurred at approximately 3:30 P.M.

After the defense rested, the State, in rebuttal, called Jiminez Suarez as a witness. Suarez testified that he was records custodian at North Dade Hospital and, on February 11, 1976, Ms. Stanley did not work there. Defense counsel objected to any rebuttal testimony on the ground that the State had failed to comply with the demand for a list of rebuttal witnesses. Fla.R.Cr.P. 3.200 provides that the State shall file the names of witnesses the State proposes to offer in rebuttal to discredit the defendant’s alibi at the trial of the cause. The prosecutor argued, however, that the witness he desired to call [Suarez] would not rebut Hicks’ alibi that he was at the party, but would, rather, question Ms. Stanley’s credibility. The trial judge examined Fla. R.Cr.P. 3.200 and permitted the prosecution to call the witness, but indicated that he would be careful to exclude any testimony that went directly to the defendant’s alibi as opposed to the credibility of the alibi witness. In denying defense counsel’s motion for mistrial, the court reasoned:

“The defendant’s alibi was that he was at his mother’s house at a party. As proof of that, his sister testified that she was at the house after work. Her testimony was that she got off from work at North Dade Hospital and came there immediately following her shift and found the defendant there. The testimony in rebuttal is that she did not work at North Dade Hospital, not that she was not at her mother’s house. That would go directly to the alibi. She was not working at North Dade. It impeaches the witness’ credibility. Your motion is denied.”

We affirm. Suarez’ testimony was evidence to impeach the credibility of Alberta Stanley and did not impeach the alibi per se. The trial judge was correct in permit ting the introduction of this evidence, notwithstanding the fact that Suarez had not been listed as a rebuttal witness. People v. Gillman, 66 Mich.App. 419, 239 N.W. 2d 396 (1976); State v. Howard, 56 Ohio St.2d 328, 383 N.E. 2d 912 (1978).

Therefore, the convictions, adjudications of guilt, and sentences here under review be and the same are hereby affirmed.

Affirmed.

Dissent
SCHWARTZ, Judge

SCHWARTZ, Judge

(dissenting).

In my judgment, there is no basis on the facts of this case for distinguishing between evidence which destroys the believability of testimony concerning an alibi as recounted by the defendant’s only alibi witness; and evidence which contradicts the alibi itself. I would therefore follow United States v. Myers, 550 F. 2d 1036, 1041-1042 (5th Cir. 1977), which makes just this point, and reverse the judgment below.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Hicks v. State, 400 So. 2d 955 (Fla. 1981)
    …ourt’s decision with instructions to remand this cause for proceedings consistent with this opinion. It is so ordered. SUNDBERG, C. J., and ADKINS, BOYD, OVERTON and ENGLAND, JJ., concur. ALDERMAN, J., dissents with an opinion. . Hicks v. State, 378 So. 2d 1342 (Fla.3d DCA 1980). . This rule is almost identical to Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.200.…
  • Hicks v. State, 403 So. 2d 519 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)
    …PER CURIAM. WHEREAS, the judgment of this court was entered on January 22, 1980, 378 So. 2d 1342, affirming the judgment and sentence of the circuit court of Dade County, Florida in the above styled cause; and WHEREAS, on review of this court’s judgment, by certiorari, the Supreme Court of Florida by its opinion and judgment filed June 25, 19…

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