HENRY FISHER, JR., APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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The court held that the trial court erred in denying the defendant's motions for judgment of acquittal based on insanity, as the state failed to prove sanity beyond a reasonable doubt after the defense presented sufficient evidence of insanity.
[1] When a defendant presents evidence sufficient to create a reasonable doubt as to sanity, the presumption of sanity vanishes, and the state bears the burden of proving san…
[2] If the state fails to overcome a reasonable doubt of the defendant's sanity, the defendant is entitled to an acquittal.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe defendant was charged with aggravated battery and resisting an officer. He presented expert testimony from two psychologists who opined he was leg…
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SCHEB, Judge.
Defendant Henry Fisher, Jr., appeals the trial court’s denial of his motions for judgment of acquittal. We reverse.
The state charged Fisher with aggravated battery, resisting an officer without force, and two counts of resisting an officer with force. Fisher filed a timely notice of intent to rely on the defense of insanity. Pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.216, the trial court appointed two clinical psychologists to examine him.
The evidence at jury trial revealed that defendant hit a young woman with a stick, injuring her as she was crossing a street. When officers confronted the defendant, he backed into a lake. As the officers pursued him with a K-9 dog, the defendant retreated into a tree. There he remained screaming until taken into custody by the officers, over his forceful resistance.
During its case in chief, the state presented no evidence bearing on the defendant’s sanity other than testimony of his actions. The evidence that was presented tended to support rather than refute the defendant’s claim of insanity. At the close of the state’s case, the defendant moved for judgment of acquittal on all counts. The trial court directed judgments of acquittal for resisting an officer without force and one count of resisting an officer with force, ruling that the state had failed to present a prima facie case as to those charges.
During the defendant’s case in chief, the two psychologists who had examined the defendant were received as expert witnesses. Each testified that Fisher was legally insane at the time of the offenses. They opined that he could not distinguish right from wrong, and because he was unable to ascertain reality, he was acting in what he thought to be self defense. At the close of the defendant’s case, the state offered no rebuttal evidence as to the claim of insanity. The defendant then moved for judgments of acquittal on the remaining charges but, this time, on the basis that the state had failed to prove his sanity beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court denied the defendant’s motions and the jury ultimately found the defendant guilty of aggravated battery and the remaining charge of resisting an officer with violence. The trial court adjudged defendant guilty and sentenced him to three years in prison for the aggravated battery offense and five years consecutive probation on the resisting an officer charge. This appeal ensued.
We find no error in the trial court’s ruling that the state had established a prima facie case in the two remaining charges of aggravated battery and resisting an officer with force. We think, however, there is merit to the defendant’s contention that the trial court erred in failing to direct judgments of acquittal on the issue of insanity.
In Florida a person is presumed sane, and in a criminal prosecution, the burden is on the defendant to present evidence of insanity. Preston v. State, 444 So. 2d 939 (Fla.1984). Where the defendant introduces evidence sufficient to present a reasonable doubt of sanity, the presumption of sanity vanishes and the accused’s sanity must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the state. Yohn v. State, 476 So. 2d 123 (Fla.1985); Walker v. State, 479 So. 2d 274 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985). If the state does not overcome the reasonable doubt, the defendant is entitled to acquittal. Siri-anni v. State, 411 So. 2d 198 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981).
In Florida, the test for insanity as a defense to a criminal charge is whether at the time of the offense the defendant had a mental infirmity, disease, or defect and, as a result, did not know what he was doing or did not know what he was doing was wrong. State v. McMahon, 485 So. 2d 884 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986). This is a modified version of the M’Naghten Rule. See Wheeler v. State, 344 So. 2d 244 (Fla.1977).
The two psychologists testified that the defendant was insane at the time of the offenses. Their testimony was not. impeached. Thus, the defendant presented sufficient evidence to create a reasonable doubt as to his sanity. The state failed to introduce any lay or expert evidence addressing the issue of the defendant’s sanity. Thus, it failed in its burden of proving the defendant’s sanity beyond a reasonable doubt.
We recognize that sanity is a question of fact for determination by the jury. Holmes v. State, 374 So. 2d 944 (Fla.1979). Furthermore, expert testimony is not binding on the trier of fact. Cronin v. State, 470 So. 2d 802 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985). However, because the state failed to present any evidence addressing the issue of the defendant’s sanity the trial court erred in failing to direct a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Consequently, we reverse the denial of the motion for judgment of acquittal on basis of insanity.
Ordinarily, a defendant who successfully moves for judgment of acquittal is entitled to discharge. However, acquittal by reason of insanity requires different treatment. In such a circumstance the trial judge may: “(1) discharge the defendant; (2) order outpatient treatment at a specific appropriate facility; or (3) commit the defendant to the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services facilities for involuntary hospitalization.” State v. Vigil, 410 So. 2d 528, 530 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982). See also § 916.15, Fla.Stat. (1985); Fla.R. Crim.P. 3.217. Therefore, we deem it inappropriate to direct the trial judge to discharge the defendant. Instead, we remand this case to the trial court for a determination of the proper disposition as outlined herein.
DANAHY, C.J., and BOARDMAN, EDWARD F., (Ret.) J., concur.
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Gryczan v. State, 726 So. 2d 345 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)…at Appellant’s actions with regard to the use of his mother’s ATM credit card and pawned jewelry were consistent with sanity and not insanity- We have considered, but deem inapposite, Farrell v. State, 101 So. 2d 130 (Fla.1958) and Fisher v. State, 506 So. 2d 1052 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987), recognizing that where the state offers no evidence in rebuttal and its evidence supports, rather than refutes, the claim of insanity, the trial court should direct a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Here, the questio…
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Carita Corpuz v. State, 733 So. 2d 1048 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)…ntoxicated persons could be sane even when committing bizarre acts. This testimony undermined their contrary opinions that appellant was not sane at the time of the incident. “[Ejxpert testimony is not binding on the trier of fact.” Fisher v. State, 506 So. 2d 1052, 1054 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987)(citing Cronin v. State, 470 So. 2d 802 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985)). Here that is especially true, when the expert’s concessions could lead a jury to conclude that appellant’s intoxication, not a psychosis, was the explanation for h…
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State v. van Horn, 528 So. 2d 529 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988)…issue of sanity and the trier of fact may find such testimony adequately rebutted by the observations of laymen.” State ex rel. Bludworth v. Kapner, 394 So. 2d 541, 543 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981) (emphasis added). Thus, this case is unlike Fisher v. State, 506 So. 2d 1052 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987), where we held that the trial court should have directed a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. In Fisher, the state presented no evidence bearing on the issue of sanity, and the testimony the state adduced regarding the d…
Previewing 3 of 9 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Preston v. State, 444 So. 2d 939 (Fla. 1984)
- Wheeler v. State, 344 So. 2d 244 (Fla. 1977)
- Tura Yohn v. State, 476 So. 2d 123 (Fla. 1985)
- Monroe Holmes v. State, 374 So. 2d 944 (Fla. 1979)
- Cronin v. State, 470 So. 2d 802 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985)
- State v. McMAHON, 485 So. 2d 884 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986)
- Walker v. State, 479 So. 2d 274 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985)
- State v. Vigil, 410 So. 2d 528 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982)
- Sirianni v. State, 411 So. 2d 198 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981)