RAY ARNOLD CRUM, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and that the defendant's statement was admissible.
Appellant was convicted of second-degree murder after a non-jury trial. He appealed, arguing insufficient evidence regarding sanity, self-defense, and…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Sanity At The Time Of The Offense cases and more on FLexlaw
The appellant was tried non-jury and convicted of second degree murder in the Criminal Court of Record in and for Dade County, Florida, and sentenced to a term of 20 years. He appeals and urges error in the following particulars: That the evidence failed to disclose that he was sane at the time of the commission of the act charged, or that the act was a result of excusable homicide or self defense; that the conviction was not supported by the evidence ; that a statement taken from him by investigating officers was violative of his constitutional rights against self-incrimination, particularly when said statement was made prior to his being taken before a committing magistrate.
As to his sanity, the evidence was in conflict and it was within the province of *25the trier of fact to resolve the conflict in favor of the sanity of the defendant. See: Crews v. State, 143 Fla. 263, 196 So. 590; Acree v. State, 153 Fla. 561, 15 So.2d 262. As to the alleged justifiable homicide or self defense, it is apparent from the evidence that the defendant commenced the physical altercation by grabbing the victim and shaking her and therefore, having been the instigator of the altercation, is not in a position to urge self defense. See: Gaff v. State, 103 Fla. 642, 138 So. 48; Mixon v. State, Fla. 1952, 59 So.2d 38.
In examining a record to determine if there is sufficient evidence to support a verdict or the conclusion of the trier of fact, an appellate court need only find substantial, competent evidence to support the verdict. See: Zalla v. State, Fla.1952, 61 So.2d 649; Lee v. State, Fla.App.1963, 153 So.2d 351; Sharon v. State, Fla.App. 1963, 156 So.2d 677. The verdict or judgment of guilt having arrived in this court with a presumption of correctness (see: Taylor v. State, 139 Fla. 542, 190 So. 691, 124 A.L.R. 835; Inman v. State, 139 Fla. 789, 191 So. 12; San Fratello v. State, Fla. App.1963, 154 So.2d 327), all inferences to be drawn from the evidence are to be in favor of the verdict or judgment of guilt. See: Cameron v. State, Fla.App.1959, 112 So.2d 864; Boyd v. State, Fla.App.1960, 122 So.2d 632. Measuring the record in the instant case in light of these principles, we find substantial, competent evidence to support the trial court’s action and, therefore, it will be sustained.
As to the question of the propriety of admitting into evidence the statement of the accused, first there is no requirement in this State that an accused be taken before a committing magistrate before a statement can be taken from him. See: Stanley v. State, Fla.App. 1960, 124 So.2d 743; Leach v. State, Fla.1961, 132 So.2d 329. It is apparent that the accused was advised of his constitutional rights prior to the execution of the formal statement. Therefore, -we find no error in the admission of same in evidence. Counsel for the appellant relies heavily upon the recent cases of Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977; People v. Dorado, 61 Cal.2d 892, 40 Cal.Rptr. 264, 394 P.2d 952, and Reddish v. State, Fla.1964, 167 So.2d 858. These cases are distinguishable from the instant case, holding as follows :
In Escobedo v. State of Illinois, supra, the United States Supreme Court held the confession inadmissible because the police denied the suspect the opportunity to consult with his attorney after the suspect had made repeated requests to do so prior to giving his confession, and had failed to warn the suspect of his absolute constitutional right to remain silent.
In People v. Dorado, supra, the California Supreme Court expanded the holding of Es-cobedo v. State of Illinois, supra, by holding a confession inadmissible where the defendant had never been informed of his right to counsel or his right to remain silent even though he never requested to consult counsel, saying “ * * * that the constitutional right to counsel precludes the use of incriminating statements elicited by the police during an accusatory investigation unless that right is intelligently waived; that no waiver can be presumed if the investigating officers do not inform the suspect of his right to counsel or his right to remain silent.”.
However, in the case sub judice, the record on appeal clearly shows the appellant was advised of his constitutional rights at the time of his arrest, which was several hours prior to the time he made his confession.
The facts of Reddish v. State, supra, are completely different from those in the instant case and, as such, Reddish v. State is not applicable. It appears that the question of the admission of the confession should be governed by the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court of Florida in Young v. State, Fla.1962, 140 So.2d 97.
*26Therefore, for the reasons stated above, we fail to find reversible error in the conviction and judgment here under review and same is hereby affirmed.
Affirmed.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By (111 total)
-
Williams v. State, 254 So. 2d 22 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971)…se any points that he chose in support of his appeal, and the appellant having failed to respond thereto, on consideration thereof upon full examination of the proceedings we conclude that the appeal is wholly frivolous. Crum v. State, Fla.App.1965, 172 So. 2d 24; Stewart v. State, Fla.App.1969, 221 So. 2d 155; Thomas v. State, Fla.App.1969, 223 So. 2d 118; Tafero v. State, Fla.App.1969, 223 So. 2d 564. Whereupon, the public defender’s said motion to withdraw is granted and the order or judgment is hereby af…
-
Dalton Abbott v. State, 334 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)…he appellant. The verdict or judgment of guilt having arrived in this court clothed with a presumption of correctness, all inferences to be drawn from the evidence are to be in favor of the verdict or judgment of guilt. Crum v. State, Fla. App.1965, 172 So. 2d 24, 25. As a general proposition, it is the burden of the appellant to make error appear in the record. Bryant v. State, Fla.App.1967, 204 So. 2d 9. Conflicts in evidence and the fact that it may have been susceptible of differing inferences and presen…
-
Reis v. State, 248 So. 2d 666 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971)…So. 2d 769. Nevertheless, we have reviewed the record and find sufficient, competent evidence introduced, without objection at trial, to sustain the verdict by the jury that these prescriptions were for narcotic drugs. Crum v. State, Fla.App.1965, 172 So. 2d 24. Reis contends reversible error was committed in the denial of her motion for mistrial during this trial. At trial her motion for mistrial was based on the ground that certain testimony given by Bernstein was calculated to prejudice the jury. On ap…
Previewing 3 of 111 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (18 total)
- Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 (U.S. 1964)
- Leach v. State, 132 So. 2d 329 (Fla. 1961)
- Reddish v. State, 167 So. 2d 858 (Fla. 1964)
- Cameron v. State, 112 So. 2d 864 (Fla. 1st DCA 1959)
- Taylor v. State, 139 Fla. 542 (Fla. 1939)
- Acree v. State, 153 Fla. 561 (Fla. 1943)
- Sharon v. State, 156 So. 2d 677 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963)
- Young v. State, 140 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 1962)
- Wilburn R. Crews v. State, 143 Fla. 263 (Fla. 1940)
- Zalla v. State, 61 So.2d 649 (Fla. 1952)