DONALD WINGATE, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Donald Wingate was convicted of robbery and appealed on two grounds: admission of evidence of similar robberies and prejudicial prosecutorial closing argument. The Florida appellate court upheld the conviction, finding the similar-acts evidence admissible under a modus operandi theory and the prosecutor's remarks not so prejudicial as to warrant mistrial.
The court affirmed the conviction, holding that the similar-acts evidence was admissible under the modus operandi theory as it was clearly relevant and material to the issues being tried, that the prison escape testimony was harmless error, and that the prosecutor's closing remarks, though objectionable, were not so inflammatory and prejudicial as to require reversal when examined in total context.
[1] Evidence of prior similar crimes is admissible to establish a modus operandi when it is clearly relevant and material to the issues being tried.
[2] Evidence of prior similar crimes does not become inadmissible when the defendant is acquitted on charges related to those other crimes.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The test as to the admissibility of such evidence is whether it is clearly relevant and material to the issues being tried.”
Establishes the standard for admitting similar-acts evidence, derived from Williams v. State.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceWingate was convicted of robbery. At trial, the state presented testimony from four witnesses regarding separate robberies they experienced, establish…
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The appellant was convicted and sentenced for the crime of robbery. He now appeals and presents two points for reversal. As to the first point, the appellant contends that it was reversible error for the trial court to permit the introduction of certain testimony at trial. This testimony was by witnesses to separate robberies other than the one which formed the basis for the information under which the appellant was convicted in the instant case. Four such witnesses testified in regard to robberies wherein they were victimized.
The test as to the admissibility of such evidence is whether it is clearly relevant and material to the issues being tried. Williams v. State, Fla.1959, 110 So.2d 654. It appears to us that the theory underlying the state’s presentation of such witnesses was a valid one, as their combined testimonies tended to establish a definite and ascertainable modus operandi similar to the scheme of robbery used on the victim of the robbery in the instant case. Such evidence *45does not become inadmissible when the defendant is acquitted on a trial of a charge of those other crimes. Blackburn v. State, Fla.App.1968, 208 So.2d 625. A composite picture of the robber, corroborated by the joint testimonies offered, revealed him as a lone gunman, armed with a blue steel automatic pistol, who wore a railroad engineer type cap (ostensibly to cover his baldness), who drove an early model off-white color automobile, who victimized small, one-employee establishments, and who took special precautions not to touch and fingerprint any object in the store, even to the extent of carrying off the entire cash drawer. In our opinion, the totality of this evidence is certainly relevant and admissible under the test set forth in Williams, supra, and does not bear a crucial resemblance to the facts in Harris v. State, Fla.App.1966, 183 So.2d 291, or Steppe v. State, Fla.App.1967, 193 So.2d 617, both cases having required reversals because of irrelevant evidence which tended to assail the character of the accused. See also Franklin v. State, Fla.App.1969, 229 So.2d 892, Third District Court of Appeal, released December 16, 1969.
A fifth witness gave evidence concerning the appellant’s escape from the prison ward at Jackson Memorial Hospital at a date prior to that of the alleged robbery. Although we must agree with the appellant’s contention that such evidence bore no relevance to the crime for which he was on trial, its introduction, in view of the other evidence presented, was at best harmless error. See Cornelius v. State, Fla.1950, 49 So.2d 332.
Finally, the appellant contends that certain remarks by the prosecutor during closing argument were so highly prejudicial that the trial judge should have granted a mistrial upon the motion of defense counsel.1 We cannot agree. As was stated in the case of Spencer v. State, Fla.1961, 133 So.2d 729, “The rule is that considerable latitude is allowed in arguments on the merits of the case.” And in the case of Collins v. State, Fla.1965, 180 So.2d 340, at page 342, the court stated:
“Each case must be considered upon its own merits and within the circumstances pertaining when the questionable argument is made. The rule is clear against inflammatory and abusive argument — the problem is applying the rule to the particular facts at hand. The history of the legal profession is clear also in its love of florid and dramatic perorations.”
However, our attention has been directed to several decisions which reversed due to remarks similar to the one objected to herein. Grant v. State, Fla.1967, 194 So.2d 612; Stewart v. State, Fla.1951, 51 So.2d 494; Chavez v. State, Fla.App.1968, 215 So.2d 750; Davis v. State, Fla.App.1968, 214 So.2d 41. It is our belief that, when examined in its total context, the closing argument in the case sub judice is not so prejudicial or inflammatory as to require reversal.
Our holding here should not be construed as receding from prior holdings which admonished counsel to stay within the realm of proper argument. Eg., Stewart v. State, Fla.1951, 51 So.2d 494; Beard v. State, Fla.App.1958, 104 So.2d 680. Certainly, the ideal climate for the conduct of a criminal trial is one of fair and cool impartiality. Goddard v. State, 143 Fla. 28, 196 So. 596 (1940). However, the emotional weaknesses unto which men are prone have been recognized by the common law, and pro*46vision has been made for these human falli-bilities which may intrude upon the most experienced prosecuting attorneys. Eg., Singer v. State, Fla.1959, 109 So.2d 7; Frenette v. State, 1947, 158 Fla. 675, 29 So.2d 869. We also feel compelled to recognize the increased degree of sophistication and intelligence which the modern jury possesses for its assessment of the evidence presented and the arguments of counsel. Compare Shingleton v. Bussey, Fla.1969, 223 So.2d 713, 718. The trial judge, too, is afforded great latitude in his discretion to grant or deny a motion for mistrial. Eg., Furr v. State, 152 Fla. 233, 9 So.2d 801 (1942). In the case sub judice, the ob-jectional comment was weighed by the trial judge as he determined whether the jury would be so prejudiced by the argument as to render a verdict different from one properly supported by the evidence and presentation of counsel. This determination was made by the trial judge from a position of experience and intimacy with the case which cannot be duplicated by any other tribunal. Eg., Bertone v. State, Fla.App.1969, 224 So.2d 400. Thus, although the judge found the argument objectionable and sustained counsel’s objection thereto, he did not feel that this small portion of argument recited by the prosecuting attorney in her closing rebuttal statement to the jury was so inflammable and prejudicial as to require a mistrial. We are compelled to sustain the decision of the trial judge for the reasons expressed above.
For the following reasons then, the judgment and sentence being appealed are hereby affirmed.
(dissenting). v
I would reverse the judgment and remand the cause for a new trial. It is my firm persuasion that the appellant was not afforded a fair trial because of the accumulated errors in the admission of evidence concerning other crimes and the unwarranted and prejudicial comments of the prosecutor.
The state over objection introduced evidence in an attempt at establishing that the appellant committed four separate robberies and a jail escape for which he was not on trial. The claim of similarity as to the robberies was in my opinion strained, and in two of these robberies the defendant had previously been tried and acquitted. See Williams v. State, Fla.1959, 110 So.2d 654; Franklin v. State, Fla.App.1969, 229 So.2d 892.
The prosecutor’s comments quoted in the majority opinion were clearly prejudicial. See Stewart v. State, Fla.1951, 51 So.2d 494; Davis v. State, Fla.App.1968, 214 So.2d 41; Chavez v. State, Fla.App.1968, 215 So.2d 750. Prosecutors should content themselves with presenting competent, relevant evidence and refrain from overkill, which as in the present case, prejudices a defendant’s right to a fair trial.
PEARSON, Chief Judge J °
(dissenting). v
I would reverse the judgment and remand the cause for a new trial. It is my firm persuasion that the appellant was not afforded a fair trial because of the accumulated errors in the admission of evidence concerning other crimes and the unwarranted and prejudicial comments of the prosecutor. The state over objection introduced evidence in an attempt at establishing that the appellant committed four separate robberies and a jail escape for which he was not on trial. The claim of similarity as to the robberies was in my opinion strained, and in two of these robberies the defendant had previously been tried and acquitted. See Williams v. State, Fla.1959, 110 So. 2d 654; Franklin v. State, Fla.App.1969, 229 So. 2d 892.
The prosecutor’s comments quoted in the majority opinion were clearly prejudicial. See Stewart v. State, Fla.1951, 51 So. 2d 494; Davis v. State, Fla.App.1968, 214 So. 2d 41; Chavez v. State, Fla.App.1968, 215 So. 2d 750. Prosecutors should content themselves with presenting competent, relevant evidence and refrain from overkill, which as in the present case, prejudices a defendant’s right to a fair trial.
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Citator
Cited By (26 total)
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Stevens v. State, 399 So. 2d 19 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)…PER CURIAM. On the basis of Darden v. State, 329 So. 2d 287 (Fla.1976); Zamot v. State, 375 So. 2d 881 (Fla.3d DCA 1979); and Wingate v. State, 232 So. 2d 44 (Fla.3d DCA 1970), the conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED.…
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Breniser v. State, 267 So. 2d 23 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972)…e appellee suggests that while the prosecutor’s comments may have been improper, they were not of such [*26] character as to justify a reversal of the conviction, citing Collins v. State, Fla.1965, 180 So. 2d 340 and Wingate v. State, Fla. App.1970, 232 So. 2d 44. While we unequivocally condemn argument designed to sway the jury to decide guilt or innocence on an emotional basis, we do not quarrel with the proposition that each case must be considered upon its own merits and within the circumstances pertaini…
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Truluck Herbert Johnson v. State, 348 So. 2d 646 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977)…was neither so harmful nor fundamentally tainted as to require a new trial, and the trial judge properly instructed the jury to disregard the remark. See Thomas, supra, and Frierson v. State, 339 So. 2d 312 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976); Cf. Wingate v. State, 232 So. 2d 44 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970). Last, the record reflects that counsel for co-defendant upon objection asked for a curative instruction and not a new trial and, therefore, upon receiving and accepting the curative instruction, the error, if any, was waived. Se…
Previewing 3 of 26 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (21 total)
- Williams v. State, 110 So. 2d 654 (Fla. 1959)
- Singer v. State, 109 So. 2d 7 (Fla. 1959)
- Shingleton v. Bussey, 223 So. 2d 713 (Fla. 1969)
- Gulf Stream Motors, Inc. v. Christina Cook & the Fla. Indus. Comm'n, 223 So. 2d 713 (Fla. 1969)
- Emmitt Monroe Spencer v. State, 133 So. 2d 729 (Fla. 1961)
- Cornelius v. State, 49 So. 2d 332 (Fla. 1950)
- Goddard v. State, 143 Fla. 28 (Fla. 1940)
- Stewart v. State, 51 So. 2d 494 (Fla. 1951)
- LEE A. Tharpe Constr. Co. v. Chivers, 194 So. 2d 612 (Fla. 1967)
- Collins v. State, 180 So. 2d 340 (Fla. 1965)