BERRY BRINSON, SR., BERRY BRINSON, JR., AND MINNIE BELL
v.
STATE
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Berry Brinson, Sr. was convicted of murder in the second degree, while Minnie Bell and Berry Brinson, Jr. were convicted of manslaughter for the death of Lloyd Cooper. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed all three convictions, rejecting appellants' arguments that the evidence was insufficient because multiple parties inflicted mortal wounds.
The Court affirmed all convictions, holding that when a defendant inflicts mortal wounds, he is not relieved of conviction merely because other mortal wounds were inflicted by others at the same time. If the jury could reasonably conclude from the evidence that the pistol wounds caused or materially contributed to the immediate death of the deceased, the evidence was sufficient to sustain the verdict.
“The pistol wounds were shown to be mortal wounds. The mere fact that other mortal wounds were inflicted will not relieve him who inflicted the mortal wound with the pistol from conviction.”
Establishes the key legal principle that a defendant who inflicts a mortal wound is not relieved of criminal responsibility merely because other parties inflicted additional mortal wounds.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceUnder an indictment charging murder in the first degree, Berry Brinson, Sr. shot the deceased (Lloyd Cooper) five times in the body with a pistol, inc…
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Under an indictment charging Berry Brinson, Sr., as principal in the first degree with the crime of murder in the first degree and charging Minnie Bell and Berry Brinson, Jr., as principals in the second degree with the crime of murder in the first degree in effecting the death of one Lloyd Cooper, Berry Brinson, Sr., was convicted of murder in the second degree and Minnie Bell and Berry Brinson, Jr., were convicted of manslaughter.
From these judgments the defendants appealed under the provisions' of the Criminal Code, Acts of Legislature of 1939.
The appellants have presented seven questions for our consideration.
We have carefully studied the record in the light of briefs filed and it appears to us that no good purpose can be served by a discussion of the questions presented, but it is sufficient to say that the contention presented by each of such questions must be decided adversely to the appellants on authority of opinions heretofore rendered by this Court involving such questions.
The evidence is to some extent conflicting but it was the province of the jury to determine who was and who was not speaking the truth. The jury evidently believed the testimony of the State’s witnesses and did not believe much of the testimony of the defendants. The evidence adduced from State’s witnesses -was sufficient, if believed by the jury, to support a verdict against all of the defendants of a higher degree of unlawful homicide than that of which they were severally convicted. We find no reversible error either in the charges given by the court or in the action of the court in refusing to give some charges requested by the de*230fendants. While it may be that some of the charges requested by the defendants and refused were proper expressions of the law and might have been properly given by the court, we find the charges given to be so full and complete that we cannot say the defendants suffered any prejudice by refusal of the court to give the requested charges referred to.
The appellants strenuously contend that in view of the fact that the indictment charged the unlawful homicide to have been committed by Berry Brinson, Sr., shooting the deceased with a pistol and the evidence showing that although Berry Brinson did shoot the deceased five times in the body with such a weapon, one of which shots was in or near the heart, that because the evidence also shows that other mortal wounds at the same time were inflicted upon the deceased by Minnie Bell and Berry Brinson, Jr., that the jury was not warranted in reaching the conclusion that the deceased came to his death by reason of the pistol wounds. We cannot agree with this contention. The pistol wounds were shown to be mortal wounds. The mere fact that other mortal wounds were inflicted will not relieve him who inflicted the mortal wound with the pistol from con-victim. If the jury could have reasonably drawn the conclusion from the evidence that the pistol wounds caused the death or materially contributed to the immediate death of the deceased, the evidence was sufficient to sustain the verdict. See Wharton on Homicide, 3rd Ed. 37; Edwards v. State, 39 Fla. 753, 23 Sou. 537.
We find no reversible error reflected by the record. The judgment should be, and is, affirmed.
So ordered.
Whitfield, P. J., Buford and Thomas, J. J., concur.
*231Terrell, C. J., and Chapman, J., dissent.
Justice Brown not participating as authorized by Section 4687, Compiled General Laws of 1927, and Rule 21-A of the Rules of this Court.
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Swan v. State, 322 So. 2d 485 (Fla. 1975)…less than twenty-five calendar years before becoming eligible for parole . . . (or) by death.”] . Baker v. State, 30 Fla. 41, 11 So. 492 (1892) [overruled in part on other grounds in Tipton v. State, 97 So. 2d 277 (Fla.1957)]. . Brinson v. State, 144 Fla. 228, 198 So. 15 (1940). . Brooks v. State, 117 So. 2d 482 (Fla.1960); Blake v. State. 156 So. 2d 511 (Fla.1963); Dillen v. State, 202 So. 2d 904 (Fla.App.1967), oert. dism., 209 So. 2d 674; Wasley v. State, 244 So. 2d 418 (Fla.1971); State v. Wright, 2…
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Anderson Mitchell v. State, 157 Fla. 121 (Fla. 1946)…erts may,. after describing the wounds,- give their opinion as to whether such wounds caused death, with their reasons therefor. This rule was reaffirmed in the case of Revels v. State, supra. It was again reaffirmed in the case of Brinson v. State, 144 Fla. 228, 198 So. 15. It is not necessary to consider the citations from other jurisdictions. We fail to find merit in questions four and five. The next question posed for adjudication is viz: “Is the fair and impartial trial, the due process of law a recog…
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Karl v. State, 144 So. 2d 869 (Fla. 3d DCA 1962)…ents and are found to be without merit. Affirmed. . As to the effect of delay in treating the child see Johnson v. State, 64 Fla. 321, 59 So. 894, 895; 16 Fla.Jur. Homicide §§ 27-28; Perkins, Criminal Law 613-614 (1957). See also Brinson v. State, 144 Fla. 228, 198 So. 15; Berry v. State, 114 Fla. 73, 153 So. 507, 509.…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Edwards v. State, 39 Fla. 753 (Fla. 1897)