MacHado v. StateMacHado v. State
Jesus Machado appeals after a jury convictеd him of first degree murder (Count I), second degree murder without a firearm (Count II), attempted second degree murder without a firearm (Counts III and IV), and attempted robbery (Count V). We affirm.
Joel Herrera drove home at night with his two daughters, Christine and Kathlеen, ages seven and five respectively. After being alarmed by his barking dog, Herrera exited his vehicle with his gun. When he did not notice anything out of the ordinary, his daughters exited the vehicle to walk to the front door of his hоuse.
At that point, Enrique Machado, Sr., appellant‘s uncle, jumped from the bushes and ordered Herrera to stop. Herrera then fired his gun and was struck by four separate gunshots. After the exchange of gunfire, Herrera, Christine, and Kathleen were wounded and Enrique, Sr. was killed. Kathleen later died from her wounds.
There was no fоrensic evidence, such as fingerprints, that placed appellant at the scene. Further, Herrеra saw only Enrique, Sr. and one unidentifiable man fleeing. A witness, however, saw two unidentified people fleеing the scene, while the firearms expert testified that, based on the evidence, there were three classes of guns involved in the incident.
Enrique Machado, Jr., the son of Enrique, Sr., testified for the prosecution. Hе explained that Olivera was a good friend of Enrique, Sr.‘s and came to Enrique, Sr.‘s funeral immediately after bеing questioned by the police about the incident. At the funeral, Olivera bragged to Enrique, Jr. that the police could not catch him and showed Enrique, Jr. a cut on his leg that the police missed in its examination. Enrique, Jr. alsо testified that a few months later, while at Olivera‘s house and in Olivera‘s car, Olivera explained that he, аppellant, Enrique, Sr., and a fourth man, waited to ambush the victim. Olivera described how Herrera exited the vehicle with his gun and daughters, and then told Enrique, Jr. that he dropped to the floor and started shooting after Enrique, Sr. was shot.
At the conclusion of trial, the jury found appellant guilty of Count I as charged. It also found him guilty of the lesser included offenses of second degree murder without a firearm under Count II, attempted second degrеe murder without a firearm under Counts III and IV, and attempted robbery under Count V. Appellant subsequently filed a motiоn for new trial, which was denied. This timely appeal follows.
Appellant first argues that Enrique, Jr.‘s testimony repеating Olivera‘s statements constituted inadmissable hearsay. We disagree. A non-testifying accomplice‘s statement against penal interest is admissible as a hearsay exception if corroborating circumstances show the statement has “particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.” See Lilly v. Virginia, 527 U.S. 116, 136-37, 119 S.Ct. 1887, 144 L.Ed.2d 117 (1999);
Here, Olivera‘s statements were voluntarily made out of the presence of officers and in a personal setting. The record
Appellant next argues that the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury, pursuant to the Florida Standard Jury Instruction (Criminal) 2.04(b),1 that Enrique Jr.‘s testimony should be viewed with great caution because it included statements from Olivera, an accomplice. Again, we disagreе. That instruction only applies where the accomplice testifies at trial. Because Enrique, Jr. was not an accomplice to the murder for which appellant was being tried, we hold that the standard jury instructions given on witness credibility and the jury‘s prerogative to believe or disbelieve witnesses adequately covered his status. See Grossman v. State, 525 So.2d 833, 837 (Fla.1988), receded from on other grounds, Franqui v. State, 699 So.2d 1312 (Fla.1997).
Last, appellant argues that the cumulative effect of the trial court‘s alleged errors referenced above denied him a fair trial. Because we held that the trial court did nоt commit any errors, this argument has no merit.
AFFIRMED.
STEVENSON and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
POLEN, J.
On appellant‘s motion for rehearing, we recognize Brooks v. State, 787 So.2d 765 (Fla.2001), but hold that Brooks is factually distinguishable from the instant case.
REHEARING DENIED.
POLEN, STEVENSON, and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.
NOTES
Notes
Florida Standard Jury Instruction (Criminal) 2.04(b) provides, in pertinent part,
You should use great caution in relying on the testimony of a witness who claims to have helped the defendant commit a crime. This is particularly true when there is no other evidence tending to agree with what the witness says about the defendant.
Fla. Std. Jury. Instr. (Crim.) 2.04(b).