315 So. 2d 224 | Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | 1975
On December 29, 1972, appellant-defendant Smith was informed against for the crime of first degree murder. Thereafter he was tried by a jury of six citizens resulting in a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. In November of 1973 Smith filed a timely notice of appeal to this Court and by October of 1974 all of the necessary briefs and record on appeal had been filed. At that juncture, Smith’s case was assigned to the Court for its consideration.
On November 1, 1974, this Court stayed all further proceedings in this cause until
On December 18, 1974, the Florida Supreme Court entered its opinion in Lowe v. Stack in which it concluded that after October 1, 1972, in order for a person to be tried for first degree murder, the person must first be indicted and tried by a jury of twelve citizens. However, on March 19, 1975, the Florida Supreme Court granted a Petition for Rehearing in Lowe v. Stack and the case is still pending before the high court.
It is emphasized that appellant Smith was informed against for the crime of first degree murder on December 29, 1972, and has been since November 2, 1973, in prison in the custody of the Division of Corrections as a result of this information and its ensuing trial by six citizens. During this period of time, the Florida Supreme Court has grappled with the question of whether after October 1, 1972, it was necessary in order that persons such as appellant Smith be convicted of a capital offense that they first be indicted by a grand jury and thereafter tried and found guilty by a jury of twelve citizens. Due to the inordinate delay in the Florida Supreme Court reaching an ultimate conclusion in Lowe v. Stack, supra, and due to the grave constitutional questions which surround the imprisonment of appellant Smith, we hereby reverse the same and remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with Lowe v. Stack, supra.
Reversed and remanded.