Defendant, Prentice Stanley, appeals his judgment and sentence for first degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Stanley was convicted of both counts and sentenced to life in prison. Stanley raises four issues for our review. Finding no merit to Defendant’s arguments, we affirm his judgment and sentence.
By way of background, the victim, Mah-moud Mansour, was the general manager of a clothing manufacturer in Ft. Lauder-dale, Florida. While at work, Mansour observed a 2004 Nissan Titan being driven by someone later identified as Stanley enter the company parking lot and drive up to a metal container that held boxes of clothing. Mansour became suspicious and attempted to close the parking lot gate. The truck’s driver drove the truck through the gate, running over Mansour who later died of his injuries.
Stanley was arrested for the crime and charged by indictment with first degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Testimony at trial revealed that the truck used in the crime had recently been reported stolen. It was found abandoned near the scene of the crime. Stanley’s fingerprints were found in multiple places on the truck. Additionally, a friend of Stanley’s testified that Stanley had confessed to him that he was the perpetrator. This friend contacted the
On appeal, Stanley argues that the trial court erred by: 1) instructing the jury that Stanley could be convicted on either of two theories of first degree murder; to wit: premeditated murder and felony murder despite the fact that the indictment charged only felony murder; 2) introducing 911 tapes which allegedly contained hearsay statements; and 3) admitting seventeen autopsy photographs into evidence. Stanley also argues that his conviction violates the double jeopardy clause.
Stanley first argues that the Grand Jury’s indictment charged him under a felony murder theory while the jury’s instructions allowed for a conviction under a premeditated murder theory. The True Bill returned by the Grand Jury stated that Stanley “[Ujnlawfully and feloniously while ... engaged in the commission of, attempting to commit or escaping from the immediate scene of a Burglary and/or a Robbery, did kill and murder the said Mahmoud Mansour against the form of the statute in such case pursuant to [sjections 782.04(1).”
Section 782.04, Florida Statutes (2007), titled “Murder,” addresses “[t]he unlawful killing of a human being” and covers both killings “perpetrated from a premeditated design” and those “committed by a person engaged in the perpetration” of certain felonies. §§ 782.04(l)(a)l. and 782.04(l)(a)2.
Stanley contends that the Grand Jury indicted him solely for first degree felony murder. However, when the court provided the jury with its instructions, it indicated that when a defendant is charged with first degree murder, he could be convicted on either a theory of premeditation or a theory of felony murder. The court then described the elements of both premeditated murder and felony murder. At closing argument, the State repeated the claim that Stanley could be convicted of first degree murder on a premeditation theory. The jury found that “[t]he Defendant is [gjuilty of Murder in the First Degree, as charged in the indictment.”
Stanley did not object at the time of the alleged errors. If a jury instruction is not objected to at the time of the alleged error, the error must be fundamental to be raised on appeal. State v. Delva,
According to Stanley, the trial court’s jury instructions and the prosecutor’s closing statement constructively amended the indictment. See United States v. Barrios-Perez,
The law does not support Stanley’s claim that the indictment was constructively amended. In O’Callaghan v. State,
We hold that if a conviction under a felony murder- theory is legal where the indictment charged premeditated murder, as was the case in O’Callaghan, then a conviction under a premeditated murder theory is legal where the indictment charged felony murder, as is the case here. See also Deparvine v. State,
Stanley next argues that the trial court erred by permitting the introduction of recordings of 911 calls. At trial, the State moved to enter into evidence several 911 calls made by witnesses to the crime. Some of these witnesses did not testify at trial. Defense counsel objected on hearsay grounds to the introduction of “any 911 calls that are not from a person who has testified in this case.” The State argued that while the recordings were hearsay, they were nonetheless admissible as either excited utterances or present sense impressions.
“[Wjhether evidence falls within the statutory definition of hearsay is a matter of law, subject to de novo review.” Burkey v. State,
In Barron v. State,
Stanley’s third point on appeal is that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence seventeen autopsy photos of the victim. Stanley argues that the photographs were not relevant as it was undisputed that the victim died as a result of being struck by the vehicle.
At trial, the State called the assistant medical examiner to the stand in order to question him' about the victim’s injuries. While the medical examiner was on the stand, the State attempted to introduce seventeen autopsy photographs into evidence. The photographs displayed the various externally visible injuries sustained by the victim, and pictures of his blood stained clothes. Stanley objected, arguing that the pictures “ha[d] no value except to inflame the jury.” The State countered that the photographs were needed in order
A trial court’s decision to admit photographic evidence will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Brooks v. State,
Finally, Stanley argues that his conviction violates double jeopardy. U.S. Const, amend. V. He contends that because he was convicted of both leaving the scene of the accident resulting in death and first degree murder of the same victim, his constitutional rights have been violated. Determining whether double jeopardy is violated based upon undisputed facts is a legal determination subject to a de novo standard of review. Labovick v. State,
The double jeopardy clause of the United States Constitution is violated where a defendant receives multiple punishments for a single offense. North Carolina v. Pearce,
Lawrence v. State,
Affirmed.
Notes
. The Barron court also stated that because “the calls were made to obtain assistance rather tiran in response to police questioning, we additionally conclude that they were non-testimonial in nature and, therefore, do not violate the Sixth Amendment.” Barron,
. Blockburger v. United States,
