Velazquez v. State

Sep 10, 2004
2D03-5750
Reporters:
,
Before:
Northcutt, Salcines, Covington

NORTHCUTT, Judge.

Nelson Velazquez appeals his conviction and life sentence for attempted second-degree murder. We reverse based on fundamental error in the jury instruction on self-defense.

As part of the jury ‍​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‍instruction on self-defense, the trial court gave an instruction on the forcible felony exception to self-defense. The trial court instructed the jury that “the use of force likely to cause death or great bodily harm is not justifiable if you find: 1. Nelson M. Velazquez was attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission ‍​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‍of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Weapon.” This instruction, based on section 776.041(1), Florida Statutes (2002), “is applicable only in circumstances where the person claiming self-defense is engaged in another independent forcible felony at the time.” Cleveland v. State, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D1627, D1627, 2004 WL 1530876, ___ So.2d ___, ___ (Fla. 5th DCA July 9, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‍2004). Although defense counsel made no objection at trial, this court has held that the instruction essentially negates the defense and constitutes fundamental error when a defendant committed a single act and claimed self-defense. See Zuniga v. State, 869 So.2d 1239 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Baker v. State, 877 So.2d 856 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); see also Giles v. State, 831 So.2d ‍​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‍1263 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002). We appreciate the State‘s candor in briefing this issue. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.

SALCINES and COVINGTON, JJ., Concur.