Criminal defendants in Florida have the constitutional right to be apprised of the charges against them with sufficient specificity to prepare a defense. This right extends not only to the charged offense but also to any lesser-included offenses that may be presented to the jury; if such rights are violated, there may be grounds for vacating any subsequent conviction. A recent Florida ruling illustrates the consequences of failing to adhere to this bedrock principle of due process, as the court reversed a conviction for aggravated battery, finding that the charging document failed to allege all of the statutory elements necessary to support the jury’s verdict. If you are accused of battery or another violent crime, it is smart to meet with a Sarasota violent crime defense attorney to assess your options.
Factual and Procedural Background
It is alleged that the defendant engaged in a violent confrontation that culminated in an attempted stabbing of the victim. The State charged the defendant by amended information with attempted second-degree murder but did not specify that a deadly weapon was used. The charging document merely stated that the defendant attempted to kill the victim “by stabbing” without alleging the use of a knife or any object likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
It is alleged that during the charge conference, the State requested jury instructions not only on the charged offense of attempted second-degree murder but also on the lesser-included offenses of attempted manslaughter and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon under section 784.045(1)(a)(2), Florida Statutes. The trial court agreed and gave the requested instructions, though it did not include aggravated battery based on great bodily harm under subsection (1)(a)(1). Continue Reading ›