Opinion

Paulen v. State

  • 352 So. 2d 1205
  • 1977 Fla. App. LEXIS 16934
Court
District Court of Appeal of Florida
Filed
Nov 22, 1977
Status
Published
Author
Dauksch
On the bench
Alderman, Cross, Dauksch
Cited by
3 cases
Authority
More cited than 56.4%

The opinion

DAUKSCH, Judge.

A manslaughter conviction is appealed. We reverse.

Appellant is accused of having killed a person by driving his automobile into her while he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. At trial a policeman was asked “. . . when you advised him of his Miranda warnings, did he make any statements to you?” Policeman: “As I recall, at that time he didn’t.” It came out that Appellant later voluntarily made statements in regard to the accident and his activities before the accident.

In Martin v. State, 334 So.2d 841 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976), it was held that it is improper to allow testimony concerning an accused’s silence after Miranda warnings. It is fundamental, constitutional error incapable of being rendered harmless by later events. See also Williams v. State, 335 So.2d 854 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976); especially Judge Dow-ney’s special concurrence which indicates the facts there are quite on point. Appellant must be afforded a new trial.

REVERSED and REMANDED.

CROSS, J., concurs.

ALDERMAN, C. J., dissents with opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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