Case ID: so2d_764/html/0904-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "W. SHARP, J. COBB, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ricky WILLARD, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    No. 5D99-2737.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
    Aug. 11, 2000.
    James B. Gibson, Public Defender, and John M. Selden, Assistant Public Defender, Daytona Beach, for Appellant.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Wesley Heidt, Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for Appellee.
   W. SHARP, J.

Willard appeals from his conviction and sentence for attempted second degree murder, following a jury trial. He argues there is no such offense as attempted second degree murder. We disagree, but we have certified that question to the Florida Supreme Court. See Brown v. State, 733 So.2d 598 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999), rev. granted, 744 So.2d 462 (Fla.1999). Because the question is unresolved at present, we certify the same question in this case.

Willard also argues he was denied a fair trial by the prosecutor’s improper remarks, which tended to bolster the testimony of a psychiatric witness because he also had a law degree. This enabled the expert to give a legal opinion, which was beyond his qualifications. We agree there was improper bolstering in this case, but the defense failed to object. Occhicone v. State, 570 So.2d 902, 905-906 (Fla.1990); Castor v. State, 365 So.2d 701, 703 (Fla.1978). The error was not fundamental, and thus we conclude since it was not preserved, it does not require reversal. Glendening v. State, 536 So.2d 212, 221 (Fla.1988).

AFFIRMED; Question CERTIFIED.

GRIFFIN, J., concurs.

COBB, J., concurs specially with opinion.

COBB, J.,

concurring specially.

For the reasons explicated in my concurring opinion in Watkins v. State, 705 So.2d 938 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998), I agree with the logic of Willard’s argument that there is no such offense as attempted second degree murder. Based on controlling supreme court precedent at this time, however, we can only affirm and certify the question. 
      
      . See, e.g., State v. Wilson, 680 So.2d 411 (Fla.1996); Harris v. State, 674 So.2d 110, 113 (Fla.1996); Gentry v. State, 437 So.2d 1097 (Fla.1983).