Case ID: so2d_846/html/1253-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Terrance McCRAY, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    No. 1D01-3917.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
    June 11, 2003.
    Nancy Daniels, Public Defender, and Phil Patterson, Assistant Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
    Charlie Crist, Attorney General, and Sherri T. RoUinson, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.
   PER CURIAM.

The appellant challenges a manslaughter conviction, arguing that the court erred in the manslaughter instruction by failing to explain that this offense does not encompass justifiable or excusable homicide. As indicated in Rojas v. State, 552 So.2d 914 (Fla.1989), manslaughter is a residual offense which requires such an explanation for a proper definition of the crime. See also, e.g., State v. Lucas, 645 So.2d 425 (Fla.1994). Furthermore, the failure to refer to justifiable and excusable homicide in connection with the manslaughter instruction is fundamental error. E.g. Lucas; Rojas. The appealed order is therefore reversed and the case is remanded.

ALLEN, C.J., WEBSTER and BROWNING, JJ., concur.