Case Title: Williams v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2019-01-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC16-2170 
____________ 
 
MALIK JIMER WILLIAMS,  
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
STATE OF FLORIDA,  
Respondent. 
 
January 4, 2019 
REVISED OPINION 
 
QUINCE, J. 
 
Malik Jimer Williams seeks review of the decision of the Second District 
Court of Appeal in Williams v. State, 203 So. 3d 1020 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016), on the 
ground that it expressly and directly conflicts with decisions of this Court on 
questions of law.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const.  For the 
following reasons, we approve in part and quash in part the decision of the Second 
District and remand with instructions to remand to the trial court for proceedings 
consistent with this opinion. 
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FACTS 
 
On the night of February 15, 2013, Williams and his cousin, Kito Felton, 
were riding Williams’ bicycle home from a friend’s house on 23rd Avenue in 
Tampa, Florida.  Williams pedaled and Felton rode on the handlebars.  Williams 
and Felton rode down 23rd Avenue, made a right on 34th Street, made a left on 
22nd Avenue, made a right onto 37th Street and then made a left onto 21st Avenue 
heading towards 40th Street near where Williams resided with his brother at 46th 
and Sand Dune. 
 
Also in the vicinity were Reginald Johnson and John Edward Brown, III.  
Johnson and Brown were leaving the residence of Rosa Santos on their “Big 
Ripper” bicycles to go to Johnson’s residence on 35th Street to prepare for a 
birthday party.  Johnson stated that he would typically take 26th Avenue to cross 
50th Street to get to 49th Avenue and 26th Street, where he would turn until he got 
to 21st Avenue and continue on 21st until he got to 35th Street.  Johnson and 
Brown were heading west on 21st and stopped on Arrow, which was before 40th, 
still heading towards Johnson’s mother’s house.  After stopping at Arrow to speak 
to Venda Hayward, Johnson and Brown went back the way they came.  Johnson 
testified that he and Brown were “thinking about going to Shells” and that they 
wanted to go to that particular store rather than one closer to his mother’s house 
“[b]ecause Shell is like a neighborhood store.”   
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Williams testified that he saw Johnson and Brown at the intersection of 21st 
and 40th heading the opposite direction.  He did not previously know Brown, but 
did know Johnson from middle school.  Williams testified that Johnson asked them 
if they were straight and that he replied he did not want any problems.  Williams 
testified that he knew they were from Grant Park and that Grant Park and his own 
neighborhood, Jackson Heights, do not get along.  Williams told Felton to prepare 
to fight and “we fitting to get our ass whooped.”  Williams then testified that he 
saw Johnson and Brown turn their bikes around and that, eventually, Johnson 
maneuvered to cut Williams off and that Brown was behind him with a gun in his 
right hand in his lap. 
 
Williams testified that, at this point, he slammed his brakes and jumped off 
his bike in an attempt to either run away or fight and that his maneuver caused 
Brown to fall off of his bike.  Johnson testified that, after turning and returning 
eastbound and passing Williams and Felton, all the boys except Johnson fell off 
their bikes.  Williams testified that Brown flipped over his handle bars and dropped 
the gun in front of the bicycle, that both he and Brown reached for the gun, that he 
was able to pick it up before Brown, and then they fought over it.  All the 
testimony agrees, and video evidence corroborates, that however three of the boys 
ended up off their bikes, Johnson dismounted, ran back, and joined the altercation.  
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Both Williams and Johnson testified that Johnson took Felton near the Hartline 
gate while Williams and Brown stayed in a relatively static location. 
 
During the course of the altercation, Williams shot Brown twice—once in 
the head and once in the chest.  Williams then turned and shot Johnson, who 
received one gun shot in his hand.  Williams and Felton then fled, Felton taking 
Brown’s bicycle and Williams on his own bicycle. 
 
Williams testified that when he arrived at his brother’s, his brother took him 
to their mother’s house who then encouraged Williams to talk to the police.   
 
The jury found Williams guilty of first-degree premeditated murder for the 
death of Brown.  The jury did not convict Williams of robbery but did find that he 
was guilty of the lesser included offense of theft. 
 
On direct appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal, the district court 
first issued a per curiam affirmance (PCA).  Then, after the court denied Williams’ 
motion to stay mandate and motion for reconsideration, on its own motion the 
court withdrew the PCA and substituted a written opinion.  The court dispensed 
with Williams’ claims on appeal in one sentence: “[Williams] raises two issues in 
this appeal, neither of which require reversal.”  Williams, 203 So. 3d at 1021.  The 
district court then explained that Williams’ sentence for first-degree murder did not 
violate Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012), and that his sentence for the 
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attempted first-degree murder did not violate Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 
(2010).  The district court therefore affirmed Williams’ convictions and sentences. 
DISCUSSION 
 
In his first issue on appeal, Williams argues that the trial court erred in 
denying his motion for judgment of acquittal.  The Second District did not discuss 
the merits of this issue but we nevertheless address it here.   
 
We review the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo; 
however, all evidence and inferences therefrom are viewed in a light most 
favorable to the State.  McDuffie v. State, 970 So. 2d 312, 332 (Fla. 2007); Pagan 
v. State, 830 So. 2d 792, 803 (Fla. 2002).  A defendant who moves for a judgment 
of acquittal admits the facts in evidence and every conclusion favorable to the State 
that may be reasonably inferred from said evidence.  “If, after viewing the 
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could find 
the existence of the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, sufficient 
evidence exists to sustain a conviction.”  Pagan, 830 So. 2d at 803.  
 
In a case where a defendant alleges self-defense, the State must prove that 
the defendant did not act in self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.  See Cruz v. 
State, 189 So. 3d 822, 825-26 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015) (quoting Brown v. State, 454 
So. 2d 596, 598 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984)).  A trial court must grant a judgment of 
acquittal when the State’s case is legally insufficient to rebut a defendant’s prima 
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facie case establishing self-defense.  Id. at 826 (citing Fowler v. State, 921 So. 2d 
708, 711-12 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006)).  However, a judgment of acquittal should be 
denied where a jury would reasonably reject the defendant’s explanation of self-
defense.  Id. (citing Romero v. State, 901 So. 2d 260, 265-66 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)).  
Any inconsistency between the evidence and defense theory must be resolved by 
the finder of fact.  Orme v. State, 677 So. 2d 258, 262 (Fla. 1996).1  But 
“[e]vidence that leaves room for two or more inferences of fact, at least one of 
which is consistent with the defendant’s hypothesis of innocence, is not legally 
sufficient to make a case for the jury.”  Fowler v. State, 921 So. 2d 708, 712 (Fla. 
2d DCA 2006) (quoting Fowler v. State, 492 So. 2d 1344, 1348 (Fla. 1st DCA 
1986)); see also Stieh v. State, 67 So. 3d 275, 279 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). 
 
In order to establish a prima facie case of self-defense, a defendant must 
show that he (1) was attacked in a place where he had a right to be, (2) was not 
engaged in any unlawful activity, and (3) reasonably believed it was necessary to 
                                          
 
 
1.  This is unlike a review of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a 
conviction where an appellate court must determine whether, when reviewing the 
facts in the light most favorable to the State, there is competent, substantial 
evidence to sustain the conviction on appeal.  Williams did not contest the 
sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction for first-degree premeditated 
murder and it is therefore not before this Court for review.  Instead, this Court is 
tasked with determining merely whether the question was appropriately presented 
to the jury for consideration notwithstanding the subsequent verdict inconsistent 
with the State’s rebuttal to Williams’ self-defense theory. 
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use force to prevent death or great bodily harm.  See Leasure v. State, 105 So. 3d 5, 
13 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012) (citing § 776.013(3), Fla. Stat. (2008)).  However, the jury 
is not required to accept the defendant’s version of the facts and in fact “must 
consider the probability or improbability of the defendant’s credibility in light of 
the circumstances established by other evidence.”  Leasure, 105 So. 3d at 14 
(citing Darty v. State, 161 So. 2d 864, 872 (Fla. 2d DCA 1964); Teague v. 
State, 390 So. 2d 405, 406-07 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980)). 
 
Below, Williams alleged that he acted in self-defense after Johnson and 
Brown followed him and Felton on 21st Avenue and appeared to be carrying a 
weapon.  Williams stated that he knew he was about to be beaten and prepared 
himself to take the beating by getting off his bike.  Because Brown lost control of 
the weapon when they all fell from their bikes, Williams alleges he was able to 
fight to get the weapon and use it in self-defense.  The evidence found on the scene 
supports Williams’ version of events. 
 
Law enforcement discovered two unfired .40 caliber rounds2 at the scene 
which is consistent with Williams’ testimony that he was unfamiliar with weapons 
and attempted to cock the gun before each time he fired.  Law enforcement also 
                                          
 
 
2.  No firearm was recovered at the scene.  However, the ballistics recovered 
from the victims were the same caliber as the fired and unfired rounds recovered at 
the scene. 
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found a cell phone, currency, a key ring, cigars, and condoms on Brown’s person 
when they arrived on scene, which supports Williams’ assertion that he had no 
intention of robbing the victim. 
 
Because Williams presented a prima facie case of self-defense, it was 
necessary for the State to refute his claim beyond a reasonable doubt.  The State’s 
theory of the case was that Williams and Felton attempted to rob Brown and 
therefore could not claim self-defense because the altercation was a result of the 
robbery.  To survive the judgment of acquittal, a reasonable jury would have to 
believe the testimony of surviving victim, Reginald Johnson, that he and Brown 
just happened to turn around and ride their bikes in the opposite direction, passing 
Williams and Felton, because they decided to double back and go to a convenience 
store.  The jury would also have to accept Johnson’s testimony that Felton told 
Brown to “give it up” meaning he was attempting to rob Brown of his bicycle and 
that either Felton or Williams pulled Brown off his bike, starting the altercation 
that resulted in Brown’s death.   
As to corroborating evidence, none of the eyewitnesses were able to 
corroborate either party’s explanation of what led to the altercation.  Symone 
Watts, who worked as a security guard at Hartline where the altercation took place,  
testified that she heard loud voices, which made her look up from her book.  Then 
she saw someone hit the ground, get up quickly, and begin firing.  Watts’ version 
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of events does not support either Williams’ or Johnson’s testimony.  Williams 
never testified that he had fallen to the ground before getting the gun but it is 
possible that what she saw was Williams bending over to get the gun after it fell 
from Brown’s possession.  Her testimony likewise does not support Johnson’s 
testimony because he stated that Brown was the only one who fell from his bike 
after being pulled off.  Because both Williams and Johnson testified that only 
Brown fell to the ground, Watts’ testimony would make Brown the shooter, which 
is erroneous.  Further, Watts testified that she was unclear that night and even the 
day of the trial who was where within the altercation.  She could only testify that 
one of the boys wore a light-colored shirt and the other boys wore dark-colored 
clothing. 
Likewise, the video surveillance, which was played for the jury, is unclear 
enough that it could be interpreted to support either version of events.  The 
surveillance videos show, and Johnson and Williams both testified, that Williams 
and Felton rode from left to right on the screen when they were overtaken by 
Johnson on his bike and caught up to by Brown.  From there, all the parties agree, 
and the video confirms, that Brown, Williams, and Felton dismounted from their 
respective bicycles.  Unfortunately, the video does not confirm how the boys came 
to dismount or who initiated that first contact.  The video confirms that Johnson 
turned back after seeing the altercation begin.   
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Williams’ self-defense theory was only applicable if the jury did not find 
that the altercation began because of a robbery attempt.  Once the jury entered its 
verdict finding Williams guilty of the lesser included offense of theft, logic dictates 
that the jury did not believe that the altercation began because of the robbery 
attempt.  Accordingly, the State failed to rebut Williams’ theory of self-defense 
and the trial court improperly denied Williams’ motion for a judgment of acquittal 
as to count one (first-degree premeditated murder) filed after the jury entered its 
verdict.  However, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, the 
trial court did not err in denying the motion as to count five (attempted murder) 
because the evidence and testimony provided at trial demonstrated that Williams 
hesitated before turning to shoot Johnson.  A reasonable jury could have concluded 
that the shot fired at Johnson was not fired in self-defense.     
The second issue presented is whether Williams is entitled to resentencing 
pursuant to chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida, and to resentencing pursuant to this 
Court’s decision in Williams v. State, 186 So. 3d 989 (Fla. 2016).  The State 
concedes that the answer to both these inquiries is yes.  Based on the State’s 
concession, we end our inquiry here and remand with instructions to remand to the 
trial court for resentencing in accordance with Williams, 186 So. 3d 989 and 
Thomas v. State, 40 Fla. L. Weekly S479, 2015 WL 5178605 at *1 (Fla. Sept. 4, 
2015) (177 So. 3d 1275) (table). 
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It is so ordered. 
 
PARIENTE and LEWIS, JJ., concur. 
LABARGA, J., concurs in result. 
CANADY, C.J., concurs in result in part and dissents in part with an opinion, in 
which POLSTON and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
 
NO MOTION FOR REHEARING WILL BE ALLOWED. 
 
CANADY, C.J., concurring in result in part, dissenting in part. 
Based on the State’s concession of error, I agree that the decision of the 
Second District Court of Appeal should be quashed to the extent that it affirmed 
Williams’s sentences and that the case should be remanded for resentencing in 
conformance with chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida.  I do not disagree with the 
conclusion that the Second District’s decision to affirm Williams’s attempted 
murder conviction was correct, but I believe that it is unnecessary for this Court to 
address the issue relating to this conviction.  I dissent, however, from the decision 
to quash that portion of the Second District’s decision that affirmed the first-degree 
premeditated murder conviction. 
POLSTON and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
 
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal – Direct 
Conflict of Decisions 
 
Second District - Case No. 2D14-1732 
(Hillsborough County) 
Christopher E. Cosden, Fort Myers, Florida,  
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for Petitioner 
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, C. Suzanne Bechard, 
Bureau Chief, and Elba Caridad Martin, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, 
Florida, 
 
for Respondent