Case Name: Robert Lee COOPER, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1989-07-07
Citations: 547 So. 2d 1239
Docket Number: No. 88-3471
Parties: Robert Lee COOPER, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: ANSTEAD, LETTS and STONE, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 547
Pages: 1239–1239

Head Matter:
Robert Lee COOPER, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 88-3471.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
July 7, 1989.
Rehearing Denied Sept. 20, 1989.
Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Tanja Ostapoff, Asst. Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, Fleming Lee, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Robin A. Compton, Certified Legal Intern, Daytona Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial on attempted manslaughter. We agree with the appellant that the trial court erred in instructing the jury on attempted manslaughter by culpable negligence, a non-existent crime in Florida. Taylor v. State, 444 So.2d 931 (Fla.1983). Although the trial court also instructed the jury on attempted manslaughter by act, a crime that is recognized by Florida law, the trial court went astray when it informed the jury that the case at hand was one involving culpable negligence. We believe those comments constituted fundamental error entitling the appellant to a new trial on attempted manslaughter by act.
ANSTEAD, LETTS and STONE, JJ., concur.