Case Name: Stanley J. BARTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2006-11-22
Citations: 941 So. 2d 1291
Docket Number: No. 4D05-2012
Parties: Stanley J. BARTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: STEVENSON, C.J., WARNER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 941
Pages: 1291–1291

Head Matter:
Stanley J. BARTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 4D05-2012.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Nov. 22, 2006.
Carey Haughwout, Public Defender, and James W. Mclntire, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, Tallahassee, and August A. Bonavita, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The defendant appeals his conviction and sentence for aggravated battery. We agree with the defendant that the trial court committed fundamental error by instructing the jury that the defendant's use of force was not justifiable if he was attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of aggravated battery. This instruction would only have been appropriate had the defendant been engaged in some other forcible felony. In the absence of such an independent felony, the instruction is circular and impermissi-bly negates the defendant's claim of self-defense. Jackson v. State, 935 So.2d 107 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006). The defendant is entitled to a new trial.
Reversed and Remanded.
STEVENSON, C.J., WARNER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.