Case Name: Darnell L. BROWN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2000-10-05
Citations: 790 So. 2d 389
Docket Number: No. SC95844
Parties: Darnell L. BROWN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
Judges: WELLS, C.J., and SHAW, LEWIS and QUINCE, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 790
Pages: 389–398

Head Matter:
Darnell L. BROWN, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
No. SC95844.
Supreme Court of Florida.
Oct. 5, 2000.
Rehearing Denied May 31, 2001.
James B. Gibson, Public Defender, and Noel A. Pelella and Barbara C. Davis, Assistant Public Defenders, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Daytona Beach, FL, for Petitioner.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, and Belle B. Schumann and Wesley Heidt, Assistant Attorneys General, Day-tona Beach, FL, for Respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We have for review a decision ruling upon the following question certified to be of great public importance:
DOES THE CRIME OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER EXIST IN FLORIDA?
Brown v. State, 733 So.2d 598, 599 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999). We have jurisdiction pursuant to article V, section 3(b)(4) of the Florida Constitution. We answer the certified question in the affirmative.
Brown was convicted of attempted second-degree murder. On appeal, Brown argued that the crime of attempted sec ond-degree murder is a nonexistent crime. The district court affirmed the conviction but certified the above question to our Court.
We recently addressed the crime of attempted second-degree murder in State v. Brady:
The offense of attempted second-degree murder does not require proof of the specific intent to commit the underlying act (i.e., murder). See Gentry v. State, 437 So.2d 1097 (Fla.1983). In Gentry, we held that the crime of attempted second-degree murder does not require proof of the specific intent to kill. Although the crime of attempt generally requires proof of a specific intent to commit the crime plus an overt act in furtherance of that intent, we reasoned: "If the state is not required to show specific intent to successfully prosecute the completed crime, it will not be required to show specific intent to successfully prosecute an attempt to commit that crime." Id. at 1099. To establish attempted second-degree murder of Harrell, the state had to show (1) that Brady intentionally committed an act which would have resulted in the death of Harrell except that someone prevented him from killing Harrell or he failed to do so, and (2) that the act was imminently dangerous to another and demonstrated a depraved mind without regard for human life. See Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, 697 So.2d 84, 90 (Fla.1997).
745 So.2d 954, 957 (Fla.1999). Accordingly, as explained in Brady, we conclude that the crime of attempted second-degree murder does exist in Florida. We approve the district court's decision in this case. It is so ordered.
WELLS, C.J., and SHAW, LEWIS and QUINCE, JJ., concur.
HARDING, J., dissents with an opinion, in which ANSTEAD and PARIENTE, JJ., concur.