Case Name: Floyd Thomas ROBERTSON, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2001-03-28
Citations: 780 So. 2d 106
Docket Number: No. 3D98-2383
Parties: Floyd Thomas ROBERTSON, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and JORGENSON, COPE, LEVY, GERSTEN, GODERICH, GREEN, FLETCHER, SHEVIN, SORONDO, and RAMIREZ, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 780
Pages: 106–124

Head Matter:
Floyd Thomas ROBERTSON, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 3D98-2383.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
March 28, 2001.
Bennett H. Brummer, Public Defender, and Manuel Alvarez, Assistant Public. Defender, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, and Margaret A. Brenan, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and JORGENSON, COPE, LEVY, GERSTEN, GODERICH, GREEN, FLETCHER, SHEVIN, SORONDO, and RAMIREZ, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION ON REHEARING EN BANC
GERSTEN, Judge.
Floyd Thomas Robertson ("defendant") appeals his conviction and sentence for second degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend. The defendant claims the trial court erred in allowing his ex-wife to testify concerning the defendant's previous threat to the ex-wife with a gun. Because the defendant alleged the shooting was accidental, and that he had never used a gun in a threatening manner toward anyone close to him, we conclude this evidence was properly admitted for both impeachment purposes, and relevancy under Section 90.404(2)(a), 'Florida Statutes (1997), to show the defendant's "motive, intent, and absence of mistake." We affirm.
On September 16, 1996, victim Maria Nelson ("Maria") confided to a co-worker that she was having problems with her live-in boyfriend, the defendant. Maria was upset and nervous, and told her friend that she was going to ask the defendant to move out of her apartment that night.
Approximately three hours later, the fire rescue department received a call from the defendant, who stated that he had shot "someone." When the police arrived, the defendant led them into a bedroom where a gun was laying on the floor with the slide locked.
Victim Maria Nelson was lying on the bed semi-conscious. The police detective tore off her shirt to see if he could provide medical help. Although the defendant had a medical background as a paramedic, there was no evidence that the defendant attempted any kind of aid on Maria. Maria was airlifted to the hospital where she eventually died.
The defendant was charged with second degree murder. At trial, his theory of defense was that the gun accidentally misfired while he was taking it out of the closet to clean it. The State's theory of the case was that the defendant shot Maria during a domestic argument and that the shooting was not accidental. Since the defendant was the only witness to the shooting, the critical issue for the jury to determine was whether the defendant's story was credible.
Several of Maria's neighbors testified they heard loud thuds coming from the apartment on the evening of the shooting, as though someone were being thrown against the wall. At one point, the defendant was observed going out onto the balcony and flailing his arms around as if involved in a heated discussion. The defendant then went inside the apartment and Maria came out onto the balcony. A few minutes after Maria went back into the apartment, the neighbors heard a gunshot.
The arresting detective who took the defendant's statement stated that the defendant's version of what occurred varied. At the police station, the defendant stated he and Maria had an argument that evening, but that he had never gotten physical with Maria. The defendant explained he was taking out his semi-automatic .40 caliber Ruger handgun to clean it, when his finger slipped on the trigger and he shot Maria. Later, the defendant testified that he was taking out the gun because he wanted Maria to see it. The defendant further testified his relationship with Maria was an excellent one and that they had not been fighting on the day of the shooting.
The defendant's friend, Steve Angene, testified that the defendant had called him after the shooting. In that phone call, the defendant stated he had been having a dispute with Maria, and that Maria had followed him into the bedroom. The defendant asked Steve not to tell the police about his fight with Maria.
In contrast to Steve's testimony, the defendant testified at trial that he had a happy relationship with Maria. He also testified that the gun which killed Maria was accidentally stored in a single-action cocked manner. He further stated that he was not very familiar with the gun, and that the gun accidentally fired and hit Maria.
On cross-examination, the State asked the defendant about his knowledge and training with various weapons. Without objection, the defendant was asked about his military experience, and his previous use of such weapons as M-16 rifles, handguns, M60's, sporting guns, and a Russian rifle. The defense only objected when the State asked the defendant if he had ever purchased an AK-47 rifle. The State then asked if the defendant ever threatened anyone with an assault rifle. When the defendant responded he had not, the State asked if the defendant threatened anyone close to him with an AK-47. The defendant responded, "I have never threatened anybody close to me with a weapon, anybody, period, with a weapon, sir." The defendant's ex-wife was later called on rebuttal and testified the defendant had threatened her with a gun during a domestic dispute. Defense counsel had taken the ex-wife's deposition prior to trial and was well aware of the prior AK-47 rifle incident.
At the conclusion of its deliberations, the jury returned a verdict finding the defendant guilty of second degree murder. The defendant appeals his conviction and sentence to life imprisonment, claiming the trial court erred in allowing the testimony of the ex-wife regarding the prior incident.
Florida Statute Section 90.608(5), provides that once a defendant takes the stand and testifies, he or she places credibility at issue and prosecutors are allowed to impeach that credibility with "proof by other witnesses that material facts are not as testified to by the witness being impeached." See § 90.608(5), Fla. Stat. (1997); Charles W. Ehrhardt, Florida Evidence § 608.1 at 385 (1997 ed.).
Our courts have long recognized that the truth-seeking purpose of the adversary system is promoted by cross-examination which appropriately challenges the witness's credibility through eliciting testimony favorable to the cross-examining party. See Chandler v. State, 702 So.2d 186 (Fla.1997); Shere v. State, 579 So.2d 86, 90 (Fla.1991). Specifically, with regard to impeachment cross-examination, prosecutors are to be allowed "wide leeway" in order to prevent defendants from being able to "frustrate the truth-seeking function of a trial by presenting tailored defenses insulated from effective challenge." See Lebowitz v. State, 343 So.2d 666, 667 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977) (quoting Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 49 L.Ed.2d 91, 97 n. 7 (1976). See also, Geralds v. State, 674 So.2d 96 (Fla.1996) (cross examination not confined to identical details testified to in chief; extends to all matters that may supplement, contradict, rebut, or make clearer facts testified to in chief)).
Applying these principles to the facts of this case, it is clear the defendant placed his credibility at issue by taking the stand. After giving oath and presenting testimony to the jury, the defendant was then subject to cross-examination and potential impeachment like any witness in any case. See Ivey v. State, 132 Fla. 36, 180 So. 368 (Fla.1938); C.M. v. State, 698 So.2d 1806 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997); Ashcraft v. State, 465 So.2d 1374 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985).
The defendant testified he never threatened anyone with a gun. Clearly this statement was intended to buttress his theory of defense and his contention that he shot Maria by mistake while "cleaning" the gun. Having testified that he had never threatened anyone with a gun, the defendant opened the door to questioning about the prior incident where he had threatened his ex-wife with a gun. See Fletcher v. State, 619 So.2d 333 (Fla. 1st DCA), review denied, 629 So.2d 132 (Fla.1993); Hernandez v. State, 569 So.2d 857 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990). With the door open, it was then permissible for the State to impeach the defendant's statements and to show that he was not being truthful on the stand. See Allred v. State, 642 So.2d 650 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994); Lusk v. State, 531 So.2d 1377 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988). See also Howard v. State, 228 Ga.App. 775, 492 S.E.2d 683 (1997) (evidence defendant shot prior girlfriend 12 years earlier held admissible to impeach testimony regarding gun use).
We also find this evidence admissible as relevant under Section 90.404(2)(a), Florida Statutes (1997), which provides:
"Similar fact evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is admissible when relevant to prove a material fact in issue, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, but it is inadmissible when the evidence is relevant solely to prove bad character or propensity."
It is well established that evidence is admissible if it is relevant to prove a material fact at issue, and if it is not precluded by a specific rule of exclusion. See § 90.402(2)(a), Fla. Stat. (1997); Heiney v. State, 447 So.2d 210 (Fla.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 920, 105 S.Ct. 803, 83 L.Ed.2d 237 (1984); Williams v. State, 110 So.2d 654 (Fla.), cert. denied, 361 U.S. 847, 80 S.Ct. 102, 4 L.Ed.2d 86 (1959).
The test for relevancy is whether such evidence "casts light upon the character of the act under investigation by showing motive, intent, absence of mistake, common scheme, identity or a system or general pattern of criminality so that the evidence of the prior offenses would have a relevant or a material bearing on some essential aspect of the offense being tried." Williams v. State, 110 So.2d at 662.
Here, the critical issue at trial was whether the defendant accidentally shot Maria. Since there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting, the credibility of the defendant and his story, were crucial to the outcome of the case. The evidence that the defendant had previously threatened someone close to him during a domestic dispute with a firearm, directly related to the central issue in the case—the defendant's claim that he was "cleaning" the gun which "accidentally" discharged while arguing with Maria, as opposed to "threatening" Maria with the gun when she was shot and killed.
Because intent is often the most difficult element to prove in an unwitnessed crime where the victim is dead, evidence reflecting on the defendant's intent is clearly probative with regard to a claim of acci dental shooting. The former wife's testimony that the defendant threatened her with a gun during a domestic dispute tends to negate the likelihood that the shooting was accidental. We find the ex-wife's testimony was relevant in ascertaining the defendant's motive and intent with regard to the claim Maria's shooting was accidental.
Having established the ex-wife's testimony was relevant, we now determine whether or not it is precluded by a specific rule of exclusion. In this regard, the trial court has broad discretion not only in determining the relevance of evidence, but also in determining whether its probative value outweighs any prejudicial effect, thereby rendering such evidence admissible. See § 90.403, Fla. Stat. (1997); Rodriguez v. State, 753 So.2d 29 (Fla.2000); Williamson v. State, 681 So.2d 688 (Fla.1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1200, 117 S.Ct. 1561, 137 L.Ed.2d 708 (1997). Such a determination will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. See Heath v. State, 648 So.2d 660 (Fla.1994). Keeping these standards in mind, we determine that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence.
Section 90.404(2)(a) prohibits the introduction of similar fact evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts, where such evidence is relevant solely to prove bad character or to show the defendant possesses a propensity for criminal behavior. Section 90.404(2)(a) specifically allows the admissibility of similar fact evidence to prove a material fact in issue, such as "intent" and "absence of mistake or accident." Accordingly, a trial judge has the discretion to admit similar fact evidence when it is relevant as to a non-character aspect in the case.
Here, the evidence of a threat against a previous partner involving a gun had the purpose of assisting the jury to understand defendant's conduct at the time of the shooting with regard to the defendant's intent and his claim of accident. The evidence was admitted for the appropriate purpose of showing the defendant's motive and intent at the time of the shooting he claims was accidental. See Smith v. State, 232 Ga.App. 290, 501 S.E.2d 523 (1998) (evidence defendant previously attacked estranged wife admissible to show intent and disprove defense of accident); State v. Grubb, 111 Ohio App.3d 277, 675 N.E.2d 1353 (1996) (former wife's testimony admissible to prove intent and lack of accident in domestic violence case where defendant claimed injuries were accidental); State v. Clark, 179 Wis.2d 484, 507 N.W.2d 172 (1993) (former girlfriend's testimony admissible to show intent and rebut defendant's claim of accident). Cf. Gore v. State, 719 So.2d 1197 (Fla.1998) (evidence not admissible because sole relevance was to demonstrate bad character). We conclude this evidence was admissible pursuant to the motive and intent exceptions to the general exclusionary rule.
We must next determine whether the trial court properly found that any prejudice in the admission of this evidence was outweighed by its probative value. In this regard, we note that almost all evidence to be introduced by the state in a criminal prosecution will be prejudicial to a defendant. See Amoros v. State, 531 So.2d 1256 (Fla.1988). However, even evidence which incidentally places a defendant's character in issue is admissible where substantially relevant to show some other purpose than to show propensity. See Williamson v. State, 681 So.2d at 695.
While we recognize the ex-wife's testimony was undeniably prejudicial to the defendant, it was also critically relevant in tending to establish the defendant's motive and did not lessen the prosecution's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Summit v. State, 285 So.2d 670 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973) (evidence of similar conduct toward another person, was relevant and admissible to show character of the deed as to motive intent and absence of mistake). See also, People v. Hawker, 215 A.D.2d 499, 626 N.Y.S.2d 524 (1995) (evidence of prior assaults probative value with regard to motive and intent outweighed potential for incidental prejudice); People v. Sims, 110 AD.2d 214, 494 N.Y.S.2d 114 (1985) (evidence admissible to show absence of mistake; probative value outweighed potential prejudice). Thus we find the trial court properly balanced the import of this relevant evidence against the danger of prejudice, and properly determined it's probative value outweighed its prejudicial effect. See State v. Jacobs, 939 S.W.2d at 7 (probative value of evidence of violence in relationship with victim established defendant's motive and thus outweighed prejudicial effect); People v. Hines, 260 A.D.2d 646, 690 N.Y.S.2d 63, 690 N.Y.S.2d 66, (1999) (probative value of prior domestic violence evidence outweighed prejudicial effect).
In conclusion, the ex-wife's testimony was properly admitted pursuant to the motive and intent exceptions to the general exclusionary rule, and also for impeachment purposes. The prior incident was clearly relevant, and especially probative, in rebutting the defense that Maria's shooting death was a mistake. Finding no abuse of discretion in the trial court's well-reasoned application of established eviden-tiary principles, we affirm the defendant's judgment and sentence for second degree murder.
Affirmed.
COPE, GODERICH and GREEN, JJ" concur.
., The detective at the scene testified that he did not find any cleaning materials, and that the trigger had to be pulled in order for the gun to fire. The medical examiner testified that the defendant's story to the police that the gun accidentally discharged, was not consistent with the angle of the bullet's path or the angle of the bed.
. The dissent suggests it is permissible for a fabulist defendant to lie on the stand regarding facts especially probative to his theory of defense, so long as the lie occurs during cross-examination. We disagree. Although the dissent correctly notes the State may not ask "impermissible" questions during cross-examination to elicit otherwise inadmissible evidence not testified to on direct, see DeFreitas v. State, 701 So.2d 593 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997), the fatal flaw in the dissent's reasoning is that the question in the present case was not "impermissible." Thus the cases cited to by the dissent are unavailing.
Our Florida Supreme Court has long held that "cross examination is not confined to the identical details testified to in chief, but extends to its entire subject matter, and to all matters that may modify, supplement, contra-diet, rebut, or make clearer the facts testified to in chief." Geralds v. State, 674 So.2d 96, 99 (Fla.1996) (quoting Coco v. State, 62 So.2d 892, 895 (Fla.1953)); Coxwell v. State, 361 So.2d 148, 151 (Fla.1978) (same).
Here, the issue of the defendant's gun use and whether or not his use of the gun was "accidental", were matters clearly raised during his case in chief. The prosecutor was permitted to ask the question regarding gun use, because it directly related to clarify facts raised on direct, and to contradict the defendant's statements regarding his familiarity with the gun, and his claim the gun fired accidentally in causing Maria's death. Thus, applying well established Florida Supreme Court precedent, see Geralds v. State, 674 So.2d at 99, the follow-up questioning during cross was clearly not "impermissible." See also Charles W. Ehrhardt, Florida Evidence § 608.1 at 385 (1997 ed.) ("Regardless of the subject matter of the witness' testimony, a party on cross-examination may inquire into matters that affect the truthfulness of the witness' testimony.") A finding to the contrary would be tantamount to condoning perjury and adverse to the truth-seeking function of trial.
. Significantly, the defendant testified during direct examination that the semi-automatic murder weapon was "accidentally" in a single-action mode (cocked and loaded). Thus the defendant raised the issue of intent when he testified that he "accidentally" stored the semi-automatic in a "cocked" position and that Maria was shot because his finger slipped on the trigger as he was removing the weapon from a closet.
. The prior incident admitted into evidence through the ex-wife's impeachment testimony involved significant similarities to the facts of this case. In both incidents, the defendant chose to use a semi-automatic weapon, which requires the weapon to be cocked with safety off and loaded in order to be fired. Both incidents involved a woman with whom the defendant was having an intimate relationship. Both incidents involved acts of violence taking place in a relationship context and circumstances involving domestic disputes.
. The case of State v. Grubb, 111 Ohio App.3d 277, 675 N.E.2d 1353 (1996) is particularly instructive with regard to this critical fact. The defendant in Grubb claimed self-defense, and testified that his wife's injuries were "accidental." On rebuttal, the state introduced testimony of a former wife who stated the defendant had assaulted her during their marriage. The court held the former wife's testimony was admissible with respect to the issues of intent and lack of accident stating:
[The] defendant not only asserted a claim of self-defense but his testimony also raised an issue regarding whether his wife's injuries were "accidental" and not the result of any intentional (or knowing) conduct on his part. To that extent "intent" and "lack of accident," two matters specifically identified in Evid.R. 404(B), were in issue in this case. Accordingly, the state was entitled to utilize the evidence regarding defendant's assaults on his former wife pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B) not for the purpose of showing that on this occasion defendant acted in conformity with that character, but to prove his intent (culpable mental state) and the lack of accident, in this case.
State v. Grubb, 675 N.E.2d at 1356.
. Many states allow prior misconduct evidence in cases involving domestic violence as probative of intent, to rebut allegations by the defendant that the injuries suffered by the victim were the result of a mistake. See e.g., Wetta v. State, 217 Ga.App. 128, 456 S.E.2d 696 (1995) (testimony by defendant's prior girlfriend that he abused her as well was admissible to show defendant's state of mind in battery case); State v. Jacobs, 939 S.W.2d 7 (Mo.Ct.App.1997) (evidence of prior domestic abuse admissible to show intent and motive); People v. Hawker, 215 A.D.2d 499, 626 N.Y.S.2d 524 (1995) (allowing testimony by children in murder case who witnessed the defendants' prior assaults on their mother to show motive, intent, and that murder was continuation of pattern rather than merely product of self defense); State v. Smith, 868 S.W.2d 561 (Tenn.1993) (evidence of two pri- or unconvicted charges for assault were relevant and admissible to establish motive for murder — evidence of old threats relevant to show malice, premeditation and defendant's state of mind). These cases reveal numerous states have departed from the traditional hesitancy to admit similar fact evidence in recognition of the significant probative value such evidence has under these unique circumstances.
. We note that some states have enacted specific evidentiary rules to allow evidence of prior domestic violence acts by the accused to be admitted in domestic violence cases. See Cal. Stat. § 1109 (2000), Col. Stat. § 18-6-801.5 (1999), Alaska R. Evid. 404(b)(4), Minn. Stat. § 634.20 (1998). The significance of these statutes from an evidentiary standpoint is profound. Oftentimes the outcome of a domestic violence prosecution cannot rest upon the credibility of the victim who either recants, fails to appear, or, as in the present case, is dead. The introduction of prior domestic violence acts of the defendant thus becomes critical. Such evidence often means the difference between conviction and acquittal.
. Other state courts have recognized that evidence of prior bad acts is especially probative in overcoming a defense based upon mistake in domestic violence cases. See Smith v. State, 232 Ga.App. 290, 501 S.E.2d 523 (1998); People v. Davis, 216 A.D.2d 485, 628 N.Y.S.2d 742, 743 (1995); People v. Henson, 33 N.Y.2d 63, 349 N.Y.S.2d 657, 304 N.E.2d 358 (1973). As explained by one court:
In cases of domestic violence, prior incidents of abuse against family members or sexual partners are more generally permitted because there is a logical connection between violent acts against two different persons with whom the accused had a similar emotional or intimate attachment. A prior act can show the accused's attitude or mindset (i.e., his bent of mind) as to how children or sexual partners should be treated or "disciplined." A prior act can also show his actual course of conduct in reacting to disappointment or anger in such a relationship, evidencing a pattern.
Smith v. State, 501 S.E.2d at 527, 528 (footnotes omitted).