Case Name: Jimmy Lee BROWN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1989-10-19
Citations: 550 So. 2d 527
Docket Number: No. 88-2710
Parties: Jimmy Lee BROWN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: ERVIN, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 550
Pages: 527–530

Head Matter:
Jimmy Lee BROWN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 88-2710.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Oct. 19, 1989.
Michael E. Allen, Public Defender, Carl S. McGinnes, Asst. Public Defender, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., John M. Koenig, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., for appel-lee.

Opinion:
WENTWORTH, Judge.
Appellant seeks review of a judgment of conviction and sentence for the offense of aggravated battery, arguing that the state was improperly allowed to use a knife and styrofoam head as demonstrative exhibits. We find that it was within the court's discretion to allow the use of these exhibits during the victim's testimony, and that appellant's counsel did not seek any curative instruction or clearly request a mistrial upon the further use of the exhibits during closing argument. The record fails to demonstrate such prejudice as would constitute fundamental error, and we therefore affirm the appealed orders.
Appellant was tried on a charge of attempted murder. Various witnesses testified that appellant, after an argument with the alleged victim, obtained a knife and stabbed the victim three times in the head. The knife broke, the victim became unconscious, and when she awoke appellant struck her on the head with a fan. During the course of the trial the court allowed the state to use a knife and a styrofoam head as demonstrative exhibits. It was established that the knife was similar to the one used by appellant before it broke, and that the styrofoam head was approximately the same size as the victim's head. These items were not received into evidence, but were used during the victim's testimony, over appellant's objection, for illustration and comparison. The victim was allowed to mark the styrofoam head so as to depict the three stab wounds which were inflicted by appellant.
At the commencement of the proceeding appellant's counsel asserted that while appellant may have been arguing with the victim and "cut" her, he did not intend to kill her. Appellant maintained this defense throughout the trial, asserting it again when unsuccessfully moving for a judgment of acquittal, and at closing argument.
During the state's closing argument the prosecutor directed the jury's attention to the styrofoam head where the victim's wounds were marked, and argued as to the intended effect of appellant's actions. Appellant's counsel's objection was overruled, and the prosecutor thereafter repeatedly inserted the demonstrative knife into the styrofoam while asking the jury to compare the diverse insertions when addressing appellant's intent. Appellant's counsel again objected, noting that no testimony had been presented as to .the depth of the victim's wounds or the force used by appellant, and contending that the prosecutor was inserting the knife with more force and pressure than was necessary. Appellant's counsel suggested that "it's improper argument, and it's grounds for mistrial, I do believe." The court overruled the objection and did not grant a mistrial, allowing the prosecutor to continue with the demonstration and argument. The case was eventually submitted to the jury, and appellant was convicted of the lesser charge of aggravated battery.
Demonstrative exhibits to aid the jury's understanding may be utilized when relevant to the issues in the case, but only if the exhibits constitute an accurate and reasonable reproduction of the object involved. See Wade v. State, 204 So.2d 235 (Fla. 2d DCA 1967); Alston v. Shiver, 105 So.2d 785 (Fla.1958). The determination as to whether to allow the use of a demonstrative exhibit is a matter within the trial court's discretion. See generally, First Federal Savings & Loan v. Wylie, 46 So.2d 396 (Fla.1950). The demonstrative exhibits which the state used during the victim's testimony in the present case, in order to depict the knife before it was broken and the extent of the victim's stab wounds, were sufficiently accurate replicas to be allowable within the court's discretion.
As to the state's use of the demonstrative exhibits during closing argument, when the prosecutor inserted the knife into the styrofoam head, the record does not establish any alleged inaccuracy of this replication sufficient to demonstrate error. While appellant's counsel objected, and expressed a belief that the argument was grounds for a mistrial, counsel did not seek any curative instruction or state either in form or substance a motion for mistrial. Without such a request, and absent any fundamental error, the challenged argument will not serve as a basis for reversal on appeal. See Clarke v. State, 363 So.2d 331 (Fla.1978); Lynn v. State, 395 So.2d 621 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981).
Although appellant's counsel described the prosecutor as "inserting the knife . with some force and with some pressure, I think more than is required," the record does not otherwise delineate the severity or intensity of this demonstration. The case is thus unlike Spriggs v. State, 392 So.2d 9 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981), where the force required to stab a knife into the rail of the jury box was readily apparent. The record in the present case does not show an action of similar intensity, nor does it show the depth to which the prosecutor inserted the knife into the styrofoam head. The record is likewise inconclusive as to whether the victim's wounds were limited to lacerations and tissue damage, or also included damage to the skull. However, it was established that appellant inflicted multiple stab wounds requiring sutures in the victim's face and head, and that appellant used such force that the knife broke during the attack. The record does not indicate that during closing argument the prosecutor used excessive force or any other action beyond that consistent with the evidence as to the multiple stab wounds inflicted by appellant.
At the commencement of closing argument the court cautioned the jury that "what the attorneys say is not evidence," and that their "arguments are persuasive only, . for the purpose of helping you evaluate the evidence." The jury rejected the state's argument regarding appellant's intent, acquitting him of the attempted murder charge and convicting only of the lesser aggravated battery offense. The record contains overwhelming evidence as to appellant's commission of this lesser offense, and.negates any reasonable possibility that appellant's conviction resulted from the challenged demonstration. No fundamental error or undue prejudice has been shown with regard to the prosecutor's use of the demonstrative exhibits during closing argument, and the decision to allow their use was otherwise within the trial court's discretion.
The judgment of conviction and sentence appealed are affirmed.
ERVIN, J., concurs.
ZEHMER, J., concurs and dissents with written opinion.