Case Name: Eric MILLER, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2005-08-24
Citations: 908 So. 2d 1168
Docket Number: No. 3D03-3316
Parties: Eric MILLER, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: Before GERSTEN, FLETCHER and WELLS, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 908
Pages: 1168–1169

Head Matter:
Eric MILLER, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 3D03-3316.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Aug. 24, 2005.
Bennett H. Brummer, Public Defender, and Robert Godfrey, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, and Linda S. Katz, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Before GERSTEN, FLETCHER and WELLS, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Eric Miller ("the Defendant") appeals from the trial court's denial of his motion for post conviction relief. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
A jury convicted the Defendant of strong-arm robbery for snatching a bag and purse from two tourists inside a car. He was caught hiding within the police perimeter area shortly after the robbery, and the purse was located near his hiding place. Both tourists identified the Defendant at a show-up and at trial.
The Defendant filed a motion pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 claiming that he should receive a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. Specifically, he alleges that he encountered a witness in prison who claimed to have seen a different person commit the robbery ten years earlier. The State conceded that this information could not have been discovered earlier through the use of due diligence, so the trial court held an evidentiary hearing. The trial court denied the motion following the evidentiary hearing without making any factual findings or legal conclusions.
The rule governing motions for post conviction relief provides that, "[i]f an eviden-tiary hearing is required, the court shall grant a prompt hearing thereon and shall cause notice thereof to be served on the state attorney, determine the issues, and make findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect thereto." Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.850(d) (emphasis added).
It is impossible for this Court to determine on appeal whether the trial court's ruling is based on competent substantial evidence without the benefit of the trial court's findings. We remand this cause to the trial court for its entry of an order containing factual findings and legal conclusions as required by rule 3.850(d). Dillbeck v. State, 882 So.2d 969 (Fla.2004).
Reversed and remanded with instructions.