Opinion ID: 1702128
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Hutchinson's Right to Remain Silent

Text: Hutchinson next argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for mistrial when the State's witness, Officer Ashley, told the jury that he spoke with Hutchinson for several hours on the night of the murders. Hutchinson acknowledges that this information was offered as foundation for Ashley's identification of Hutchinson's voice on the 911 tape. However, Hutchinson claims that the effect was a clear comment on Hutchinson's decision not to take the stand in his own defense. He argues that telling the jury that Ashley spoke with him over a six- or seven-hour period on the night of the murder amounts to a comment on his silence at trial since the jury would expect him to testify. This Court has said that [c]ommenting on the defendant's exercise of his right to remain silent is serious error. Rimmer v. State, 825 So.2d 304, 322 (Fla.2002). The test to be applied in such instances is whether the statement is fairly susceptible of being interpreted by the jury as a comment on the defendant's failure to testify. Id. The comment made by the officer in this case does not rise to the level of a comment on the defendant's failure to testify. Hutchinson talked with the officer and did not invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination until several hours into the interrogation. The prohibition against commenting on a defendant's silence does not apply when the defendant does not invoke his Fifth Amendment right. See Valle v. State, 474 So.2d 796, 801 (Fla.1985). Ashley's testimony only told the jury that Hutchinson was interviewed by the police. There was no comment about the content of Hutchinson's statement or his refusal or failure to answer any question. A comment by the police on the mere fact of the interview is not a comment on Hutchinson's silence, and is not fairly susceptible to interpretation by the jury as a comment on Hutchinson's silence at trial. Relief on this issue is not warranted.