Opinion ID: 1668296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Application of Brady

Text: This Court has stated that the determination of whether a Brady violation has occurred is subject to independent appellate review. See Cardona v. State, 826 So.2d 968, 973 (Fla.2002); Way v. State, 760 So.2d 903, 913 (Fla.2000) (Although reviewing courts must give deference to the trial court's findings of historical fact, the ultimate question of whether evidence was material resulting in a due process violation is a mixed question of law and fact subject to independent appellate review.). In order to establish a Brady violation, a defendant must prove: [1] The evidence at issue must be favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory, or because it is impeaching; [2] that evidence must have been suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently; and [3] prejudice must have ensued. Carroll v. State, 815 So.2d 601, 619 (Fla. 2002) (quoting Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82, 119 S.Ct. 1936, 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999)). In applying these three elements, the evidence must be considered in the context of the entire record. Carroll, 815 So.2d at 619 (citing State v. Riechmann, 777 So.2d 342, 362 (Fla.2000); Sireci v. State, 773 So.2d 34 (Fla.2000); Haliburton v. Singletary, 691 So.2d 466, 470 (Fla.1997)). Here, the trial court found that Floyd failed to meet his burden under two of the Brady prongs: he failed to establish that the State withheld exculpatory or impeachment evidence from the defense, and he failed to establish materiality under Brady. The trial court's error with respect to each of these issues will be discussed in turn.