Court Opinion

ID: 9881002
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-29 14:04:04.217001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:16.033494
License: Public Domain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
                        SECOND DISTRICT

                         DAVID BLAKE JOHNSTON,

                                  Appellant,

                                       v.

                            STATE OF FLORIDA,

                                   Appellee.

                                 No. 2D23-13

                             September 29, 2023

Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for
Manatee County; Frederick P. Mercurio, Judge.

Brett McIntosh and Kevin M. Griffith of Brett D. McIntosh, P.A.,
Sarasota, for Appellant.

Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and David Campbell,
Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.

LABRIT, Judge.

      David Blake Johnston appeals from the order summarily denying
his motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850.
We reverse for the postconviction court to address Mr. Johnston's claim
that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion for new trial
on the ground that the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence.
The postconviction court shall either attach records that refute this claim
or hold an evidentiary hearing. We affirm in all other respects.
     Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

KHOUZAM and ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM, JJ., Concur.

Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.

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