Pablo Jermaris Johnson v. State of Florida
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledMarch 12, 2020
Docket1D18-4509
StatusPublished
📰 News Coverage: Read the LAWS.com news report on this case
Full Opinion
FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF FLORIDA
_____________________________
No. 1D18-4509
_____________________________
PABLO JERMARIS JOHNSON,
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
_____________________________
On appeal from the Circuit Court for Alachua County.
James M. Colaw, Judge.
March 12, 2020
B.L. THOMAS, J.
Appellant challenges the trial court’s rulings on his motion in
limine, motion for judgment of acquittal, jury instructions, and the
State’s remarks during closing arguments. We affirm.
Facts
Appellant was charged with one count of first-degree murder
and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. In a pretrial
hearing, the defense objected to several of the State’s exhibits.
Defense counsel argued that the exhibits showing the path of the
bullets through a neighboring apartment were irrelevant and
prejudicial. The judge overruled the objections.
At trial the medical examiner testified that although she was
unable to say exactly how long the victim was deceased, 5:30 a.m.
was consistent with the possible time of death. The examiner
described several bullet wounds to the victim’s body, including the
jugular, left bicep, right hand and right forearm, as well as
lacerations and abrasions to the victim’s legs. The victim also
suffered fractured ribs as well as lacerations of the jugular vein
and the upper and lower lobes of the left lung.
The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and
excessive blood loss. The examiner was unable to testify as to the
specific position the victim was in when she was shot. She testified
that the gun was not pressed up to the victim and that it was
probably a “distant wound.” She further testified that there were
wounds with a “downward” pathway. She was unable to determine
whether the victim was shot while in a defensive position.
Two of Appellant’s neighbors testified they heard noises
between 5-5:30 a.m., which sounded like gunshots. The first
witness testified that she heard what sounded like two taps on her
window. After investigating the sound, she heard three gunshots.
The second witness thought she heard a knock at her door, but
when she went to check no one was there. After she returned to
bed, she heard what she thought were three gunshots.
A clinical social worker testified that Appellant called her and
said, “I really messed up and I think I am going to prison.” He said
he and his girlfriend had a big fight and she was not moving.
Appellant said he wanted to turn himself in. The social worker
called law enforcement.
Appellant’s friend testified Appellant called him and sounded
“like upset, you know what I’m saying? But he also sound like, you
know, he’s called me before when they had arguments, you know
what I’m saying? It wasn’t nothing special, nothing different.”
The primary crime-scene investigator conducted a thorough
analysis of Appellant’s apartment. She collected fired cartridge
casings, projectiles, fragments, and a nine-millimeter gun. She
collected an aluminum can next to the bed. She also photographed
blood stains in the bedroom, including a blood swipe on a pillow.
2
She conducted a trajectory analysis and made a flight-path
diagram showing that some of the bullets landed in a neighboring
apartment. The defense renewed its motion in limine regarding
the diagram, which was denied.
An officer performed an extraction on both the victim’s and
Appellant’s cell phones. The officer retrieved outgoing text
messages from the victim’s phone after her estimated time of
death. The text messages appeared to be from the victim to her
mother about the victim going out of town for a couple days. The
extraction from Appellant’s phone showed numerous calls made on
the day of the victim’s death beginning at 5:28 a.m. None of the
calls were to 911 or any law-enforcement agency.
The lead detective conducted a formal interview with
Appellant which was played for the jury. Appellant stated that the
victim came to his apartment because she was stressed and
fighting with her family. She “flipped” and started taking it out on
Appellant. Appellant asked her to leave when she started touching
him. She hit him with something while he was in bed. Appellant
told her to leave, again, and she grabbed the bag in which he kept
his gun. He said, “It happened so fast. That’s all I’ve got to say. It
happened so fast.”
The State rested its case. The defense moved for a judgment
of acquittal as to the first-degree murder charge and the lesser
included charge of second-degree murder. The motion was denied.
Appellant testified at trial that he and the victim were
discussing taking a trip when he said something that upset the
victim. She started “picking” at Appellant, so he told her to leave
to avoid a fight. Contrary to the formal interview, Appellant
testified that the victim left, he locked the door, and went to bed.
Appellant testified that he was awakened by something
hitting him in the head. The room was dark so Appellant could not
see very well, but he saw someone standing at the end of his bed.
He said it all happened so fast, so he did not consider who the
attacker was. The person had the bag containing his gun, so
Appellant rushed to grab the gun and broke his finger when he hit
it. Appellant and the person were fighting over the gun when it
3
went off. At that moment, Appellant thought he was fighting for
his life. Eventually Appellant got the gun and he let off shots. He
did not know how many shots he let off or who he was shooting. He
realized it was the victim when she came to him and said, “Pablo,
I love you, Pablo Johnson, I love you.” Appellant then dropped the
gun, fell to the ground, and held the victim.
Appellant testified that he did not call 911 because he knew
the victim was already dead, and he was scared. After sitting in
his apartment for a long time, Appellant called his counselor.
Appellant testified that he texted the victim’s mother because he
did not want her to show up at the scene and see her daughter.
The defense rested and renewed the motion for judgment of
acquittal due to a lack of evidence of premeditation and a depraved
mind. The trial court again denied the motion.
During the charge conference, defense counsel objected to the
reading of the initial-aggressor jury instruction. The trial court
overruled the objection. Defense counsel also sought a special jury
instruction on the justifiable use of deadly force in second-degree
murder and manslaughter. The trial court denied defense
counsel’s request, finding that the special instruction would be
confusing to the jury.
During the State’s closing arguments defense counsel made
numerous objections including improper argument, facts not in
evidence, incorrect statement of law, improper denigration of the
defense, and appeal to sympathy. The trial court overruled most of
the objections.
The jury found Appellant guilty of the lesser-included offense
of second-degree murder. Appellant entered a plea to possession of
a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to life in prison for second-
degree murder with a concurrent sentence of fifteen years for
felony possession of a firearm.
Analysis
Appellant first argues that the trial court erred in denying his
motion in limine to exclude photographs and diagrams of the bullet
4
flight path into a neighboring apartment. The trial court’s ruling
on the admissibility of evidence will not be reversed absent an
abuse of discretion, but that discretion is limited by statute and
case law. McCray v. State, 919 So. 2d 647, 649 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006).
“Relevant evidence is inadmissible if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
confusion of issues, misleading the jury, or needless presentation
of cumulative evidence.” § 90.403, Fla. Stat. (2018). Photographic
evidence is admissible if it is relevant to any issue required to be
proven in a case. Bauldree v. State, 284 So. 2d 196, 197 (Fla. 1973).
Pictures must not be “so inflammatory as to create an undue
prejudice in the minds of the jury and detract them from a fair and
unimpassioned consideration of the evidence.” Leach v. State, 132
So. 2d 329, 332 (Fla. 1961).
The State used the photographs and diagrams to show the
trajectory of the bullets and support its argument that Appellant’s
actions were premeditated, and he was not acting in self-defense.
The photographs and diagrams were not inflammatory and did not
contain anything that would detract the jury from a fair
consideration of the evidence. See Leach, 132 So. 2d at 332. Thus,
the photographs and diagrams of the bullet trajectories were
relevant.
Appellant next argues that the trial court erred in denying his
motion for judgment of acquittal of second-degree murder because
there was no evidence Appellant exhibited ill will, spite, hatred, or
evil intent. A ruling on a motion for judgment of acquittal is
reviewed de novo. Dunn v. State, 206 So. 3d 802, 804 (Fla. 1st DCA
2016). “There is sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction if, after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a
rational trier of fact could find the existence of the elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Johnston v. State, 863 So. 2d
271, 283 (Fla. 2003).
Pursuant to section 782.04(2), Florida Statutes, second-degree
murder is the “unlawful killing of a human being, when
perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and
evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although
without any premediated design to effect the death of any
5
particular individual.” Although not required by statute, case law
and the relevant jury instruction have defined an act as
“imminently dangerous” and evincing a “depraved mind,” if it is an
act that: “(1) a person of ordinary judgment would know is
reasonably certain to kill or do serious bodily injury to another;
and (2) is done from ill will, hatred, spite or evil intent; and (3) is
of such a nature that the act itself indicates an indifference to
human life.” Thompson v. State, 257 So. 3d 573, 579 (Fla. 1st DCA
2018) (quoting Wiley v. State, 60 So. 3d 588, 591 (Fla. 4th DCA
2011)). An impulsive overreaction to an attack is insufficient to
support a second-degree murder conviction. Thompson, 257 So. 3d
at 579.
Based on the evidence, a rational trier of fact could determine
that Appellant did far more than impulsively overreact to an
attack and his action evinced a “depraved mind regardless of
human life.” The medical examiner determined that the victim’s
wounds were “distant” and some of them created a “downward”
pathway. Additionally, there were numerous serious wounds on
the victim inflicted by a firearm and physical force. On the day of
the incident, Appellant told multiple people that he had “messed
up” and that he believed he had “hurt someone.” Appellant also
made multiple phone calls but never attempted to call for help,
during which time the victim’s loss of blood resulted in her death.
When the evidence is considered in the light most favorable to
the State and all reasonable inferences drawn in favor of the
verdict, a rational trier of fact could find the existence of the
elements of second-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. See
Johnston, 863 So. 2d at 283. Thus, there was sufficient evidence
for the trial court to deny Appellant’s motion for judgment of
acquittal. Tibbs v. State, 397 So. 2d 1120. 1123 (Fla. 1981) (“legal
sufficiency alone, as opposed to evidentiary weight, is the
appropriate concern of an appellate tribunal.”).
Appellant’s third and fourth arguments involve the jury
instructions given at trial. Appellant argues the trial court erred
by failing to give his requested instruction for second-degree
murder and manslaughter while giving the initial-aggressor jury
instruction. The giving or withholding of a proposed jury
6
instruction is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Carle v. State, 983
So. 2d 693, 695 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008).
“While a defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed on
his theory of defense, the failure to give special jury instructions
does not constitute error where the instructions given adequately
address the applicable legal standards.” Stephens v. State, 787 So.
2d 747, 755 (Fla. 2001). To be entitled to a special jury instruction,
a defendant must prove: “(1) the special instruction was supported
by the evidence; (2) the standard instruction did not adequately
cover the theory of defense; and (3) the special instruction was a
correct statement of the law and not misleading or confusing.” Id.
at 756.
The standard jury instruction for second-degree murder
discusses heat of passion based on adequate provocation:
An issue in this case is whether (defendant) did not have
a depraved mind without regard for human life because
[he] acted in the heat of passion based on adequate
provocation. In order to find that the defendant did not
have a depraved mind without regard for human life
because [he] acted in the heat of passion based on
adequate provocation:
a. there must have been a sudden event that would have
suspended the exercise of judgment in an ordinary
reasonable person; and
b. a reasonable person would have lost normal self-
control and would have been driven by a blind and
unreasoning fury; and
c. there was not a reasonable amount of time for a
reasonable person to cool off; and
d. a reasonable person would not have cooled off before
committing the act that caused death; and
7
e. (defendant) was, in fact, so provoked and did not cool
off before [he] committed the act that caused the death of
(victim).
If you have a reasonable doubt about whether the
defendant had a depraved mind without regard for
human life because [he] acted in the heat of passion based
on adequate provocation, you should not find [him] guilty
of Second Degree Murder.
Fla. Std. Jury Inst. (Crim.) 7.4.
Although the heat-of-passion instruction does not precisely
track the wording requested by Appellant, it adequately supports
the defense’s theory that Appellant impulsively overreacted to an
attack, causing the victim’s death. See Stephens, 787 So. 2d at 755.
Furthermore, Appellant’s requested instruction would be
confusing to the jury, especially in relation to the manslaughter
instruction. See id. Unlike the second-degree murder instruction,
the manslaughter instruction does not use the phrase “ill will,
hatred, spite, or evil intent:”
To prove the crime of Manslaughter, the State must prove
the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. (Victim) is dead.
2. (Defendant) intentionally committed an act or acts that
caused the death of (victim).
Every person has a duty to act reasonably toward others.
If there is a violation of that duty, without any conscious
intention to harm, that violation is negligence. The
defendant cannot be guilty of Manslaughter by
committing a merely negligent act or if the killing was
either justifiable or excusable homicide, as I have
previously instructed you.
In order to convict of Manslaughter by act, it is not
necessary for the State to prove that the defendant had
8
an intent to cause death, only an intent to commit an act
that was not merely negligent, justified, or excusable and
which caused death.
Fla. Std. Jury Inst. (Crim.) 7.7.
Adding Appellant’s requested instruction would be misleading
and confusing to the jury, because an “impulsive overreaction” is
not a defense to manslaughter. Perez v. State, 187 So. 3d 1279,
1280 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016) (defendant argued on appeal that
shooting victim was “only an impulsive reaction... making
manslaughter the highest suitable conviction” not second-degree
murder); Sandhaus v. State, 200 So. 3d 112, 115 (Fla. 5th DCA
2016) (act of impulsively reacting to assault of Appellant’s brother
could not support second-degree murder verdict but did support
manslaughter conviction). The trial court did not abuse its
discretion in failing to give Appellant’s requested jury instruction.
The trial court also did not abuse its discretion in giving the
initial-aggressor instruction. “An initial aggressor instruction is
proper when there is evidence in the record that the defendant may
have initially provoked the use of force against himself.” Thompson
v. State, 257 So. 3d 573, 581 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018) (holding initial-
aggressor instruction was proper where there were two
altercations and the victim started the first one, but the defendant
started the second one which led to the victim’s death).
Appellant consistently admitted that he and the victim had an
argument prior to the incident. Appellant told the detective that
the argument occurred because the victim was upset about her
family. Appellant also told both his social worker and his friend
that he and the victim had gotten into a fight. During his
testimony, Appellant stated that he said something that “struck a
nerve” with the victim and made her upset. Based on this
evidence, the jury could determine that Appellant’s actions led to
the altercation that caused the victim’s death.
Additionally, a rational jury could also find Appellant became
the initial aggressor during the altercation. See Thompson, 257 So.
3d at 581. Both of Appellant’s neighbors heard loud noises, a short
delay, and then what they thought were gunshots. Appellant could
9
have become the initial aggressor during that delay. Furthermore,
the gun shot trajectory and the victim’s injuries support the theory
that Appellant was the initial aggressor. Whether Appellant was
the initial aggressor was a determination properly left to the jury.
Finally, Appellant argues that the State’s remarks during its
closing argument deprived Appellant of due process and a fair
trial. A trial court’s ruling on comments made within closing
arguments will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion.
Hooper v. State, 476 So. 2d 1253, 1257 (Fla. 1985). To preserve an
improper comment claim for appellate review, counsel must
contemporaneously object to the improper comment. Merck v.
State, 975 So. 2d 1054, 1061 (Fla. 2007). Unobjected-to comments
are only grounds for reversal when they rise to the level of
fundamental error. Id. Appellate courts consider “the cumulative
effect of objected-to and unobjected-to comments when reviewing
whether a defendant received a fair trial” Id.; Johnson v. State, 177
So. 3d 1005, 1008 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015). Appellant argues the State
committed a variety of errors during its closing argument.
Misstatements or Confusing Statements of Law
First, Appellant contends that the State misstated or made
confusing statements of the law. See Evans v. State, 177 So. 3d
1219, 1235 (Fla. 2015) (“It is error for a prosecutor to misstate the
law during closing arguments.”) (receded from on other grounds).
Appellant argues the State erred in its statement of the law
regarding excusable homicide, reasonable inferences, the burden
of proof for self-defense, and the reasonable-person standard.
When talking about heat of passion, the State said, “if you
think there is a heat of passion, you can find it’s not first-degree
murder, but you can then get to second-degree murder and find it’s
a second-degree murder but the heat of passion in that instance
didn’t forgive it.” The State did not instruct the jury that the heat-
of-passion aspect of excusable homicide does not apply to second-
degree murder, but only that the jury could so find. Additionally,
the trial court instructed the jury on the heat-of-passion defense
when it went over the second-degree murder instruction,
supporting the conclusion that the State’s statement was harmless
10
even if it was in error. See Almeida v. State, 748 So. 2d 922, 927
(Fla. 1999).
Appellant also argues that the State incorrectly informed the
jury that it had to accept the State’s reasonable inferences. The
State informed the jury that it had to “draw reasonable inferences
from the evidence to get a common sense, logical conclusion about
what happened.” The State made it clear that the jury had to draw
reasonable inferences from the evidence, so the State did not
misstate the law. Lewis v. State, 754 So. 2d 897, 902 (Fla. 1st DCA
2000) (holding it is the jury’s prerogative to decide between
conflicting facts, to draw inferences from the facts, and to reach
factual conclusions).
The State also did not misstate the law relating to the State’s
burden of proof as to self-defense. “If a defendant establishes a
prima facie case of self-defense, the State must overcome the
defense by rebuttal, or by inference in its case-in-chief.” Andrews
v. State, 577 So. 2d 650, 652 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991). When explaining
the burden of proof for self-defense, the State told the jury, “We do
not have to prove our case and in independently proving our case
also prove that [Appellant] wasn’t acting in self-defense.” The
State did not misstate the law because the State can overcome the
burden of self-defense by inference in its case-in-chief. Id.
Additionally, in a prior statement, the State informed the jury that
it had the burden to prove Appellant wasn’t acting in self-defense,
rendering any error that may have occurred harmless. See
Almeida, 748 So. 2d at 927.
Finally, Appellant argues the State committed fundamental
error by improperly referencing the reasonable-person standard
when discussing excusable homicide. 1 The excusable-homicide
instruction contains a section about heat of passion and makes
numerous references to the “reasonable person.” Fla. Std. Jury
Inst. (Crim.) 7.2; see also Paz v. State, 777 So. 2d 983, 984 (Fla. 3d
DCA 2000). In the challenged portion of the State’s closing
1 Because defense counsel failed to contemporaneously object
at the time the State made the comment, this argument is
reviewed for fundamental error. Merck, 975 So. 2d at 1061.
11
argument, the State referenced the “reasonable person” as it
relates to heat of passion, which is part of the excusable-homicide
instruction. Therefore, the State did not misstate the law and no
error occurred.
Denigration of Defense
Appellant asserts that the State improperly made comments
that denigrated defense counsel or Appellant. See Cardona v.
State, 185 So. 3d 514, 523-25 (Fla. 2016). “While a prosecutor may
‘not ridicule or otherwise improperly attack the defense’s theory of
the case,’ a prosecutor is permitted to suggest to the jury that
‘based on the evidence of the case, they should question the
plausibility of the defense’s theory.”’ Davis v. State, 136 So. 3d
1169, 1203 (Fla. 2014) (quoting Valentine v. State, 98 So. 3d 44, 55-
56 (Fla. 2012)). Such argument is entirely proper in an adversarial
proceeding.
Appellant argues the State’s remark that one of Appellant’s
statements was “tone deaf” when there was a dead woman lying
on his floor was improper. The State’s comment, however, was a
permissible expression of the inference that Appellant’s
statements were inconsistent with the other evidence and was not
a derisive comment made merely to offend. See Davis, 136 So. 3d
at 1204. Thus, the State did not commit error.
As part of his defense, Appellant argued he had to use self-
defense because he believed someone had broken into his home,
obtained the bag containing his gun, and intended to harm him. In
its closing argument the State commented that in relation to
Appellant’s use of self-defense, the kind of burglary the victim
would have committed was lesser than “the kind of burglary that
is the law.” Defense counsel objected and the trial court sustained
the objection, stating that the law of self-defense does not make a
distinction between the type or level of burglary. No curative
instruction was given, which Appellant now claims was error.
When a trial court sustains an objection, the defendant must
request a curative instruction or a mistrial to preserve the issue
for appeal. Wilson v. State, 436 So. 2d 908, 910 (Fla. 1983); Thomas
v. State, 701 So. 2d 891, 892 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997). Here, Appellant
failed to request a curative instruction or a mistrial, so this issue
12
is reviewed for fundamental error. See Wilson v. State, 549 So. 2d
702, 703 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).
The record does not indicate that the trial court’s failure to
give a curative instruction was fundamental error. The topic of
burglary was discussed in relation to Appellant’s use of self-
defense. There was enough additional evidence presented that the
jury could find Appellant did not act in self-defense without a
curative instruction on burglary. Thus, the trial court’s failure to
give a curative instruction was not fundamental error.
Finally, Appellant claims the State denigrated his claim that
he was wary of talking to the police because of an incident that
occurred when his brother was shot and killed years earlier. 2 When
referring to the incident concerning Appellant’s brother, the State
was referencing Appellant’s credibility. See Davis, 136 So. 3d at
1204. Thus, no error occurred.
Appeals to Sympathy and Justice for the Victim
Appellant argues that the State erred in appealing to the
jury’s sympathy and requesting justice for the victim. Watts v.
State, 593 So. 2d 198, 203 (Fla. 1992).
The State argued on multiple occasions that the victim “was
not here to tell us what happened.” Defense counsel objected to the
argument as an improper appeal to sympathy, but the State’s
comments were permissible because they were not used to inflame
the minds and passions of the jurors. See Cardona, 185 So. 3d at
521-22. The jury was fully aware that the victim was dead and
unable to speak at trial. Additionally, when read in context, the
State reminded the jury to rely on the evidence presented during
the State’s case. Because the State was not attempting to inflame
the minds and passions of the jurors, its statements were not an
improper appeal to the jury’s sympathy. See id.
Improper Burden Shifting
2 Defense counsel did not object to this statement, so this
argument is reviewed for fundamental error. Merck, 975 So. 2d at
1061.
13
Appellant argues that the State improperly shifted the burden
of proof to Appellant. 3 A prosecutor may comment on the
defendant’s failure to produce evidence when the defendant
assumes some of the burden of proof by asserting a defense such
as self-defense. Jackson v. State, 575 So. 2d 181, 188 (Fla. 1991).
The State said that “you haven’t heard any evidence that [the
victim] is somehow an angry drunk.” Appellant argues this was
improper burden shifting, but the State made this argument in
reference to Appellant’s claim of self-defense. Additionally,
throughout the State’s closing argument the State made it clear to
the jury that it had to prove Appellant was guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. When the cumulative effect is considered, the
State did not improperly shift the burden onto Appellant. Merck,
975 So. 2d at 1061.
Facts Not in Evidence
Appellant’s fifth argument is that the State argued facts not
in evidence. It is improper for the State to comment on matters
unsupported by the evidence produced at trial. Huff v. State, 437
So. 2d 1087, 1090 (Fla. 1983).
Defense counsel objected on numerous occasions that the
State argued inferences and conclusions not in evidence. The trial
court correctly overruled the objections. The State merely
interpreted the evidence and drew conclusions from those
interpretations. See McKenzie v. State, 830 So. 2d 234, 238 (Fla.
4th DCA 2002). These interpretations included the order in which
the shots occurred, the victim moving away as she was shot,
Appellant “terrorizing” the victim, and the victim’s phone
remaining at Appellant’s house all night. The arguments made by
the State were based on facts in evidence or fair inferences that
could be made from those facts. As a result, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in overruling defense counsel’s objections.
3 Defense counsel did not object to the comment during trial,
so this argument is reviewed for fundamental error. Merck, 975 So.
2d at 1061.
14
Appellant argues that the trial court erred when it failed to
give a curative instruction to the State’s comment, “I don’t
prosecute nor does my office prosecute with sexism.” Appellant’s
objection was sustained, and he requested a curative instruction,
so the issue was properly preserved for appeal. See Santos v. State,
254 So. 3d 437, 439 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018); Wilson v. State, 549 So.
2d 702, 703 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).
The trial court has discretion in determining whether to give
a curative instruction. See Salazar v. State, 991 So. 2d 364, 372
(Fla. 2008) (“[t]he trial court had the discretion not to give a
curative instruction if it believed that doing so would draw further
attention to the improper comment.”). A curative instruction is
used when it can cure potential prejudice. See Turner v. State, 51
So. 3d 542, 543 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010); Gonzalez v. State, 450 So. 2d
585, 586 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984). The State’s comment had little
relation to the jury’s verdict and Appellant’s case and did not
prejudice Appellant. Because the State’s comment did not
prejudice Appellant, the trial court did not err in declining to give
the curative instruction.
Cumulative Error
Finally, Appellant argues that if none of the State’s comments
were improper standing alone, their cumulative effect deprived
Appellant of a fair trial. “[T]he reviewing court may find the
cumulative effect of improper comments to be so prejudicial as to
deprive the defendant of a fair trial, requiring reversal.” Simmons
v. State, 257 So. 3d 1121, 1129 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018). However,
where all individual claims of prosecutorial misconduct are
meritless, a cumulative error claim also fails. Id.
The cumulative effect of any errors in the State’s closing
argument did not compromise the integrity of Appellant’s trial.
The State’s comments did not go to the heart of the case and did
not unduly pressure the jury. See Braddy v. State, 111 So. 3d 810,
843-44 (Fla. 2012) (holding that prosecutor’s improper comments
did not compromise the integrity of Braddy’s trial because the
comments did not go to the heart of the case). Thus, the State’s
comments did not deprive Appellant of a fair trial.
15
AFFIRMED.
BILBREY and M.K. THOMAS, JJ., concur.
_____________________________
Not final until disposition of any timely and
authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
9.331.
_____________________________
Andy Thomas, Public Defender, and M.J. Lord, Assistant Public
Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
Ashley Moody, Attorney General, and Amanda D. Stokes,
Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.
16