State v. Andreu

Florida District Courts of Appeal
State v. Andreu, 222 So. 2d 449 (1969)
1969 Fla. App. LEXIS 5827
Johnson, Rawls, Spector

State v. Andreu

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Appellant seeks review of an order entered by the trial court dismissing an indictment for murder in the first degree. The indictment is predicated upon the operation of the felony-murder rule as it involves the homicide of a police officer by the act of another officer occurring during the course of said officer’s efforts to apprehend appellee while the latter and his companion attempted to burglarize a residence that had been “staked out” by the former.

The facts agreed to indicate that neither the appellee nor his accomplice were known to be armed nor did they know of the presence of the officers within the residence. The record facts show that the homicide resulted from the deceased officer’s failure to adhere to the prearranged plan when he moved in the darkness in a forbidden direction intended to be “covered” by another officer. The latter, mistakenly believing the deceased to be one of the burglars, fired and mortally wounded his companion.

The trial court held in a well reasoned opinion that under the facts peculiar to the case at bar, the felony-murder rule was inapplicable.

Our consideration of the record, briefs, and oral arguments of the parties has failed to demonstrate that the order now under review is erroneous, and it is therefore

Affirmed.

RAWLS, Acting C. J., and JOHNSON and SPECTOR, JJ., concur.

Reference

Full Case Name
The STATE of Florida v. Julian C. ANDREU, Edward R. LeCompte, and Letona LeCompte, also known as Toni LeCompte
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published