Malik Jimer Williams v. State of Florida

• Court: Supreme Court of Florida
• Decided: April 19, 2018
• Docket: SC16-2170
• Status: Published

Opinion

Supreme Court of Florida ____________

No. SC16-2170 ____________

MALIK JIMER WILLIAMS, Petitioner,

vs.

STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent.

[April 19, 2018]

QUINCE, J.

Malik Jimer Williams seeks review of the decision of the Second District

Court of Appeal in Williams v. State, 203 So. 3d 1020 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016), on the

ground that it expressly and directly conflicts with decisions of this Court on

questions of law. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const. For the

following reasons, we affirm in part and quash in part the decision of the Second

District and remand with instructions to remand to the trial court for proceedings

consistent with this opinion. FACTS

On the night of February 15, 2013, Williams and his cousin, Kito Felton,

were riding Williams’ bicycle home from a friend’s house on 23rd Avenue in

Tampa, Florida. Williams pedaled and Felton rode on the handlebars. Williams

and Felton rode down 23rd Avenue, made a right on 34th Street, made a left on

22nd Avenue, made a right onto 37th Street and then made a left onto 21st Avenue

heading towards 40th Street near where Williams resided with his brother at 46th

and Sand Dune.

Also in the vicinity were Reginald Johnson and John Edward Brown, III.

Johnson and Brown were leaving the residence of Rosa Santos on their “Big

Ripper” bicycles to go to Johnson’s residence on 35th Street to prepare for a

birthday party. Johnson stated that he would typically take 26th Avenue to cross

50th Street to get to 49th Avenue and 26th Street, where he would turn until he got

to 21st Avenue and continue on 21st until he got to 35th Street. Johnson and

Brown were heading west on 21st and stopped on Arrow, which was before 40th,

still heading towards Johnson’s mother’s house. After stopping at Arrow to speak

to Venda Hayward, Johnson and Brown went back the way they came. Johnson

testified that he and Brown were “thinking about going to Shells” and that they

wanted to go to that particular store rather than one closer to his mother’s house

“[b]ecause Shell is like a neighborhood store.”

-2- Williams testified that he saw Johnson and Brown at the intersection of 21st

and 40th heading the opposite direction. He did not previously know Brown, but

did know Johnson from middle school. Williams testified that Johnson asked them

if they were straight and that he replied he did not want any problems. Williams

testified that he knew they were from Grant Park and that Grant Park and his own

neighborhood, Jackson Heights, do not get along. Williams told Felton to prepare

to fight and “we fitting to get our ass whooped.” Williams then testified that he

saw Johnson and Brown turn their bikes around and that, eventually, Johnson

maneuvered to cut Williams off and that Brown was behind him with a gun in his

right hand in his lap.

Williams testified that, at this point, he slammed his brakes and jumped off

his bike in an attempt to either run away or fight and that his maneuver caused

Brown to fall off of his bike. Johnson testified that, after turning and returning

eastbound and passing Williams and Felton, all the boys except Johnson fell off

their bikes. Williams testified that Brown flipped over his handle bars and dropped

the gun in front of the bicycle, that both he and Brown reached for the gun, that he

was able to pick it up before Brown, and then they fought over it. All the

testimony agrees, and video evidence corroborates, that however three of the boys

ended up off their bikes, Johnson dismounted, ran back, and joined the altercation.

-3- Both Williams and Johnson testified that Johnson took Felton near the Hartline

gate while Williams and Brown stayed in a relatively static location.

During the course of the altercation, Williams shot Brown twice—once in

the head and once in the chest. Williams then turned and shot Johnson, who

received one gun shot in his hand. Williams and Felton then fled, Felton taking

Brown’s bicycle and Williams on his own bicycle.

Williams testified that when he arrived at his brother’s, his brother took him

to their mother’s house who then encouraged Williams to talk to the police.

The jury found Williams guilty of first-degree premeditated murder for the

death of Brown. The jury did not convict Williams of robbery but did find that he

was guilty of the lesser included offense of theft.

On direct appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal, the district court

first issued a per curiam affirmance (PCA). Then, after the court denied Williams’

motion to stay mandate and motion for reconsideration, on its own motion the

court withdrew the PCA and substituted a written opinion. The court dispensed

with Williams’ claims on appeal in one sentence: “[Williams] raises two issues in

this appeal, neither of which require reversal.” Williams, 203 So. 3d at 1021. The

district court then explained that Williams’ sentence for first-degree murder did not

violate Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012), and that his sentence for the

-4- attempted first-degree murder did not violate Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48

(2010). The district court therefore affirmed Williams’ convictions and sentences.

DISCUSSION

In his first issue on appeal, Williams argues that the trial court erred in

denying his motion for judgment of acquittal. The Second District did not discuss

the merits of this issue but we nevertheless address it here.

We review the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo;

however, all evidence and inferences therefrom are viewed in a light most

favorable to the State. McDuffie v. State, 970 So. 2d 312, 332 (Fla. 2007); Pagan

v. State, 830 So. 2d 792, 803 (Fla. 2002). A defendant who moves for a judgment

of acquittal admits the facts in evidence and every conclusion favorable to the State

that may be reasonably inferred from said evidence. “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, sufficient

evidence exists to sustain a conviction.” Pagan, 830 So. 2d at 803.

In a case where a defendant alleges self-defense, the State must prove that

the defendant did not act in self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Cruz v.

State, 189 So. 3d 822, 825-26 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015) (quoting Brown v. State, 454

So. 2d 596, 598 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984)). A trial court must grant a judgment of

acquittal when the State’s case is legally insufficient to rebut a defendant’s prima

-5- facie case establishing self-defense. Id. at 826 (citing Fowler v. State, 921 So. 2d

708, 711-12 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006)). However, a judgment of acquittal should be

denied where a jury would reasonably reject the defendant’s explanation of self-

defense. Id. (citing Romero v. State, 901 So. 2d 260, 265-66 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)).

Any inconsistency between the evidence and defense theory must be resolved by

the finder of fact. Orme v. State, 677 So. 2d 258, 262 (Fla. 1996).1 But

“[e]vidence that leaves room for two or more inferences of fact, at least one of

which is consistent with the defendant’s hypothesis of innocence, is not legally

sufficient to make a case for the jury.” Fowler v. State, 921 So. 2d 708, 712 (Fla.

2d DCA 2006) (quoting Fowler v. State, 492 So. 2d 1344, 1348 (Fla. 1st DCA

1986)); see also Stieh v. State, 67 So. 3d 275, 279 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011).

In order to establish a prima facie case of self-defense, a defendant must

show that he (1) was attacked in a place where he had a right to be, (2) was not

engaged in any unlawful activity, and (3) reasonably believed it was necessary to

1. This is unlike a review of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction where an appellate court must determine whether, when reviewing the facts in the light most favorable to the State, there is competent, substantial evidence to sustain the conviction on appeal. Williams did not contest the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction for first-degree premeditated murder and it is therefore not before this Court for review. Instead, this Court is tasked with determining merely whether the question was appropriately presented to the jury for consideration notwithstanding the subsequent verdict inconsistent with the State’s rebuttal to Williams’ self-defense theory.

-6- use force to prevent death or great bodily harm. See Leasure v. State, 105 So. 3d 5,

13 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012) (citing § 776.013(3), Fla. Stat. (2008)). However, the jury

is not required to accept the defendant’s version of the facts and in fact “must

consider the probability or improbability of the defendant’s credibility in light of

the circumstances established by other evidence.” Leasure, 105 So. 3d at 14

(citing Darty v. State, 161 So. 2d 864, 872 (Fla. 2d DCA 1964); Teague v.

State, 390 So. 2d 405, 406-07 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980)).

Below, Williams alleged that he acted in self-defense after Johnson and

Brown followed him and Felton on 21st Avenue and appeared to be carrying a

weapon. Williams stated that he knew he was about to be beaten and prepared

himself to take the beating by getting off his bike. Because Brown lost control of

the weapon when they all fell from their bikes, Williams alleges he was able to

fight to get the weapon and use it in self-defense. The evidence found on the scene

supports Williams’ version of events.

Law enforcement discovered two unfired .40 caliber rounds2 at the scene

which is consistent with Williams’ testimony that he was unfamiliar with weapons

and attempted to cock the gun before each time he fired. Law enforcement also

2. No firearm was recovered at the scene. However, the ballistics recovered from the victims were the same caliber as the fired and unfired rounds recovered at the scene.

-7- found a cell phone, currency, a key ring, cigars, and condoms on Brown’s person

when they arrived on scene, which supports Williams’ assertion that he had no

intention of robbing the victim.

Because Williams presented a prima facie case of self-defense, it was

necessary for the State to refute his claim beyond a reasonable doubt. The State’s

theory of the case was that Williams and Felton attempted to rob Brown and

therefore could not claim self-defense because the altercation was a result of the

robbery. To survive the judgment of acquittal, a reasonable jury would have to

believe the testimony of surviving victim, Reginald Johnson, that he and Brown

just happened to turn around and ride their bikes in the opposite direction, passing

Williams and Felton, because they decided to double back and go to a convenience

store. The jury would also have to accept Johnson’s testimony that Felton told

Brown to “give it up” meaning he was attempting to rob Brown of his bicycle and

that either Felton or Williams pulled Brown off his bike, starting the altercation

that resulted in Brown’s death.

As to corroborating evidence, none of the eyewitnesses were able to

corroborate either party’s explanation of what led to the altercation. Symone

Watts, who worked as a security guard at Hartline where the altercation took place,

testified that she heard loud voices, which made her look up from her book. Then

she saw someone hit the ground, get up quickly, and begin firing. Watts’ version

-8- of events does not support either Williams’ or Johnson’s testimony. Williams

never testified that he had fallen to the ground before getting the gun but it is

possible that what she saw was Williams bending over to get the gun after it fell

from Brown’s possession. Her testimony likewise does not support Johnson’s

testimony because he stated that Brown was the only one who fell from his bike

after being pulled off. Because both Williams and Johnson testified that only

Brown fell to the ground, Watts’ testimony would make Brown the shooter, which

is erroneous. Further, Watts testified that she was unclear that night and even the

day of the trial who was where within the altercation. She could only testify that

one of the boys wore a light-colored shirt and the other boys wore dark-colored

clothing.

Likewise, the video surveillance, which was played for the jury, is unclear

enough that it could be interpreted to support either version of events. The

surveillance videos show, and Johnson and Williams both testified, that Williams

and Felton rode from left to right on the screen when they were overtaken by

Johnson on his bike and caught up to by Brown. From there, all the parties agree,

and the video confirms, that Brown, Williams, and Felton dismounted from their

respective bicycles. Unfortunately, the video does not confirm how the boys came

to dismount or who initiated that first contact. The video confirms that Johnson

turned back after seeing the altercation begin.

-9- Williams’ self-defense theory was only applicable if the jury did not find

that the altercation began because of a robbery attempt. Accordingly, because the

evidence was equivocal and ultimately was a credibility determination between

Johnson and Williams, the trial court properly denied the judgment of acquittal

before the jury entered its verdict.3

The second issue presented is whether Williams is entitled to resentencing

pursuant to chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida, and to resentencing pursuant to this

Court’s decision in Williams v. State, 186 So. 3d 989 (Fla. 2016). The State

concedes that the answer to both these inquiries is yes. Based on the State’s

concession, we end our inquiry here and remand with instructions to remand to the

trial court for resentencing in accordance with Williams, 186 So. 3d 989 and

Thomas v. State, 40 Fla. L. Weekly S479, 2015 WL 5178605 at *1 (Fla. Sept. 4,

2015) (177 So. 3d 1275) (table).

It is so ordered.

PARIENTE and LEWIS, JJ., concur. LABARGA, C.J., concurs in result.

3. Williams moved for a new trial based on the trial court’s ruling to limit his cross-examination of Johnson. Counsel did not move for a new trial based on the jury’s inconsistent verdict once it became apparent that the jury did not believe there was a robbery attempt because they found Williams guilty of the lesser included offense of theft based on Felton’s taking of Brown’s bike after his death.

- 10 - CANADY, J., concurs in result only with an opinion, in which POLSTON and LAWSON, JJ., concur.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED.

CANADY, J., concurring in result only.

Based on the State’s concession of error, I agree that the decision of the

Second District Court should be quashed to the extent that it affirmed Williams’s

sentences and that the case should be remanded for resentencing in conformance

with chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida. I do not disagree with the conclusion that

the Second District’s decision to affirm Williams’s convictions was correct, but I

believe that it is unnecessary for this Court to address the issue relating to the

convictions.

POLSTON and LAWSON, JJ., concur.

Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal – Direct Conflict of Decisions

Second District - Case No. 2D14-1732

(Hillsborough County)

Christopher E. Cosden, Fort Myers, Florida,

for Petitioner

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, John Klawikofsky, Bureau Chief, and Elba Caridad Martin, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, Florida,

for Respondent

- 11 -