Christopher T. Dean v. State of Florida

The central issue in this case is whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on manslaughter as a category one lesser included offense of second-degree felony murder. We hold that, at the time of trial, the law in this district supported the trial judge’s decision not to give the instruction.

Appellant Christopher Dean was found guilty of burglary and second-degree felony murder after he and Eric Flint burglarized an apartment and Flint was killed by the victim of the burglary during a high speed chase while attempting to flee the scene. Originally, we affirmed the…