DEMETRIUS JEFFREY HOPKINS v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Appellant, Demetrius Jeffrey Hopkins, was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder with a firearm. On appeal, he argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for continuance, imposing an unreasonable time limitation on voir dire, and denying challenges for cause of two jurors who expressed doubts about their ability to follow the law if appellant 'did not testify. We affirm the trial court’s ruling on the motion for continuance but reverse for a new trial because of the trial court’s errors during jury selection.

At the beginning of trial, the trial court…