Hoffman v. State

Stephen Hoffman appeals his judgment of conviction and sentence for attempted second degree murder. We reverse and remand for a new trial, finding that the trial court erred in excluding evidence of Hoffman’s reputation for non-violence.

The State filed an Amended Information charging Hoffman with attempted second degree murder with a dangerous weapon, stemming from an incident that occurred on September 8, 2002. On that date, the victim, Jorge Carménate, and his girlfriend at the time, were driving in the residential neighborhood off of US1 and Southwest 27th Avenue, in Miami-Dade County,…