Nathaniel Brown v. State of Florida

Summary

The Third District Court of Appeal of Florida affirmed the trial court’s judgment in Nathaniel Brown’s appeal. The court cited standards governing review of a motion for mistrial and the State’s ability to expose contradictions in a defendant’s testimony after the defendant testifies.

Holdings

1. The court affirmed the challenged trial-court ruling, applying the abuse-of-discretion standard for a ruling on a motion for mistrial.
2. Once a defendant takes the stand and credibility becomes an issue, the State may expose contradictions and improbabilities in the defendant's testimony.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in ruling on the motion for mistrial.
2. Whether, after the defendant testified and credibility became an issue, the State could expose contradictions and improbabilities in his testimony.

Disposition

affirmed