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495 So. 2d 931

495 So.2d 931

11 Fla.L.Weekly 2181

State v. McCutcheon

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Decided October 15, 1986

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 1986-10-15

Relies on Brady v. State of Maryland

Decided 1986-10-15

DOWNEY, Judge.

¶1The State of Florida appeals from an order dismissing this cause based upon an alleged discovery violation.

¶2Appellee was charged with grand theft of merchandise from a Jefferson Ward store. On the trial date, appellee moved to dismiss the charges because Jefferson Ward had a videotape that the state had failed to furnish to appellee. Appellee claimed that he had been ui\able to view the tape; nevertheless, he contended the tape would corroborate his defense. It appears that Jefferson Ward lost the tape and that the state, although it was aware of its existence, had never had possession thereof, nor had it ever seen the tape. Thus, no one knew what the tape might reflect.

¶3Appellee filed a motion to dismiss the cause based on an alleged Brady viola-, tion, i.e., the state had failed to furnish him with material he was entitled to, pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). We hold the trial court committed reversible error in granting that motion because no Bradyviolation was shown. The tape was never in the possession of the state.

¶4Accordingly, we need not discuss appellant’s other points. The judgment appealed from is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings.

¶5REVERSED AND REMANDED.

HERSEY, C.J., and WALDEN, J., concur.
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