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821 So. 2d 332

Banaszek v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 2002-06-05

Relies on 684 So. 2d 736 - Chicone v. State · 808 So. 2d 166 - Scott v. State

Decided 2002-06-05

BLUE, Chief Judge.

¶1Kenneth Banaszek appeals his convictions for first-degree murder and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Finding no error in the issues regarding the murder conviction, we affirm it without discussion. We reverse the convictions for possession of a controlled substance and remand for a new trial.

¶2At trial, Mr. Banaszek requested that the jury be given an instruction to determine whether he knew that the drugs were controlled substances, citing Chicone v. State, 684 So.2d 736 (Fla.1996). His request was denied. Subsequent to his conviction, the Florida Supreme Court held that the failure to give a properly requested Chiconeinstruction cannot be harmless error. Scott v. State, 808 So.2d 166 (Fla.2002). Accordingly, the possession convictions, for which Mr. Banaszek was sentenced to time served, must be reversed and remanded for a new trial.

¶3Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for a new trial.

GREEN and COVINGTON, JJ„ Concur.
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