Owens v. State

Citations

• 68 Fla. 154

Syllabus

<p>1. It is manifestly improper for one who is a material witness for tbe State in a prosecution for murder, to have charge a§ bailiff of the jury empaneled to try the case, or to be with or have any communications with such jury. Especially is this true when such party continues to remain with such jury after he has been removed as such bailiff by the court, at the instance of the defendant om trial.</p> <p>2. An impartial jury, selected and kept free from all outside or improper influences, is necessary to ,a fair and impartial trial.</p> <p>3. In a prosecution for crime which has resulted in a conviction, where it is made to appear that the jury was not kept free from outside or improper influences, and there is a sharp conflict in the evidence upon material points, the judgment may be reversed.</p>