127

home.

(Potential jurors excused.)

THE COURT: I’m going to turn this over to
the lawyers to ask questions. The last thing I want to
do at this time in this process is read the information
to you. This is the charge against Mr. Minton. This is
not evidence, but it helps you understand a little bit
about why we are here. It reads as follows:

State of Florida and Robert S. Minton,
Battery, in the name and by the authority for the State
of Florida, Bernie McCabe, State Attorney for the Sixth
Judicial Circuit of Florida, in and for Pinellas County,
prosecuting for the State of Florida, in the said County,
under oath, information makes that Robert S. Minton in
the County of Pinellas, State of Florida, on the 31st day
of October in the year of our Lord, 1999, in the County
and State aforesaid did then and there actually
intentionally touch, or strike, or cause bodily harm to
Richard Howd, against the will of Richard Howd, contrary
to Chapter 784.03, Florida Statutes, and against the
peace and dignity of the State of Florida.

This is the charging instrument. It is
not evidence. It is the instrument upon which the State
has moved this case forward. So I turn it over now to
the State Attorney to ask their questions. Mr. Tyson?