Confessions DUI and the Corpus Delicti Rule - Tampa DUI

Appeals court ruled it was error to allow state to introduce defendant's confession into evidence before state had proven corpus delicti of offense of DUI with serious bodily injury -- There can be no conviction for DUI with serious bodily injury without proof that defendant was driving vehicle and was impaired at time of crash, and there was no evidence independent of her confession that defendant was actually behind wheel of vehicle at time of crash -- Conviction for DUI with serious bodily injury reversed, and defendant is to be discharged for this offense -- Defendant's confession was properly admitted into evidence as to offense of leaving scene of crash with injuries because victim testified that he was hit by car which fled the scene

Reported at 30 Fla. L. Weekly D2379a