Coolen v. State
Supreme Court of Florida
696 So.2d 738 (1997)
After a night of drinking together, Michael Coolen (defendant) pulled John Keller against a house and stabbed him multiple times, also stabbing Keller's wife Barbara when she rushed to intervene; Keller died, and Coolen was charged with first-degree murder, claiming self-defense. At trial, Barbara testified Coolen attacked without any reason, while her son testified Coolen and Keller had argued over a beer earlier that evening, and the jury convicted Coolen of first-degree murder after the trial court denied his motion for acquittal based on insufficient premeditation evidence.
Whether, for first-degree murder, premeditation requires that the defendant reflect on his or her actions and the likely consequences prior to the killing.