Castro v. StateCastro v. State
- Reporters:
- Before:
- Parks
OPINION
PARKS, Judge:
Jоhn Walter Castro, Sr., the appellant, was convicted of Robbery With Firearms (
On June 6, 1983, during the early afternoon, the appellant entered a fast-food restaurant called Hobo-T’s located in Ponca City, and pointed a .25 semi-automatic pistol at the sole employee-manager, Rhonda Pappan. At some point, while the appellant was going through Pappan’s purse, a money bag, and the cash register, Pappan allegedly obtained a knife and, following a struggle, the appellant stabbed her to death. Appellant was not injured during the struggle, and he escaped with an undetermined amount of money estimated at over $200.00. A knife was discovered under the victim’s body. An autopsy revealed that Mrs. Pappan died from multiple stab wounds to the neck, back, and chest.
Police investigation of the crime resulted in the apprehension of the appellant on the night of June 6, 1983. After the appellant signed a consent to search form, officers seized several items following a search of the appellant’s home, including several pairs of jeans, a baseball cap, and a Titan .25 semi-automatic pistol, all with blood stains which could not be typed. A hair found on a blood-stained man’s sportshirt
Appellant presented no witnesses in his defense during the first stage of the trial. At the second stage of trial, the State alleged the existence of two aggravating circumstances: (1) the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel; and (2) the existence of a probability that the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society.
See
21 O.S. 1981
I.
PRE-TRIAL ISSUES
A.
In his third assignment of error, the appellant asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to provide funds for a psychiatrist. 1 In a pretrial motion hearing, defense counsel stated that he had “employed Dr. [William] Hamilton ... to provide a psychiatric evaluation” of the appellant, and that Dr. Hamilton “certainly should be paid a reasonable fee in this case for the work that he has done.” (Mot.Tr. Dec. 14, 1983, at 9-11) (emphasis added).
The foregoing indicates that appellant actually had access to a psychiatrist in spite of his indigency, and that his request for funds was to cover a past examination. In addition, the appellant was examined at Eastern State Hospital in Vinita and found competent to stand trial and able to assist in his defense. Both psychological examinations concluded that the appellant was “in touch with reality.” Pre-Sentence Investigation Report, at 8.
B.
Next, we address appellant’s related argument that the holding in Ake guarantees a defendant the right to put on a defense, including funds necessary to investigate and produce the testimony of lay witnesses. In a pretrial motion hearing, defense counsel requested “expense money in order to continue the interview of witnesses and the preparation for trial.” Counsel for appellant explained that witnesses familiar with the appellant’s background were located in Oklahoma City and Red Rock, and that funds were needed for travelling and interviewing expenses. Appellant has failed to cite any relevant authority to support his assertion, except for the Ake decision. In Standridge v. State, 701 P.2d 761, 764 (Okl.Cr.1985), this Court left open the question of whether the Ake holding extended to assistance “other than a psychiatric expert.”
Counsel was entitled to seek reimbursement for extraordinary and additional expenses incurred in the representation of his indigent client upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that he was unable to maintain his law practice, and that such extraordinary actions were necessary, reasonable, and taken in good faith. See Bias v. State, 568 P.2d 1269, 1272-73 (Okla.1977). We cannot agree that bald assertions of need alone are sufficient to warrant an award of public funds, especially where counsel failed to show that personal contact was the only way to obtain the information desired, as opposed to such alternate methods as mail, telephone or subpoena. See Johnson v. State, 731 P.2d 993, 1007 (Okl.Cr.1987). Because appellant has failed to show that the foregoing alternatives were inadequate to afford him the basic tools of his defense within the meaning of Ake, and because he has failed to demonstrate that he was denied access to favorable evidence which was material to guilt or punishment, he has failed to show prejudice sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of his trial. See United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 678, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 3381, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). This assignment is meritless.
II.
ISSUES RELATING TO JURY SELECTION
A.
In his first assignment of error, appellant urges that prospective juror Atteberry was improperly excused for cause under
Witherspoon v. Illinois,
391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), and
Wainwright v. Witt,
469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985). In
Walker v. State,
723 P.2d 273, 281 (Okl.Cr.1986),
In applying the foregoing standard to this case, we note that the following exchange took place during voir dire between juror Atteberry and the trial judge:
BY THE COURT: ... [I]f you find beyond a reasonable doubt, the Defendant guilty as charged, then you have the ultimate decision then of sentencing. And it’s important and critical that if you have any feelings about the case as you look down the line toward what ultimately may be those decisions that you have to reach, if those are going to influence you, then you need to share it with us right now and we can take you off and get someone who won’t be faced with that pressure. So, you think about that, but if you feel like it might influence you in any way, just indicate, okay?
BY MRS. ATTEBERRY: The only pressure that I feel in this case is in the sentencing of possibly death, if he would be found guilty, or life imprisonment. BY THE COURT: Well ... I just read to you that one instruction ... or the one standard, and that is notwithstanding what you feel about the death penalty, can you set aside that feeling and base a decision simply on the facts and what the law is concerning the death penalty?
BY MRS. ATTEBERRY: I really don’t feel I could be comfortable doing that. BY THE COURT: All right; then, you may step down, ma’am.
(Tr. 24-25) Defense counsel’s timely objection was overruled.
Under the new standard announced in Witt, a juror’s bias need not be proved with “unmistakable clarity”. Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. at 425, 105 S.Ct. at 852. See Walker v. State, 723 P.2d 273, 281 (Okl.Cr.1986); Banks v. State, 701 P.2d 418, 423 (Okl.Cr.1985). As pointed out by the United States Supreme Court, despite this lack of unmistakable clarity in the printed record:
[Tjhere will be situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law ... this is why deference must be paid to the trial judge who sees and hears the juror.
Wainwright, supra, at 425-26, 105 S.Ct. at 853. In light of juror Atteberry’s response, and the “deference” this Court must give to the trial judge “who sees аnd hears the juror,” we believe that the juror was properly excused for cause under Witt. Compare VanWoundenberg v. State, 720 P.2d 328, 332 (Okl.Cr.1986), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 447, 93 L.Ed.2d 395 (1986); Banks v. State, 701 P.2d 418, 422-23 (Okl.Cr.1985). This assignment of error is without merit.
B.
In his fifteenth assignment of error, appellant contends that the jury did not represent a fair and impartial cross-section of the community because potential jurors were excluded solely because they were opposed to capital punishment. We have adopted the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162, -, 106 S.Ct. 1758, 1770, 90 L.Ed.2d 137 (1986), which rejected such a position. See VanWoundenberg v. State, supra, at 331-32. This assignment of error is wholly without merit.
III.
ISSUES RELATING TO GUILT-INNOCENCE
A.
In his second assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court improperly admitted the preliminary hearing transcript of the medical examiner’s testimony because “there was no showing of due diligence by the State.” We agree. In
Barber v. Page,
390 U.S. 719, 724-25, 88 S.Ct. 1318, 1322, 20 L.Ed.2d 255 (1968), the
Subsequently, however, the appellant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea, which was filed on March 1,1984, was granted on March 2, 1984. (O.R. 327-328) (Tr. 586) Jody Mullins, a witness coordinator for the district attorney’s office, testified that a second subpoena was issued about eighteen (18) days before the rescheduled trial, but that it was apparently declared moot by a Maryland court on the ground that a previous subpoena had been dismissed, and that a week was not long enough to get the subpoena served through the court system. A careful review of the transcript of the hearing concerning this matter, shows that the District Attorney issued a second subpoena on March 22, 1984, to compel the attendance of Dr. Dibdin at the trial scheduled for April 9, 1984. The second subpoena was thus issued some twenty (20) days after the prosecutor was awаre that the appellant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea had been granted. Ms. Mullins testified that one of the Judges of a circuit court in Maryland informed her that by the time the subpoena was forwarded through the district court, where it was originally sent, to the circuit court, “there was not enough time ... to serve ... that subpoena.” (Tr. 581-82) Moreover, the trial judge specifically stated on the record that when he originally told the Maryland judge that Dr. Dibdin’s attendance was no longer necessary for the purposes of the first subpoena, he emphatically informed the Maryland judge that Dr. Dibdin “might very well have to come on other dates, and the Judge acknowledged that, and told me that he would relate that to the doctor.” (Tr. 586) Accordingly, it affirmatively appears from the record that the sole reason the subpoena was not effective was beсause the district attorney sent it to the wrong court initially without sufficient time for it to be served. The trial court found that, under these circumstances, the State’s actions constituted due diligence.
The State bears the burden of establishing that “the witness is unavailable despite good-faith efforts undertaken prior to trial to locate and present that witness.”
Ohio v. Roberts,
448 U.S. 56, 74-75, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 2543, 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980). Under the foregoing facts, we agree with the appellant that the State did not exercise due diligence in determining the proper Maryland court to serve the second subpoena and in timely issuing it.
See
B.
In his fourth, fifth, and fourteenth assignments of error respectively, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to instruct on first degree manslaughter, in giving an incomplete instruc
1.
Instructions on lesser offenses necessarily included in the charged crime need only be given when there is evidence that tends to prove the lesser crime.
Walker v. State, supra,
at 283. In the instant case, we do not believe that the record supports a first degree manslaughter instruction, as that crime is defined in 21 O.S. 1981
2.
With regard to the second degree murder instruction given by the trial court, appellant complains that the instructions given were so incomplete as to constitute fundamental error. We disagree. The trial court used OUJI-CR 450 and the first definition of depraved mind set forth in OUJI-CR 451. These instructions adequately covered the subject. On this record, we fail to see how the failure of the trial court to use the alternative definition of depraved mind resulted in a miscarriage of justice or deprived the appellant of a substantial right.
See
20 O.S. 1981
3.
Appellant claims error with regard to an instruction given by the trial court which stated that the presumption of innocence continues “unless after consideration of all doubt.” When the instruction is examined in its entirety, however, it clearly and adequately informed the jury that the defendant was presumed innocent, and could be found guilty only after the State proved each element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we find that no fundamental error occurred because of the obvious typographical error, and the appellant was not deprived of a substantial right.
See Millwood v. State,
721 P.2d 1322, 1325-26 (Okl.Cr.1986); 20 O.S. 1981
C.
Appellant complains in his seventh assignment of error that two comments made by the prosecutor during first stage closing argument deprived him of a fair trial. We shall address only the first comment, since the record reveals that the appellant failed to object to the second comment and we do not find it to be fundamental error. See Rogers v. State, 721 P.2d 820, 825 (Okl.Cr.1986). Appellant claims that the prosecutor committed reversible error by appealing to the jury’s sympathy for the victim when he asked: “Did Rhonda Kay Pappan [the victim] have any constitutional guarantees?”. While we do not condone comments encouraging the jury to allow sympathy to influence its decision by considering the rights of the victim, see Scott v. State, 649 P.2d 560, 564 (Okl.Cr.1982), in light of the strong evidence of guilt, we cannot say that this single isolated comment warrants reversal or modification. See Grant v. State, 703 P.2d 943, 946 (Okl.Cr.1985); Brodbent v. State, 700 P.2d 1021, 1022-23 (Okl.Cr.1985); Cooks v. State, 699 P.2d 653, 660 (Okl.Cr.1985), cert, denied, 474 U.S. 935, 106 S.Ct. 268, 88 L.Ed.2d 275 (1985). Therefore, this assignment of error is without merit.
D.
In his eighth assignment of error, appellant asserts that the triаl court erred in admitting State’s Exhibit No. 4, an 8” x 10” color photograph which depicted the victim lying down in a pool of blood at the crime scene. The exhibit accurately depict-
E.
Appellant contends in his twelfth assignment of error that the trial court improperly restricted cross-examination of OSBI Agent David Page by sustaining the State’s objection when defense counsel asked if Page had any knowledge as to whether appellant intended to harm the victim. The record shows that defense counsel elicited an affirmative response from Agent Page as to whether the appellant had claimed that he had not intended to “murder” the victim. Shоrtly thereafter, the prosecutor’s objection was sustained when defense counsel asked the following question:
Do you have any knowledge ... that Mr.’ Castro had a premeditated design to do harm to Mrs. Pappan?
The general rule is that any matter is a proper subject of cross-examination which is responsive to testimony given on direct examination or which is material or relevant thereto and which tends to elucidate, modify, explain, contradict or rebut testimony given in chief by the witness. Smith v. State, 695 P.2d 864, 868 (OkI.Cr.1985). In the exercise of sound discretion, however, the trial court may limit the extent of cross-examination and its ruling will be reversed only upon a clear abuse of discretion which resulted in manifest prejudice to the accused. Hall v. State, 698 P.2d 33, 36 (Okl.Cr.1985). In the present case, we must agree with the State that whether the appellant had a “premeditated design” to harm the victim was irrelevant, since he was charged with felony-murder. Actual malice or premeditated intent to kill is irrelevant when a first degree murder conviction is sought under the felony-murder doctrine. See Wade v. State, 581 P.2d 914, 916 (Okl.Cr.1978). In light of the foregoing, we cannot say that the trial court’s ruling constituted a clear abuse of discretion. Moreover, the appellant has failed to demonstrate resulting prejudice. Hall, supra. Accordingly, this assignment of error is without merit.
F.
In his thirteenth assignment of error, appellant asserts that his confession was involuntary and should have been suppressed. The appellant’s confession was admitted after the trial court held an in camera hearing and found it to be voluntary. Appellant was advised of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), prior to making any statements, and he signed a form acknowledging that he understood those rights. Appellant argues that his confession was involuntary because he was taken to the police station where he was locked in a small room with two police officers, that one of the officers slammed his fist on the table and told the appellant to confess, and that appellant was tearful during the interview.
The ultimate test of the voluntariness of a confession is whether it is the product of an essentially free and unconstrained choice by its maker. We must look to the totality of the surrounding circumstances, including the characteristics of the accused and the details of the interrogation.
Young v. State,
670 P.2d 591, 594 (Okl.Cr.1983). In the present case, the record supports a finding that the confession was not extracted by any sort of threats or violence, nor obtained by any direct or implied promises, however slight, nor by the exertion of any improper influence.
See Malloy v. Hogan,
378 U.S. 1, 7, 84 S.Ct. 1489, 1493, 12 L.Ed.2d 653 (1964). Mere advice or exhortation by the poliсe that it would be better for the accused to tell the truth, unaccompanied by either a threat or a promise, does not render a subsequent confession involuntary.
See James v. State,
711 P.2d 111, 113 (OkI.Cr.1985);
Young, supra,
at 595. On this
G.
We now address the assignments of error raised by the appellant in his supplemental brief.
1.
Appellant first claims that his confession should be suppressed because it was the result of an alleged conflict of interest, and that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine whether a conflict of interest in fact existed. The purported conflict occurred when appellant’s attorney, Ken Holmes, allegedly represented Steven Gregory during the period of time when Gregory “informed” against the appellant concerning the murder of Beulah Cox. Although the assistant district attorney who was initially in charge of Gregory’s case testified that Mr. Holmes had at some time represented Gregory, the record reflects that Tom Rigdon was court-appointed to represent Gregory in May, 1983, and continued in that capacity until January 10, 1984, when judgment and sentence was finalized. Appellant has wholly failed to substantiate the existence of a conflict of interest. The record rebuts appellant’s claim insofar as it shows that on August 10,1983, when Mr. Gregory told authorities about a map drawn by appellant which revealed the location of the body of Beulah Cox, Gregory was being represented by Tom Rigdon. The only evidence even suggesting a possible conflict of interest was appellant’s hearsay testimony that he was told that Holmes was Gregory’s attornеy, and that appellant observed Holmes “at the door when they called Gregory out” of his cell.
The record does not reflect, and appellant does not claim in his supplemental brief, that a timely objection was made at trial on the basis of a conflict of interest. Thus, in order to establish a Sixth Amendment violation, appellant is required to demonstrate that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his lawyer’s performance. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 350, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1719, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980). In the instant case, appellant has shown no more than a mere possibility of conflict, which is insufficient to invalidate a criminal conviction. Id. In addition, there is no evidence that defense counsel’s performance was adversely affected by the alleged conflict. On this record, we do not believe that an evidentiary hearing is necessary. Accordingly, this claim is without merit.
2.
Appellant next claims that his confessions were inadmissible because they were the fruit of an illegal arrest. We note initially that appellant did not attack the legality of his arrest in his brief in chief, but raises it for the first time in his supplemental brief. Supplemental briefs are intended to be limited to supplementation of recent authority bearing on the issues raised in the brief in chief, or on issues specifically directed to be briefed as ordered by this Court. Therefore, we do not believe that this issue is properly before this Court. Even so, the record strongly supports the conclusion that appellant was not placed under arrest until after he had voluntarily accompanied officers to the police station, been advised of his
Miranda
rights and had freely and voluntarily confessed to killing Pappan in the commission оf armed robbery. We recognize that an accused is entitled to the full protection of the fourth and fourteenth amendments when the police, without probable cause or judicial authorization, forcibly remove a person from his home or other place in which he is entitled to be, and transport him to the police station where he is briefly detained for investigative purposes.
Hayes v. Florida,
470 U.S. 811, 815-16, 105 S.Ct. 1643,1647, 84 L.Ed.2d 705 (1985) (emphasis added). Such seizures are sufficiently like arrests to require probable cause.
Id. Hayes
is distinguishable, however, because here the record shows that appellant voluntarily accompanied the officers to the police
3.
Appellant next complains, that the trial court erred in admitting evidence gained through an illegal search. In his brief, however, appellant concedes that his wife gave permission to the officers to enter their home. In addition, appellant signed a consent to search form acknowledging that he understood that he had a right to refuse to consent to a search made without a warrant. The record supports a finding that the cоnsent was freely and voluntarily given. See Sullivan v. State, 716 P.2d 684, 686-87 (Okl.Cr.1986). This assignment of error is without merit.
4.
Finally, appellant urges that his conviction and punishment for both robbery with firearms and first degree felony-murder, with the robbery serving as the underlying felony, violated the double jeopardy clause of the fifth amendment. In Jefferson v. State, 675 P.2d 443, 447 (Okl.Cr.1984), this Court vacated a twenty (20) year sentence for Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon, where it served as the predicate for a felony-murder conviction which was affirmed. See also Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 165, 97 S.Ct. 2221, 2225, 53 L.Ed.2d 187 (1977); Harris v. Oklahoma, 433 U.S. 682, 683, 97 S.Ct. 2912, 2913, 53 L.Ed.2d 1054 (1977). Accordingly, the judgment and sentence for Robbery With Firearms must be vacated and remanded to the district court with instructions to dismiss.
IV.
ISSUES RELATING TO PUNISHMENT
A.
In his sixth assignment of error, appellant claims that the prosecutor violated the notice requirement of 21 O.S. 1981
With regard to the alleged death threats to the jailer, we note that following the opening statement defense counsel’s objection on this ground was sustained. Moreover, the trial judge specifically admonished the jury to disregard the prosecutor’s statements with regard to such threats. We believe that this was sufficient on this rеcord to cure any alleged error.
See Horton v. State,
728 P.2d 1376, 1377 (Okl.Cr.1986);
Walker v. State,
723 P.2d at 286. In addition, the State was prohibited from eliciting testimony regarding such threats, and the appellant has failed to demonstrate sufficient prejudice to require reversal or modification.
Walker, supra. See also
20 O.S. 1981
With regard to appellant’s assertion that the prosecutor improperly implied that appellant sexually molested Beulah Cox by referring to the condition of her clothing, we note that the State’s pretrial notice contained an allegation of the Cox
B.
In his seventh assignment of error, appellant asserts that during second stage closing argument the prosecutor improperly characterized him as a “woman killer who attacks his victims from behind.” Initially, we note that this comment was not properly preserved for review because counsel failed to make a timely specific objection. See VanWoundenberg v. State, 720 P.2d 328, 334 (Okl.Cr.1986), cert, denied, — U.S.-, 107 S.Ct. 447, 93 L.Ed. 2d 395 (1986). Furthermore, the appеllant took the stand during the second stage and confessed to killing two women. One of the women was shot in the back of the head, and the other was stabbed several times in the back. Appellant admitted approaching one of the victims from behind. Although we will not condone derogatory name calling and unfair characterizations of the accused, see Tobler v. State, 688 P.2d 350, 354 (Okl.Cr.1984), and even though the comment here was unnecessary, it was supported by the evidence and does not supply a ground for reversal or modification. See Grant v. State, 703 P.2d 943, 946 (Okl.Cr.1985). Compare Thompson v. State, 724 P.2d 780, 784 (Okl.Cr.1986), cert, granted, — U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 1284, 94 L.Ed.2d 143 (1987) (prosecutor’s characterization of a sixteen-year-old murder defendant as being emotionally older than his chronological age was a reasonable inference from the evidence).
C.
Appellant contends in his ninth assignment of error that the trial court erred in refusing to admit the presentencе investigation report into evidence, and that he was prejudiced because the mitigating evidence contained in the report was excluded from consideration by the jury. He contends that the hearsay contained in the report was admissible either because the rules of evidence do not apply to sentencing proceedings, 12 O.S. 1981
Although
So long as the rules of evidence are not mechanistically applied to exclude relevant and reliable evidence from the punishment phase of a capital trial, see Green v. Georgia, 442 U.S. 95, 97, 99 S.Ct. 2150, 2151, 60 L.Ed.2d 738 (1979), we believe that the heightened reliability required by due process in capital sentencing proceedings supports the application of the rules of evidence during the punishment phase. We believe that our holding achieves a proper balance between the requirement that evidence introduced at the sentencing stage, although broad in scope, must not unduly prejudice a defendant, see Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 886, 103 S.Ct. 2733, 2747-48, 77 L.Ed.2d 235 (1983), quoting Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 203-04, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 2939, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976), and the requirement that the sen-tencer may not refuse to consider or be precluded from considering any relevant mitigating evidence. See Skipper v. South Carolina, 476 U.S. 1,-, 106 S.Ct. 1669, 1671, 90 L.Ed.2d 1 (1986). There is no constitutional mandate requiring states to abandon their rules of evidence in a capital sentencing proceeding. See Thompson v. Wainwright, 787 F.2d 1447, 1457-58 (11th Cir.1986).
Appellant has failed to cite any specific mitigating evidence which was contained in the presentence investigation report that was not brought to the attention of the jury through testimony elicited during both phases of the trial. Based on the foregoing, assuming arguendo, without actually deciding, that the hearsay in the report was admissible under 12 O.S. 1981
D.
In his tenth assignment of error, appellant maintains that the Oklahoma death penalty statute, and the heinous, atrocious or cruel and continuing threat aggravating circumstances, are unconstitutionally overbroad as applied. Recently, in Cartwright v. Maynard, 822 F.2d 1477, 1478 (10th Cir.1987), the Tenth Circuit held that this Court’s construction of the “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel” aggravating circumstance was “unconstitutionally vague.” Subsequently, this Court held that henceforth this aggravating circumstance will be construed to require torture or serious physical abuse. Stouffer v. State, 742 P.2d 562, 563 (Okl.Cr.1987) (opinion on rehearing). On the basis of Stouf-fer, this aggravating circumstance is not now being applied in an unconstitutionally vague or overbroad manner. We have rejected arguments that the continuing threat aggravating circumstance is being evaluated in an arbitrary manner or that it is vague. See VanWoundenberg v. State, 720 P.2d at 336. Finally, we have held that the Oklahoma death penalty statutes are constitutional. See Jones v. State, 660 P.2d 634, 643 (Okl.Cr.1983). This assignment is without merit.
E.
Appellant complains in his eleventh assignment of error that the trial court erred in giving Instruction No. 29, which defined the term probability of future acts
V.
MANDATORY SENTENCE REVIEW
A.
Finally, pursuant to
1. Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; and
2. Whether the evidence supports the jury’s finding of a statutory aggravating circumstance as enumerated inSection 701.12 of this title.
1.
First, from our review of the record, we cannot say that the jury was influenced by passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor contrary to
2.
Second, the jury specifically found that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, and that there existed a probability that the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitutе a continuing threat to society.
See
21 O.S. 1981
For the same reasons given in Part 111(A), the medical examiner’s testimony cannot be used to. support the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravating circumstance. After excluding the medical examiner’s testimony, we find that there is insufficient independent evidence to support the heinous, atrocious, or cruel аggravating circumstance. 21 O.S. 1981
In this case, the jury also found the existence of the continuing threat aggravating circumstance. In addition to the evidence presented by the State, appellant himself testified during the sentencing
B.
In accordance with my view that the application of
Notes
. Effective July 8, 1985, a criminal defendant raising questions of mental illness or insanity at the time of the offense must file an application with the trial court at least twenty (20) days before trial.
See
. Effective July 8, 1985, trial courts were given discretion to appoint expert witnesses in capital cases for indigent criminal defendants who file an application demonstrating that an expert witness is necessary to the preparation of their defense.
See
.
Hayes v. State,
738 P.2d 533 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Smith v. State,
736 P.2d 531 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Stouffer v. State,
738 P.2d 1349 (Okl.Cr.1987),
aff’d on rehearing,
742 P.2d 562 (Okl.Cr.1987);
James v. State,
731 P.2d 1384 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Moore v. State,
736 P.2d 161 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Brecheen v. State,
732 P.2d 889 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Johnson v. State,
731 P.2d 993 (Okl.Cr.1987);
Smith v. State,
727 P.2d 1366 (Okl.Cr.1986);
Thompson v. State,
724 P.2d 780 (Okl.Cr.1986),
cert, granted,
— U.S.-, 107 S.Ct. 1284, 94 L.Ed.2d 143 (1987);
Walker
v.
State,
723 P.2d 273 (Okl.Cr.1986); VanW
oundenberg v. State,
720 P.2d 328 (Okl.Cr.1986),
cert, denied,
— U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 447, 93 L.Ed.2d 395 (1986);
Newsted
v.
State,
720 P.2d 734 (Okl.Cr.1986),
cert, denied,
— U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 599, 93 L.Ed.2d 599 (1986);
Brewer v. State,
718 P.2d 354 (Okl.Cr.1986),
cert, denied,
— U.S.-, 107 S.Ct. 245, 93 L.Ed.2d 169 (1986);
Ross v. State,
717 P.2d 117 (Okl.Cr.1986);
Bowen
v.
State,
715 P.2d 1093 (Okl.Cr.1985),
vacated sub nom. Bowen v. Maynard,
799 F.2d 593 (10th Cir.1986),
cert. denied,
— U.S.-, 107 S.Ct. 458, 93 L.Ed.2d 404 (1986);
Foster v. State,
714 P.2d 1031 (Okl.Cr.1986),
cert, denied,
— U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 249, 93 L.Ed.2d 173 (1986);
Green v. State,
713 P.2d 1032 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
— U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 241, 93 L.Ed.2d 165 (1986);
Liles v. State,
702 P.2d 1025 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
— U.S.-, 106 S.Ct. 2291, 90 L.Ed.2d 732 (1985);
Banks v. State,
701 P.2d 418 (Okl.Cr.1985);
Cooks v. State,
699 P.2d 653 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
474 U.S. 935, 106 S.Ct. 268, 88 L.Ed.2d 275 (1985);
Cartwright v. State,
695 P.2d 548 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
473 U.S. 911, 105 S.Ct. 3538, 87 L.Ed.2d 661 (1985),
aff’d,
708 P.2d 592 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
474 U.S. 1073, 106 S.Ct. 837, 88 L.Ed.2d 808 (1986);
Brogie v. State,
695 P.2d 538 (Okl.Cr.1985);
Stout v. State,
693 P.2d 617 (Okl.Cr.1984),
cert, denied,
472 U.S. 1022, 105 S.Ct. 3489, 87 L.Ed.2d 623 (1985);
Nuckols v. State,
690 P.2d 463 (Okl.Cr.1984),
cert, denied,
471 U.S. 1030, 105 S.Ct. 2050, 85 L.Ed.2d 323 (1985);
Robison v. State,
677 P.2d 1080 (Okl.Cr.1984),
cert, denied,
467 U.S. 1246, 104 S.Ct. 3524, 82 L.Ed.2d 831 (1984);
Dutton v. State,
674 P.2d 1134 (OkI.Cr.1984),
cert, denied,
467 U.S. 1256, 104 S.Ct. 3548, 82 L.Ed.2d 850 (1984),
modified,
812 F.2d 593 (10th Cir.1987);
Stafford v. State,
669 P.2d 285 (Okl.Cr.1983),
vacated,
467 U.S. 1212, 104 S.Ct. 2652, 81 L.Ed.2d 359 (1984),
aff’d on remand,
697 P.2d 165 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
474 U.S. 865, 106 S.Ct. 188, 88 L.Ed.2d 157 (1985);
Coleman v. State,
668 P.2d 1126 (Okl.Cr.1983),
cert, denied,
464 U.S. 1073, 104 S.Ct. 986, 79 L.Ed.2d 222 (1984),
aff’d,
693 P.2d 4 (Okl.Cr.1984);
Stafford v. State,
665 P.2d 1205 (Okl.Cr.1983), vacated, 467 U.S, 1212, 104 S.Ct. 2651, 81 L.Ed.2d 359 (1984),
aff’d on remand,
700 P.2d 223 (Okl.Cr.1985),
cert, denied,
474 U.S. 865, 106 S.Ct. 188, 88 L.Ed.2d 157 (1985);
Davis v. State,
665 P.2d 1186 (Okl.Cr.1983),
cert, denied,
464 U.S. 865, 104 S.Ct. 203, 78 L.Ed.2d 177 (1983);
Ake v. State,
663 P.2d 1 (Okl.Cr.1983),
rev‘d,
470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985);
Parks v. State,
651 P.2d 686 (Okl.Cr.1982),
cert, denied,
459 U.S. 1155, 103 S.Ct. 800, 74 L.Ed.2d 1003 (1983);
Jones v. State,
648 P.2d 1251 (Okl.Cr.1982),
cert, denied,
459 U.S. 1155, 103 S.Ct. 799, 74 L.Ed.2d 1002 (1983),
aff’d,
704 P.2d 1138
. Parker v. State, 713 P.2d 1032 (OkI.Cr.1985); Kelly v. State, 692 P.2d 563 (Okl.Cr.1984); Eddings v. State, 616 P.2d 1159 (Okl.Cr.1980), modified, 688 P.2d 342 (Okl.Cr.1984), cert, denied, 470 U.S. 1051, 105 S.Ct. 1750, 84 L.Ed.2d 814 (1985); Morgan v. State, No. F-79-487 (Okl.Cr. Nov. 14, 1983) (Unpublished); Johnson v. State, 665 P.2d 815 (Okl.Cr.1982); Glidewell v. State, 663 P.2d 738 (Okl.Cr.1983); Jones v. State, 660 P.2d 634 (Okl.Cr.1983); Driskell v. State, 659 P.2d 343 (Okl.Cr.1983); Boutwell v. State, 659 P.2d 322 (Okl.Cr.1983); Munn v. State, 658 P.2d 482 (Okl.Cr.1983); Odum v. State, 651 P.2d 703 (Okl.Cr.1982); Burrows v. State, 640 P.2d 533 (Okl.Cr.1982), cert, denied, 460 U.S. 1011, 103 S.Ct. 1250, 75 L.Ed.2d 480 (1983); Franks v. State, 636 P.2d 361 (Okl.Cr.1981), cert, denied, 455 U.S. 1026, 102 S.Ct. 1729, 72 L.Ed.2d 147 (1982); Irvin v. State, 617 P.2d 588 (Okl.Cr.1980).