43 N.Y.2d 17 | NY | 1977
Lead Opinion
OPINION OF THE COURT
In the setting of these two appeals, in each of which defendant has been sentenced to death, we are called upon to determine the constitutionality of New York’s death penalty statute—a legal issue—not to express our views as to whether such a statute, granted that it is constitutional, is wise or advisable—a legislative concern.
I
Defendant Joseph Davis appeals directly from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County, convicting him, after a jury trial, of murder in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and sentencing him to death for the crime of
At about 10:30 p.m. on September 17, 1974, Officer Harold Woods of the Yonkers Police Department was in plain clothes and on his way to report for duty when he stopped at an A & P in Yonkers for a container of milk. As he attempted to leave the market, one of two men who were in the process of robbing the place stopped him. When Woods identified himself as a policeman, the robber shot him in the neck causing his death five days later. Favia, the assistant manager of the A & P, testified that a man approached him, produced a gun, directed him to the cashier’s booth where Mary Cahill was preparing the night’s deposit and then ordered them to put money into a canvas bag which he carried. While placing money in the sack, Favia heard a shot at the front of the store and a voice saying "Come on, man, we have to get out of here.” Kevin Wynne, the boyfriend of Mary Cahill, related that another man, whom he identified as defendant, stood by the door; that, when a customer attempted to leave, defendant pushed him back; and that, when the customer proceeded forward again, inquired what was going on and said he was a cop, defendant took out a gun and shot him. Mary Cahill swore that, after she and Favia had placed over $5,000 into the bag, she heard a man near the front doors say "Oh, you’re a cop”, followed by an expletive and then a shot. Charlie Cola, a produce clerk, testified he saw defendant push a man in the front entrance area and say "Get back in there”, that defendant pushed the man again saying "Get back into the store”, that the man said "What are you doing? I’m a cop” and that defendant then shot him. Ann Ringler, a checker, heard a "pop” by the door, looked over and saw a man fall to the floor bleeding with defendant standing over him. Melvin Jones, an FBI informer, took the stand and stated that on September 18, 1974 he was at a bar in Manhattan when defendant and "Bo” Perkins appeared, that they told him they did something and had just "wasted” a guy up in Yonkers or Mount Vernon, that they both had .38 revolvers and money, that defendant gave him a $50 bill and also gave money to Lu, the owner of the bar who was defendant’s girl friend.
Defendant testified in his own behalf. He recalled that he flew to New Orleans on a Delta Airlines flight on September 6, 1974, that the plane arrived there in the evening and was met by defendant’s first cousin, Arthur Johnson. He stated that at
On rebuttal, Danny Mese testified that on September 17 he saw a tow truck operated by a man named Mitchell and that he did not see anyone with him. A Delta Airlines stewardess testified she saw defendant on a flight from New Orleans to New York on September 11, 17 or 23.
Defendant contends that it was error for the court not to admit into evidence, unconditionally on his offer, a photograph identified as People’s Exhibit 35. Utilizing a device creating a photo montage incorporating certain features of a suspect which is then projected upon a screen, Wynne assisted in the construction of two images resembling the two men involved in the A & P robbery—"[f]irst * * * the robber” and "then the shooter”. Photographs were then taken of each projection in the same order. When asked what Exhibit 35 was, Wynne responded: "It’s supposed to be the picture of the man that shot the police officer.” He stated that the exhibit was not a photographic reproduction of the picture that was on the screen, differing in that "like the face blew up. The cheeks were larger. Like the eyebrows became lighter. As you can see, there was like a glare on the screen from the picture, and that’s pretty much what happened. Like it just blew up the face entirely.” The witness identified Exhibit 36 as "supposed to be the photograph of the robber” and said that both photos were distorted from the pictures he had seen on the screen, that "[t]hese are not the guys I picked” and that
The name and address of Oliver Smith was listed in the People’s alibi notice of rebuttal. The People did not call Smith but the defendant did call him as a surrebuttal witness, whereupon he testified that he gave to the Yonkers police a signed statement dealing with the case and that he "had made [the] statement under duress.” At that point, an objection was made and sustained. In discussing the ruling, defense counsel stated, relating a conversation he had with Smith, that Smith had been taken to a precinct in New York City where he was interrogated, that a day or two later he was picked up by New York City police in the company of a Yonkers detective or two and taken to a second New York City precinct for questioning, that at this juncture he told "them” he was on parole and "they” said "Well, look, Smith, just by being in this headquarters you are in violation of parole”, that they prodded him as to when he last saw Davis, that at a fourth interview in Yonkers Smith said "Look, fellows, you write down anything you want about what I know, and I will sign it”, and that, as counsel understood it, the statement says he saw Davis in New York during the middle of September, 1974. While a party’s attempt to procure false testimony or to corrupt a witness, though collateral to the issues, is competent as an admission by acts and conduct that the party’s case is weak and its evidence dishonest (Nowack v Metropolitan St. Ry. Co., 166 NY 433, 437) and while the fact that evidence was fabricated is admissible even though the evidence itself was not used (see 1 Wharton’s Criminal Evidence [13th ed], § 218), there is no indication, much less proof, of falsification on the part of the police or misconduct such as bribery of a witness nor any "fastening” of such wrongdoing to the prosecution (see McCormick, Evidence [2d ed], § 273, p 660). Here, the
Relevant evidence means "evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence” (Uniform Rules of Evidence, rule 401 [1974]). It tends to convince that the fact sought to be established is so (People v Yazum, 13 NY2d 302, 304). Relevance, however, is not always enough, since "even if the evidence is proximately relevant, it may be rejected if its probative value is outweighed by the danger that its admission would prolong the trial to an unreasonable extent without any corresponding advantage; or would confuse the main issue and mislead the jury; or unfairly surprise a party; or create substantial danger of undue prejudice to one of the parties” (Richardson, Evidence [Prince—10th ed], § 147, p 117; see, also, People v Harris, 209 NY 70, 82; McCormick, Evidence [2d ed], § 185, pp 438-440). Since the attempt to introduce Smith’s testimony on a collateral issue was for the obvious purpose of creating the impression that a substantial portion of the prosecution’s proof was tainted in a fashion similar to the proffered Smith account, the probative value of the testimony could be outweighed by dangers that the main issue would be obscured, by prolongation of trial and by the solid possibility of undue prejudice to the prosecution. Therefore, the discretion of the trial court was not abused (see Radosh v Shipstad, 20 NY2d 504, 508; Fisch, New York Evidence [2d ed], § 3, p 5).
There is no merit to defendant’s assertion of error because of the denial of a new trial. The newly discovered evidence which formed the basis of the motion consisted of a copy of an airline schedule, purportedly to prove that defendant could not have returned by air to New Orleans from the New York area after the commission of the crime on September 17, so as to have been seen by the Johnsons in New Orleans early on the morning of September 18. Such proof would be relevant only if one accepted the alibi testimony of defendant, his relatives and friends, which proof was not accepted by the jury. It is conceded in appellant’s brief that defense counsel was aware during trial of certain airline schedules and that "very close to the end of the trial * * * a local travel agent acquainted the defense with a publication known as the Official Airline Guide published by Reuben
II
The second appeal involves a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County, convicting Joseph James of murder, first degree; murder, second degree; attempted murder, second degree; assault, first degree; criminal possession of a weapon, second degree; and escape, second degree; and sentencing him to death for murder in the first degree and to concurrent prison terms for the other crimes. This, too, is a direct appeal.
There was proof that, on the morning of September 9, 1975, James, in the custody of Officers Connor and Motchan of the New York City Department of Corrections, was escorted to the dental clinic at the Kings County Hospital for examination. At that time defendant was incarcerated awaiting trial on an unrelated murder charge. While waiting for X rays to be taken defendant, cuffed to Motchan, asked to go to the lavatory. Motchan, unarmed, went into a bathroom with defendant and removed a chain from defendant’s wrist. Connor, who was armed, remained outside. Defendant seized a pistol, which had been secreted at his request in the bathroom earlier in the day by his girl friend, and confronted Officer Motchan with the weapon. Motchan opened the door and warned his colleague that defendant had a gun, whereupon defendant shot and killed Motchan. Defendant then fired at and hit Connor twice, shot a patient-bystander and escaped from the hospital. Defendant did not take the stand.
Defendant’s brief and reply brief in this court contain points to the effect that the trial court’s Sandoval rulings constituted prejudicial error requiring a retrial and that said court violated the principles of Witherspoon v Illinois (391 US 510) in dismissing six persons in the venire. After filing said briefs, defendant’s appellate counsel, orally and in writing and with defendant’s concurrence after a discussion with trial counsel, has requested the court "not to consider, and treat as withdrawn” these arguments for relief as well as any portion of the point in said briefs to the effect defendant was not provén guilty of murder in the first degree beyond a reasonable doubt,
III.
We all agree that as to defendant Davis, while the facts support a conviction of the crime of murder in the second degree, there has not been proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt as to all of the elements of the crime óf murder in the first degree. After careful review, there continues to be doubt among us concerning whether the victim, Officer Woods, was acting in the line of duty when he was killed, which is one of the elements of murder in the first degree as specified by our Legislature (Penal Law, § 125.27, subd 1). Accordingly, as to defendant Davis we conclude on nonconstitutional grounds that his guilt of murder in the first degree has not been established, and thus do not reach the constitutional issue as to him.
IV
On the other hand, as to defendant James we conclude that there has been proof beyond a reasonable doubt of his guilt of murder in the first degree, for which he has been sentenced to death, and thus now consider his contention that the statutory death penalty provisions under which he was sentenced are unconstitutional. Section 60.06 of the Penal Law, pursuant to which these sentences were imposed provides that ”[w]hen a person is convicted of murder in the first degree as defined in section 125.27, the court shall sentence the defendant to death.” Thus, when read with section 125.27,
We approach our consideration of this issue with full recognition that the State statutes under scrutiny carry with them a strong presumption of constitutionality, that they will be stricken as unconstitutional only as a last resort and that courts may not substitute their judgment for that of the Legislature as to the wisdom and expediency of the legislation. As stated by Justice Blackmun in his dissent in Furman v Georgia (408 US 238, 411): "We should not allow our personal preferences as to the wisdom of legislative * * * action, or our distaste for such action, to guide our judicial decision in cases such as these. The temptations to cross that policy line are very great”. At the same time, it must be kept firmly in mind that this court, as other State courts, is bound by rulings of the United States Supreme Court as to the validity of State statutes under the United States Constitution (Magnolia Petroleum Co. v Hunt, 320 US 430, 438; Bourjois Sales Corp. v Dorfman, 273 NY 167, 171).
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "cruel and unusual punishments [shall not be] inflicted”, and the Fourteenth Amendment by its due process clause prohibits the infliction of such punishment by a State (Francis v Resweber, 329 US 459, 463). In People v Fitzpatrick (32 NY2d 499, 512-513), in considering former death penalty statutes in this State (Penal Law, former §§ 125.30, 125.35), this court stated that "[s]ince * * * the New York statute * * * challenged * * * leaves infliction of the death penalty solely to the discretion of the jury, we conclude, in light of the Supreme Court’s reading of the Eighth Amendment in Fur-man [v Georgia] (408 U. S. 238, supra), that we have no alternative but to hold that that penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment within the sense of that provision”. Since that decision, New York has enacted section 125.27 of the Penal Law (L 1974, ch 367, § 5) which specifies the instances when murder in the first degree is committed and which incorporates two affirmative defenses applicable to those in
Since the enactment of section 125.27, the Supreme Court has issued several opinions concerning State statutes revised in an effort to conform to Furman v Georgia. In Gregg v Georgia (428 US 153), the plurality opinion of the court summarized, at page 195, that "the concerns expressed in Furman that the penalty of death not be imposed in an arbitrary or capricious manner can be met by a carefully drafted statute that ensures that the sentencing authority is given adequate information and guidance. As a general proposition these concerns are best met by a system that provides for a bifurcated proceeding at which the sentencing authority is apprised of the information relevant to the imposition of sentence and provided with standards to guide its use of the information”. (Emphasis added.) In Woodson v North Carolina (428 US 280, 304), it was held that "the fundamental respect for humanity underlying the Eighth Amendment * * * requires consideration of the character and record of the individual offender and the circumstances of the particular offense as a constitutionally indispensable part of the process of inflicting the penalty of death”. In Roberts (Stanislaus) v Louisiana (428 US 325), it was made clear that this principle applies even where the crime of first degree murder is narrowly defined. There it was stated at page 332: "That Louisiana has adopted a different and somewhat narrower definition of first-degree murder than North Carolina is not of controlling constitutional significance. The history of mandatory death penalty statutes indicates a firm societal view that limiting the scope of capital murder is an inadequate response to the harshness and inflexibility of a mandatory death sentence statute.” This analysis is not based simply on the Supreme Court’s conclusion that mandatory death sentences are unduly harsh insofar as they fail to take into account mitigating circumstances; it is also based on the historical fact that "[a]t least since the Revolution, American jurors have, with some regularity, disregarded their oaths and refused to convict defendants where a death sentence was the automatic consequence of a guilty verdict” (Woodson v North Carolina, 428 US 280, 293, supra).
Any doubt concerning the question of constitutionality, however, has now been removed and has been firmly resolved by the Supreme Court in Roberts (Harry) v Louisiana (431 US 633). It is decisive. There, Harry Roberts was indicted and convicted of first degree murder of a police officer, engaged at the time of his death in the performance of his duties, and, as required by Louisiana statute (La Rev Stat Ann, § 14:30), was sentenced to death. There, in view of prior holdings (see 431 US, at p 638, n 7), a majority of the Supreme Court, with clarity and direction and without obfuscation, stated (pp 636-637):
"To be sure, the fact that the murder victim was a peace officer performing his regular duties may be regarded as an aggravating circumstance. There is a special interest in affording protection to these public servants who regularly must risk their lives in order to guard the safety of other persons and property. But it is incorrect to suppose that no mitigating circumstances can exist when the victim is a police officer. Circumstances such as the youth of the offender, the absence of any prior conviction, the influence of drugs, alcohol, or extreme emotional disturbance, and even the existence of circumstances which the offender reasonably believed provided a moral justification for his conduct are all examples of mitigating facts which might attend the killing of a peace officer and which are considered relevant in other jurisdictions.
"As we emphasized repeatedly in Roberts and its companion cases decided last Term, it is essential that the capital-sentencing decision allow for consideration of whatever mitigating circumstances may be relevant to either the particular offender or the particular offense. Because the Louisiana
So, too, plainly and simply and without verbiage, because the New York statute "does not allow consideration of particularized mitigating factors” for purposes of "the capital sentencing decision” as to "the particular offender”, it is unconstitutional.
That the statutory framework may in some manner reflect various mitigating factors as defenses is not enough to save New York’s death penalty statute from constitutional infirmity. Similar defenses are found in other jurisdictions, including those whose death penalty statute has been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. For example, Louisiana has many of the same defenses found in the New York statutes: (1) "sudden passion or heat of blood” in given circumstances may reduce a homicide to manslaughter (La Rev Stat Ann, § 14:31, subd [1]); (2) justification is a defense to prosecution for a crime (§ 14:18); (3) incapacity to distinguish between right and wrong because of mental disease or defect is a defense (§ 14:14), and intoxication may preclude specific criminal intent (§ 14:15). Similar to New York’s defense of duress (Penal Law, § 40.00) is Louisiana’s justification defense of compulsion, but such is not a defense to murder in that jurisdiction (see La Rev Stat Ann, § 14:18, subd [6]). In addition, Louisiana has a defense of infancy (§ 14:13), as does New York (Penal Law, § 30.00), but its statute does not set forth a specific age limitation in the case of capital crimes. In this respect, however, under the recent decisions of the Supreme Court the exclusion of an entire category of offenders under 18 years of age by New York (Penal Law, § 125.27, subd 1, par [b]) from punishment by death is not a mitigating factor since such limitations do not afford individualized consideration of the offender (Rockwell v Superior Ct. of Ventura County, 18 Cal 3d 420, 438). Aside from the fact that Louisiana’s law includes many of the same defenses, examination of the statutory defenses reveals their inadequacy as a solution to the constitutional deficiencies of New York’s death penalty statute.
The problem lies partly in the distinction between a defense as that term is used in criminology and mitigating factors as
The plurality of the Supreme Court was careful to state that it was not suggesting that a finding of constitutionality was dependent on following exactly the procedures used in those statutes upheld by it, instead explaining that "each distinct system must be examined on an individual basis” (Gregg v Georgia, 428 US 153, 195, supra). But, except in circumstances not relevant here,
Of telling significance, the New York defenses do not take into account the character, propensity, record or attributes of the individual offender. This omission results from the simple fact that an unblemished record and evidence of prior good character has never been considered as a defense, and probably never will be. Of course, one may infer character from conduct, but the Supreme Court has indicated that a more individualized consideration is necessary. Hence, while there may be some visual or empirical satisfaction derived from counting and generally comparing the New York defenses with the mitigating factors indorsed by the Supreme Court, the fact is that these defenses do not require consideration of the character and record of the individual in respect to his sentence or punishment as mandated by the Supreme Court (see, e.g., Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, supra).
This individualized consideration, with proper guidance and standards, is the crucial aspect of the sentencing decision. "What is essential is that the jury have before it all possible relevant information about the individual defendant whose fate it must determine” (Jurek v Texas, 428 US 262, 276, supra). New York’s defenses simply do not present the re
Accordingly, the argument urging constitutionality fails for two reasons: initially, because the statutory framework does not permit the consideration of legally insufficient defenses as mitigating factors, and, more importantly, because these defenses do not present sufficient information about the character and record of the individual to allow a constitutionally permissible sentencing decision. Properly viewed, it is thus apparent that our statute is a mandatory capital punishment statute of the same type as has been struck down by the Supreme Court.
V
Under the Constitution of our State, in capital cases in which the sentence of death has been imposed, this court is vested with the power to and must review the facts (NY Const, art VI, §§ 3, 5; People v Carbonaro, 21 NY2d 271, 274). The scope of our inquiry into the facts in capital cases was defined in People v Crum (272 NY 348, 350): "A review of the facts means that we shall examine the evidence to determine whether in our judgment it has been sufficient to make out a case of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. We are obliged to weigh the evidence and form a conclusion as to the facts. It is not sufficient, as in most of the cases with us, to find evidence which presents a question of fact; it is necessary to go further before we can affirm a conviction and find that the evidence is of such weight and credibility as to convince us that the jury was justified in finding the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
As to appellant Davis, the judgment should be modified by vacating the sentence of death and the case remitted to Supreme Court, Westchester County, for resentencing and, as so modified, the judgment should be affirmed.
As to appellant James, the judgment should be modified by vacating the sentence of death and the case remitted to Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing, and, as so modified, the judgment should be affirmed.
APPENDIX
"A person is guilty of murder in the first degree when:
"1. With intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person; and
"(a) Either:
"(i) the victim was a police officer as defined in subdivision 34 of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law who was killed in the course of performing his official duties, and the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was a police officer; or "(ii) the victim was an employee of a state correctional institution or was an employee of a local correctional*38 facility as defined in subdivision two of section forty of the correction law, who was killed in the course of performing his official duties, and the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was an employee of a state correctional institution or a local correctional facility; or
"(iii) at the time of the commission of the crime, the defendant was confined in a state correctional institution, or was otherwise in custody upon a sentence for the term of his natural life, or upon a sentence commuted to one of natural life, or upon a sentence for an indeterminate term the minimum of which was at least fifteen years and the maximum of which was natural life, or at the time of the commission of the crime, the defendant had escaped from such confinement or custody and had not yet been returned to such confinement or custody; and
"(b) The defendant was more than eighteen years old at the time of the commission of the crime.
"2. In any prosecution under subdivision one it is an affirmative defense that:
"(a) The defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant’s situation under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, manslaughter in the first degree or any other crime except murder in the second degree; or
"(b) The defendant’s conduct consisted of causing or aiding, without the use of duress or deception, another person to commit suicide. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, manslaughter in the second degree or any other crime except murder in the second degree.
"Murder in the first degree is a class A-l felony.”
. Section 125.27 of the Penal Law, entitled "Murder in the first degree”, added by section 5 of chapter 367 of the Laws of 1974 and effective September 1, 1974 (see Appendix).
. We are advised that this argument—that New York’s defenses reflect mitigating factors—was presented to the Supreme Court (see brief of the Attorney-General of State of New York as amicus curiae in Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, supra).
. The Supreme Court has reserved the question of whether or in what circumstances mandatory death sentence statutes may be constitutionally applied to prison
. Inasmuch as we have declared our death penalty statute unconstitutional under the United States Constitution and the decisions of the United States Supreme Court, we need not pass upon its constitutionality under the State Constitution.
Dissenting Opinion
I would modify in the Davis case to reduce the conviction to murder in the second degree on the ground that defendant’s guilt of murder
The constitutional issue before the court is, as the majority opinion observes, not to be determined by the philosophical or penological predilections of the court or its individual members on the appropriateness of capital punishment as a sanction in a civilized society. Instead, the issue is whether Federal constitutional limitations allow the Legislature as the lawmaking representatives of the people to determine the values and judgments to be attached to the several factors influencing the choice of capital punishment as a sanction.
Davis and James, defendants in unrelated criminal cases, each convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death, appeal directly to this court (NY Const, art VI, § 3, subd b; CPL 450.70). One intentionally killed a police officer. The other intentionally killed a correction officer.
There are two issues. The first, given this court’s power to review the facts in a capital case, is whether, in each case, the evidence justifies the jury’s verdict (NY Const, art VI, § 3,
The evidence in the Davis case failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the police officer killed was acting in the line of duty at the time he was shot. Hence, the crime of first degree murder was not made out and there should be a modification.
The judgment against defendant James should be affirmed. In his case, every element of first degree murder was established beyond a reasonable doubt. Because the New York statute defining first degree murder is so narrowly drawn, and because the statutory scheme takes into consideration possible mitigating factors by making them defenses to the substantive crime, it does not run afoul of constitutional limitations.
On September 17, 1974, Davis participated in an armed robbery of a supermarket. While his collaborator filled a canvas bag with money in excess of $5,000, Davis stood watch, relatively inconspicuously, just inside the exit door. Police Officer Woods, not in uniform, but about to report for work, had just paid for his purchases, apparently unaware of the ongoing robbery. As Woods attempted to leave the store, he was shoved by Davis and ordered to "get back in the store.” Recovering and starting out for a second time, he was again repulsed. Angrily, according to one witness, he exclaimed, "What are you doing. I’m a cop.” Davis responded with a statement, "You’re a cop, huh”, and a bullet, which felled Officer Woods. This exchange was corroborated by other witnesses. Davis and his cohort emptied another cash register, ordered everyone to the back, and left. Officer Woods, having suffered a severed spinal cord, died five days later of broncho-pneumonia.
At trial, the proof of Davis’ guilt was overwhelming. Six witnesses placed him at the scene; four of these witnessed the killing and identified Davis as the killer. In addition, an FBI informer testified to admissions made to him by defendant. The defense sought to place Davis in New Orleans at the time of the shooting, but his alibi witnesses failed to contradict convincingly the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.
There is no doubt whatever that appellant James is guilty of the killing of Correction Officer Motchan. For almost two months, James, jailed on a pending murder charge, with an impending probability of a life sentence, discussed his escape with a girl friend, Patricia Singleton, during daily telephone conversations. Then on September 7, 1975, on defendant’s request, the girl friend procured a gun. After receiving further instructions from defendant on the morning of September 9, Miss Singleton left the gun in the lavatory in the Kings County Hospital Dental Clinic, where James had an appointment that day.
James was escorted to the clinic by two correction officers, Motchan and Connor. When defendant asked to use the lavatory, Officer Motchan, unarmed, accompanied him, while Officer Connor waited outside the door. After some scuffling in the lavatory, Officer Motchan emerged, without being able to close the door behind him, warning Connor that appellant had a gun. A shot from the lavatory hit Motchan in the back, mortally wounding him, and James, in the course of his escape, also wounded Officer Connor and an innocent bystander in the now-panicked waiting area.
James contended that the undisputed shooting was an "accident”, caused by Motchan’s stumbling as he left the lavatory. But the testimony of eyewitnesses does not support this contention, and defendant’s continued shooting at other bystanders belies it. And if more' be needed, there is defendant’s desperate letter to a former girl friend, sent days before the attempted escape: "Listen, Debbie, I am very serious about what I am about to say. I am going to have an interview this week. I’m getting out of here or die trying. And if I die trying, you know me, that I am going to take someone with me”.
Although it is beyond reasonable doubt that each appellant intentionally caused the death of his victim, in the Davis case, a police officer, and in the James case, a correction officer, that alone is not enough to establish a violation of section 125.27 of the Penal Law. The restricted scope of that section requires that the officer be "killed in the course of performing his official duties” (subd 1, par [a], els [i], [ii]). As to this element, there was a failure of proof in the Davis case. True, decedent Woods announced "I’m a cop”, provoking Davis to shoot him. But from those words alone, one may not draw
The James case, by contrast, falls squarely within the proscription of the statute (Penal Law, § 125.27). What remains to be addressed is only the constitutional challenge to the statute mandating a sentence of death (Penal Law, § 60.06).
Section 125.27 of the Penal Law, defining first degree murder, is applicable only to three categories of intentional killing. The first two cover killings of police officers and correctional employees in the course of performing their duties, where defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was a police officer or correctional employee (subd 1, par [a], els [i], [ii]). The third category applies to defendants who were life prisoners or escaped life prisoners (cl [iii]). There are, significantly, two ameliorative provisions in the statute. First, a defendant may not be convicted of first degree murder unless he is at least 18 years of age (subd 1, par [b]). Second, it is a defense in a prosecution for first degree murder that defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance (subd 2, par [a]).
It is now settled, for the nonce, at least, that capital punishment, per se, does not violate Federal constitutional prohibitions of cruel and unusual punishment (Gregg v Georgia, 428 US 153, 168-187; Proffitt v Florida, 428 US 242, 247; Jurek v Texas, 428 US 262, 268). Although the Supreme Court has held invalid mandatory capital punishment statutes covering a wide range of offenses, it has never been held that all mandatory capital punishment statutes are necessarily inconsistent with the Constitution (see Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, 431 US 633; Roberts [Stanislaus] v Louisiana, 428 US 325; Woodson v North Carolina, 428 US 280). In fact, it has been noted, explicitly, that mandatory capital punishment
The life prisoner presents a special case, according to the Supreme Court, because there may be no satisfactory deterrent other than the death penalty. But the court did not hold that only in the case of a life prisoner may a mandatory capital punishment statute be applied. Only a weak imagination would fail to perceive other cases just as special as that of the life prisoner. For instance, belief that a soldier is frightened of death and considering desertion in time of war may justify the threat of capital punishment to keep him at his station. And, of course, a prisoner like appellant James in the instant case, not yet sentenced to life imprisonment, but facing a murder charge which could well bring upon him such a sentence, presents a case no different from that of the life prisoner. Nor would the killing of a victim of or witness to a crime punishable by life imprisonment, to prevent successful identification and prosecution for the first crime, be of a different nature.
The Supreme Court has recognized, then, that mandatory capital punishment statutes applicable only in very special cases may not run afoul of constitutional limitations. It is not, however, necessary to decide whether all the categories of section 125.27 of the Penal Law constitute "special” cases, because the New York statute is not truly a "mandatory” capital punishment statute, as that term has been used by the Supreme Court.
Crucial are the statutory defense of extreme emotional disturbance and the limitation on conviction of first degree murder to persons more than 18 years old. These mitigating circumstances are precisely the kind of factors, specific to the offense or the offender, which the Supreme Court has required to sustain capital punishment statutes (see, e.g., Gregg v Georgia, 428 US 153, 193-195, n 44, supra). In fact, of the eight mitigating circumstances proposed by the Model Penal Code, and cited in Gregg, six are, in some manner, reflected in the New York statutory scheme: (1) extreme emotional disturbance is a defense to murder (Penal Law, § 125.27, subd 2, par [a]); (2) conduct causing or aiding another to commit suicide
It is notable that these are factors that the Supreme Court in the Roberts (Harry) case (431 US 633, 636-637, supra), relied on and quoted by the majority, stipulated as bearing upon the validity of a capital punishment statute. New York’s statutory scheme is even better in raising these factors to complete or partial defenses.
True, other capital punishment statutes sustained by the Supreme Court have provided for consideration of mitigating factors after the jury has convicted defendant of the substantive offense (Gregg v Georgia, 428 US 153, 196-198, supra; Proffitt v Florida, 428 US 242, 247-253; supra; Jurek v Texas, 428 US 262, 268-274, supra). But there is no reason to assume that mitigating factors could not, instead, and even preferably, be built into the definition of the substantive offense. Indeed, the Supreme Court itself used similar analysis in Jurek v Texas, indicating that narrowing the categories of murders for which capital punishment may be imposed serves much the same function as listing aggravating factors for the jury to consider (supra, p 270). The situation is analogous where mitigating factors are involved. Certainly, if every possible mitigating factor were made a defense to the substantive crime, there would be little reason for the jury to consider mitigating factors in making a discretionary sentencing determination.
Section 125.27 of the Penal Law does not, of course, encompass every conceivable mitigating circumstance. But the Constitution does not require so much. It is essential only "that the capital-sentencing decision allow for consideration of whatever mitigating circumstances may be relevant to either the particular offender or the particular offense” (Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, 431 US 633, 637, supra).
Nor in justice to the Supreme Court should it be assumed that that court would harden for all time under constitutional standards all conceivable categories of mitigating circumstances or that all must be accorded recognition, or that the procedure for their recognition must follow a particular pattern laid down by the court. It has had much too much trouble with this very problem not to be more flexible. The very caveats and provisos in its most recent opinions make this point explicit so that it is not necessary to have recourse to inference. Moreover, that court addresses constitutional principles and does not purport to write or dictate a statutory criminal code.
To recapitulate, it has never been held that all mandatory capital punishment statutes violate the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Constitution. At least in a narrowly drawn category of special cases, a category which may be broad enough to include the entire New York statute, failure to provide for consideration of mitigating factors does not make a capital punishment statute constitutionally defective. But, in any event, the New York statute, although written in mandatory terms, is not embracively mandatory in that it does not encompass, indiscriminately and without consideration of mitigating factors, a mass aggregation of crimes. Thus, since section 125.27 of the Penal Law does require the jury to consider mitigating factors as elements of the substantive crime of first degree murder, there is no constitutional violation.
That the Constitution plays an important role in limiting the scope of capital punishment statutes is not now a matter of controversy. Unbridled jury discretion, because of possible discriminatory effects, must not be an element of the sentencing process in capital cases (Furman v Georgia, 408 US 238, reh den 409 US 902). At the opposite end of the spectrum, statutes which require mechanical application of the death penalty without any consideration of circumstances surrounding the crime and the criminal, are also unconstitutional (Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, 431 US 633, 637, supra; Roberts [Stanislaus] v Louisiana, 428 US 325, 333, supra; Woodson v North Carolina, 428 US 280, 304, supra).
The ultimate issue is whether society through its Legislature or lawmaking body may determine the usefulness of capital punishment or whether Judges are empowered to do so, recognizing that capital punishment has been a sanction throughout the history of Anglo-American law. Progressively, lawmaking bodies have restricted more and more the use of that sanction. Rarely, although on occasion, has the sanction been reinvoked. England treated the matter legislatively and eliminated the sanction for murder (Murder [Abolition of Death Penalty] Act, 1965, c 71, as amd by Statute Law [Repeals] Act, 1973, and Statute Law [Repeals] Act, 1974). Many States of the Union have abolished capital punishment. The Supreme Court, both in Furman, and in subsequent cases, has never presumed to strike down the sanction as inherently invalid. It has only attacked the procedures used which allowed arbitrariness or compelled mechanical absolutist application across a broad range of homicide offenses. Nor has it ever presumed, in this troubled area, to deny the power of the Legislature to rely on the extreme sanction. Its greatest concern has been the racial discrimination which resulted from the arbitrariness allowed fact finders and sentencing courts under the old procedures (see Furman v Georgia, 408 US 238, supra). In the later cases it reacted to the brutality and undiscriminating mechanical application of the "absolutist” cure to the risk of arbitrariness in the "discretionary” procedures which had prevailed before (see Woodson v North Carolina, 428 US 280, supra; Roberts [Stanislaus] v Louisiana, 428 US 325, supra; Roberts [Harry] v Louisiana, 431 US 633, supra). These are the concerns which motivated the Supreme Court’s treatment of the problem.
Accordingly, I dissent in part and vote to reduce the judg
Judges Jones, Wachtler and Fuchsberg concur with Judge Cooke; Chief Judge Breitel concurs in a separate opinion in which Judges Jasen and Gabrielli concur.
In People v Davis: Judgment modified and the case remitted to Supreme Court, Westchester County, for resentencing in accordance with the opinion herein and, as so modified, affirmed.
Judges Jones, Wachtler and Fuchsberg concur with Judge Cooke; Chief Judge Breitel dissents and votes to affirm in a separate opinion in which Judges Jasen and Gabrielli concur.
In People v James: Judgment modified and the case remitted to Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing in accordance with the opinion herein and, as so modified, affirmed.
Speaking for myself alone among the dissenters I find capital punishment repulsive, unproven to be an effective deterrent (of which the James case itself is illustrative), unworthy of a civilized society (except perhaps for deserters in time of war) because of the occasion of mistakes and changes in social values as to what are mitigating circumstances, and the brutalizing of all those who participate directly or indirectly in its infliction. This has been a lifelong view buttressed by over 40 years of experience as prosecutor, counsel to the Governor entailing 81 applications for commutation of capital sentences, Judge, member of the "National Crime Commission”, witness before the British Royal Commission on Capital Punishment, and member of the American Law Institute and its Advisory Committee on the Model Penal Code. In all of these roles, when appropriate, I actively resisted viewing capital punishment as a proper or useful sanction for civilian crime. (With respect to the dubiousness of capital punishment as a deterrent, see Royal Commission on Capital Punishment, 1949-1953 Report, pp 18, 328-380; Sellin, The Death Penalty [1959], pp 19-63; President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, Challenge of Crime in a Free Society, p 143; Model Penal Code, § 201.6, Comment [Tent Draft No. 9, 1959]; Temporary Commission on Revision of Penal Law and Criminal Code, Special Report on Capital Punishment [1965], pp 86-94, in NY Legis Doc, 1965, No. 25; Forst, Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment: A Cross-State Analysis of the 1960’s, 61 Minn L Rev 743).
