132 Wash. 2d 529 | Wash. | 1997
Lead Opinion
Appellant Cal Coburn Brown upon direct review appeals his conviction and sentence for aggravated first degree murder. A jury in the King County Superior Court, after a finding of "guilty,” determined he did not merit leniency. The trial court then on January 18, 1994 sentenced Appellant to death as required by statute. We affirm the conviction and sentence.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
The following questions are presented by this appeal:
(1) Whether, under RCW 10.95, the capital punishment statute, (a) there was sufficient evidence to justify the affirmative finding by the jury that there were not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency; (b) the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the
(2) Whether the proportionality review mandated by RCW 10.95.130 is void for vagueness under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and article I, sections 3 and 14 of the Washington Constitution;
(3) Whether statements made by prosecuting attorneys during the guilt and penalty phases of the trial constituted prosecutorial misconduct which denied Appellant a fair trial;
(4) Whether the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Susan J. Schnell, surviving victim in a criminal encounter with Appellant in California;
(5) Whether the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Jan M. Gray and Ms. Brieanna C. West, who had noncriminal encounters with Appellant in California and Washington;
(6) Whether Appellant was adequately advised of his Miranda rights before making statements to Palm Springs, California police detectives;
(7) Whether Appellant’s statements to Palm Springs, California police, which were recorded without his knowledge as permitted by California law, violated Washington’s Privacy Act, RCW 9.73, and thus were inadmissible in Washington courts;
(8) Whether there is before this court a record of "sufficient completeness” for adequate appellate review of the issues presented in Appellant’s appeal;
(9) Whether the trial court erred in allowing prospective jurors to be "death qualified” during voir dire examination;
(10) Whether certain prospective jurors were properly excused for cause;
(11) Whether the terms "premeditation” and "intent” were sufficiently explained in the trial court’s instructions to the jury;
(13) Whether the trial court erred in refusing to give the jury certain instructions proposed by the defense in the penalty phase;
(14) Whether Appellant was properly served with the Notice of Special Sentencing Proceeding required by RCW 10.95.040(2);
(15) Whether Criminal Rule 4.7 (CrR 4.7) mandates reciprocal pretrial discovery of evidence relevant to the penalty phase in a capital case; and
(16) Whether the trial court erred in refusing to admit victim impact evidence in the penalty phase of the trial.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On May 27, 1991, Memorial Day, King County police, following a telephone call from police detectives in Palm Springs, California, discovered the body of a twenty-one-year-old woman, Ms. Holly C. Washa, in the trunk of her 1985 blue Oldsmobile automobile parked in space 266 of a Budget Park and Ride lot near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport. She was wearing a leather jacket covered with blood, and the strap of her purse was tied and knotted tightly around her neck. The strap was sunken into the cavity of a deep slash wound across her neck.
The events surrounding Ms. Washa’s death began on May 18, 1991 when the appellant in this case, Cal Coburn Brown, was in La Jolla, California at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. While in the hotel lounge, Appellant met Ms. Jan M. Gray from the Seattle area, who was in La Jolla with her mother on vacation. While socializing with Ms. Gray and her mother, Appellant told them he was an architect who built houses. He also told them he had trouble meeting single women. Ms. Gray mentioned that she had a single friend named Brieanna West who also lived in the Seattle area and who had similar problems meeting single men. After some coaxing by Appellant, Ms. Gray tele
On May 20, 1991, Appellant traveled by air to Seattle. En route, there was a scheduled stop in Ontario, California, where Ms. Susan J. Schnell boarded for a business trip to Lewiston, Idaho. Appellant and Ms. Schnell, who were sitting near each other, began talking during the flight. She found him friendly and interesting. He told her he was a "home designer” and spoke with an Australian accent. He also told her he wanted to see her again. She gave him her home and business telephone numbers and the name of the hotel where she would be staying in Lewiston. That same evening Appellant met with Ms. Brieanna C. West for drinks at the Seattle-Tacoma Red Lion Inn. She found him physically unattractive and did not want to see him again. Appellant stayed at the Red Lion Inn that night and Ms. West returned to her apartment.
Appellant telephoned Ms. Susan J. Schnell in Idaho at 9:00 p.m. the next evening and asked her if she could spend some time with him in Seattle. She told him she planned to fly back to California the next day, May 22, 1991, and would be in Seattle on a brief layover. She and Appellant made plans to meet at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport during her layover. Appellant then telephoned the Shadow Motel in the airport area and made arrangements to leave his luggage there. He told an employee of the motel he had met a woman and was going to fly to Palm Springs to meet with her again.
On May 22, 1991, Appellant met with Ms. Schnell at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport for dinner. They discussed getting together in Palm Springs for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Without making definite plans, Ms. Schnell took her flight back to Ontario, California. Later that evening, Appellant telephoned Ms. Schnell in California and arranged to spend Memorial Day weekend with her in Palm Springs.
On May 27 and 28, 1991, Appellant made statements to police detectives in Palm Springs, California in three interviews which were recorded without his knowledge. In his statements he related in calm, deliberate, clear, graphic and specific detail a narrative of his activities, with few questions from the detectives, who courteously allowed him to relate his story.
On the morning of May 23, 1991, Ms. Holly C. Washa was at the Wyndham Garden Hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport where she had just quit her part-time job. As she was driving out of the parking lot in her 1985 Oldsmobile, Appellant pointed to one of the tires on her automobile suggesting something was wrong. She stopped. Appellant then forced his way into her automobile, stuck a knife
After purchasing the handcuffs, Appellant took Ms. Washa back to his room at the Shadow Motel where he paid for an extra night. He demanded that she remove all her clothing, after which he tied her to the bed with his neckties and her purse strap. He cut up her shirt and stuffed it into her mouth for a gag. He then ordered her to get dressed again and took her to get something to eat. While at a Burger King drive-through, he held the knife in a threatening position where she could see he might use it. Upon their return to the motel room, he ordered her to remove her clothing and lie face down on the bed. He also told her not to scream or do anything. Appellant said Ms. Washa began fellating him, which he took as her consent for sexual activity.
Appellant then engaged in sexual intercourse with Ms. Washa for about two hours, during which time he noticed she was looking at the door and possibly thinking of escape. Appellant decided it was time "to have a little control, . . . make her a little more scared of me, basically.” He then tied her in a face up, spread-eagle position, with her hands behind her back and her mouth gagged, and whipped her "maybe half a dozen times . . . .”
Appellant allowed Ms. Washa to get dressed again, tied her hands behind her back, and drove her to Federal Way for pizza. When they returned to the motel, Appellant again forced her to undress and tied her to the bed in a face down, spread-eagle position with her hands tied behind her back. He then had sexual intercourse with her again. At about 11:00 p.m. that evening, he telephoned
The next day, Friday, May 24, 1991, Appellant forced Ms. Washa to drive him to her apartment where he hoped to find checks belonging to her roommates that he could forge. He found some checks and attempted to cash them in $500.00 amounts, but was thwarted when the banks wanted to compare signatures with signature cards on file. Appellant became irritated with Ms. Washa when the check-cashing plan did not go as he had hoped. She began to drive somewhat erratically, making him even angrier.
When they returned to the motel, Appellant again tied Ms. Washa to the bed face down in a spread-eagle position with her hands handcuffed behind her back and her mouth gagged with a washcloth. He penetrated her vaginally and anally with an aftershave lotion bottle.
At 8:45 on the evening of May 24, 1991, Appellant left for the Seattle-Tacoma Airport to embark on his trip to California. He forced Ms. Washa into the trunk of her blue 1985 Oldsmobile automobile with her hands handcuffed behind her back and drove to the Doug Fox Travel Agency parking lot where he momentarily parked the automobile. Because shuttle buses were driving around the lot, Appellant was concerned that someone might discover Ms. Washa since "she could just bang and clang
I was going to do her at one place and leave her there and the blood started coming out from underneath the car .... So I panicked and left that place and drove around to a different place . . . with all the rain and stuff it would just wash away and it wouldn’t show.[14 ]
Appellant told detectives he killed Ms. Washa because he did not want to leave any witnesses alive. He also told them he kidnapped her because he needed money to get to California and "didn’t like the idea of waltzing into a bank with my face, you know, all over the place.” He also stated he was "going to rob somebody and let 'em go but then I just realized . . . after I did it that it would just be the same as waltzing into a bank and have my picture taken.”
Appellant also told his Oregon parole officer, Larry Wibbenmeyer, in a telephone conversation on May 28, 1991 that he took Ms. Washa’s life at the last minute. He described his actions as resulting from "panic.”
Events in California
Appellant telephoned Ms. Susan J. Schnell from the airplane while en route to California to confirm the time he would meet her at a hotel near the Ontario Airport.
Appellant and Ms. Schnell spent Sunday, May 26, 1991, touring the Palm Springs area together. She was driving her burgundy red 1981 Corvette sports car. Upon returning from dinner around midnight, they began kissing and fondling. Appellant performed cunnilingus on Ms. Schnell and then offered to give her a back rub. Appellant straddled her while she lay face down on the bed. Suddenly he violently jerked her arms back and told her not to scream. When she did, he slit her throat. As she continued to scream, Appellant restrained her with handcuffs and brought the knife around to her chest and threatened her with it. She saw the knife. He told her he just wanted her money. Appellant repositioned Ms. Schnell on the bed and tied her to it, using her pantyhose. He shaved her pubic hair and raped her vaginally and orally. He then ordered her to write him a check for $4,000.00, which she had difficulty completing to his satisfaction until her third attempt.
Appellant became concerned about Ms. Schnell’s bleeding and told her he was going out for medical supplies. He tried to gag her with a sock and restrain her arms above her head, but abandoned the effort when she began coughing up blood. Her feet, however, remained handcuffed to the bed. While he was gone, she was somehow able to reach the telephone and call the desk clerk. Palm Springs police arrived and took a description of Appellant from Ms. Schnell.
When Palm Springs police officer Glen Haas saw a man
After being processed by the Palm Springs police, Appellant was interviewed by Detective Mark Harvey and his partner, Detective A1 Franz. Three interviews took place between May 27 and May 28, 1991, with the first two initiated by the detectives and the third initiated by Appellant. Before each interview, Appellant was read his Miranda rights, stated he understood them, and agreed to talk with the detectives. Each interview was tape-recorded without Appellant’s knowledge or consent. During the first interview, Appellant in specific detail admitted his attack upon Ms. Schnell. Later in that interview, he admitted killing Ms. Washa before coming to Palm Springs. He told the detectives where the killing took place in Washington and where Ms. Washa’s automobile could be found. The Palm Springs police immediately contacted King County police who dispatched local officers to the Budget parking lot near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport where they located the 1985 blue Oldsmobile in space 266 with Ms. Washa’s body in the trunk. Appellant still had the keys to Ms. Washa’s automobile in his possession.
Based upon his behavior with Ms. Schnell, Appellant pleaded "guilty” in California to attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated mayhem, torture, robbery in the first degree, and false imprisonment. On November 26, 1991 he was sentenced to life imprisonment in that state.
Corroborating Evidence
King County Medical Examiner Donald T. Reay, M.D., performed an autopsy on Ms. Holly C. Washa. He con-
In addition to the lethal injuries, Dr. Reay described other trauma to Ms. Washa’s body. Her pubic hair had been shaved. Her face was severely bruised. Both the inside and outside of her vaginal area were bruised. There was also bruising around her anus. The vaginal and anal injuries indicated forcible penetration with a hard object consistent with an aftershave bottle belonging to Appellant found in his Palm Springs hotel room. Her nipples showed abrasions and a linear pattern of bruising consistent with being whipped by a belt or cord. Similar bruising was found on her inner thigh, which also indicated whipping. Her feet and ankles were covered with bruises consistent with having been restrained. Her chest and abdomen had multiple stab and slicing wounds. An "irregular blemish-like area of red drying” on her inner thigh indicated burning. The stab wounds were consistent with the knife blade of the Leatherman tool Appellant had in his pocket when he was arrested.
Appellant was charged by information on June 11, 1991 in the King County Superior Court with aggravated murder in the first degree. He was arraigned on February 26, 1992. A notice to determine whether the death penalty should be imposed was filed on March 24, 1992. He was tried by jury before the Honorable Ricardo S. Martinez. The trial began with jury selection on October 25, 1993. Guilt phase testimony began on November 30, 1993. On December 10, 1993, the jury returned a verdict of "guilty” of premeditated murder in the first degree, finding that Appellant committed the murder to conceal commission of
DISCUSSION
Statutory Review
(1) Whether, under RCW 10.95, the capital punishment statute, (a) there was sufficient evidence to justify the affirmative finding by the jury that there were not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency; (b) the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant; (c) the sentence of death was brought about by passion or prejudice; or (d) the defendant was mentally retarded.
(2) Whether the proportionality review mandated by RCW 10.95.130 is void for vagueness under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, §§ 3 and 14 of the Washington Constitution.
Under our capital punishment statute, RCW 10.95, this court must review a death sentence imposed by a trial court to determine (a) whether there was sufficient evidence to justify the affirmative finding by the jury that there were not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency; (b) whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant; (c) whether the sentence of death was brought about by passion or prejudice; and (d) whether the defendant was mentally retarded.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In the sentencing phase the jury in this case concluded the State had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that there were not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency for Appellant Brown.
At the penalty phase of his trial, Appellant offered mitigating evidence for the jury to consider in determining his sentence. He presented the testimony of family members who observed that Appellant’s mother did not appropriately bond with or "attach” to him as an infant and seemed frustrated and impatient when interacting with him.
Viewing all the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found sufficient evidence to support the jury’s conclusion that leniency was not merited in this case. The jury could well have discounted evidence of Appellant’s difficult childhood and troubled family life as mitigating factors. Appellant raped, tortured and murdered twenty-one-year-old Holly Washa. Considering such a heinous crime, a rational trier of fact could have concluded that a difficult childhood and troubled family life, faced by many persons who do not resort to criminal behavior, did not constitute sufficient mitigation to deserve leniency in this capital case.
The State offered rebuttal testimony of a psychiatrist, Dr. John R. Brinkley, M.D., who concluded that Appellant does not suffer from organic brain damage.
"The mere presence of mitigating factors does not require that the jury grant leniency, if the jurors are convinced that the circumstances of the crime outweigh the mitigating factors.”
Proportionality
Under RCW 10.95.130(2)(b), this court must conduct a proportionality review to determine:
*554 Whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant. For the purposes of this subsection, "similar cases” means cases reported in the Washington Reports or Washington Appellate Reports since January 1, 1965, in which the judge or jury considered the imposition of capital punishment regardless of whether it was imposed or executed, and cases in which reports have been filed with the supreme court under RCW 10.95.120[.]
RCW 10.95.120 requires filing of reports "[i]n all cases in which a person is convicted of aggravated first degree murder.” This pool of similar cases includes those in which the death penalty was sought and those in which it was not.
Appellant argues that the proportionality review mandated by RCW 10.95.130 is void for vagueness under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, §§ 3 and 14 of the Washington Constitution.
In conducting proportionality review the court is
Proportionality review under RCW 10.95 does not guarantee there will be no variations from case to case, nor that a sentence of death will be uniformly imposed in all superficially similar circumstances.
Under the proportionality statute, RCW 10.95.130(2)(b), this court must consider both "the crime and the defendant” in examining "similar cases.”
(1) Nature of the Crime
The nature of the crime committed by Appellant Brown was particularly brutal. He kidnapped Ms. Holly C. Washa and robbed, raped and tortured her over a two-day period before killing her. He repeatedly raped her vaginally after he gagged and tied her to a bed in his motel room. At one point he used an aftershave bottle to rape her anally and vaginally. He whipped her naked body with a belt several times. He burned her on various parts of her naked body with a hot hair dryer. He shocked her on various parts of her naked body with the exposed end of an electric extension cord, which he acknowledged was quite painful. Appellant himself described these acts as "torture,” explaining that he wanted to gain control over Ms. Washa through intimidation. He strangled her, stabbed her, cut her throat with "three swipes” and left her to die in the trunk of her automobile. She was found dead.
Comparing the facts of this case with "similar cases” reported reveals the nature of this crime is at least as brutal and callous as any other considered by this court. A case fairly comparable to this one is State v. Dodd, in which we upheld imposition of the death penalty after proportionality review under RCW 10.95.130(2)(b).
In State v. Gentry, this court found the death penalty was not disproportionate where the victim experienced terror while being chased through a wooded area before she was sexually assaulted and bludgeoned to death with a rock.
Comparing Ms. Washa’s suffering to that endured by victims in other cases considered by this court shows that Appellant’s crime is at least as vicious as those committed in other cases in which we upheld imposition of the death penalty after proportionality review.
(2) Aggravating Circumstances
The jury found Appellant "guilty” of premeditated first-degree murder, specifying four aggravating factors. It found he committed the murder of Ms. Washa (1) to protect or conceal his identity; (2) in the course of, in furtherance of, or in immediate flight from robbery in the
(3) Criminal History
Appellant’s death sentence is not disproportionate when his criminal history is considered. His record includes prior convictions for (1) assault with a deadly weapon, (2) grand theft, (3) attempted assault in the first degree, (4) assault in the second degree, (5) attempted murder in the first degree, (6) aggravated mayhem, (7) torture, (8) false imprisonment, and (9) robbery in the first degree.
The subjective factors in Appellant’s personal history are not sufficient to override the circumstances and consequences of his crime. "The role of mitigation evidence is to reduce culpability for a crime that has already been proved.”
Conclusion on Proportionality
Appellant’s death sentence is not disproportionate to sentences imposed in similar cases. The factors employed by this court in considering both the "crime and the defendant” justify our conclusion that Appellant Brown’s case is sufficiently similar to other cases in which the death penalty has been imposed and upheld on appeal. The nature of his crime is as brutal and heinous as any considered by this court. His criminal history is extensive and shows a pattern of violence towards others. The jury found numerous aggravating factors in convicting him of aggravated first degree murder. His mitigating evidence was doubtless not sufficient to convince the jury that he merited leniency, the consequence being that he would be
Passion or Prejudice
Appellant Brown presents no independent argument that his sentence was the result of passion or prejudice. He claims only "the jury was not properly advised of the 'crime’ it was asked to weigh against the mitigating factors,” and that the jury was not instructed "that the deterrence of others, the cost of incarceration, and the purely emotional response to . . . the heinousness of the crime or the evil of the defendant should not be part of the weighing process.”
Mental Retardation
RCW 10.95.030(2) proscribes imposition of capital punishment upon persons who were mentally retarded at the time they committed the crimes for which they are being sentenced. To be considered "mentally retarded” under the statute a person must have, among other things, "significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning,” which is defined as achieving an IQ of 70 or below.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
(3) Whether statements made by prosecuting attorneys during the guilt and penalty phases of the trial constituted pros-ecutorial misconduct which denied Appellant a fair trial.
Appellant claims the prosecuting attorney engaged in prosecutorial misconduct which deprived him of a fair trial. He cites instances in which he claims the prosecutor made personal or emotional appeals to the jury. Where prosecutorial misconduct is claimed, the defense bears the burden of establishing the impropriety of the prosecuting attorney’s comments and their prejudicial effect.
A prosecuting attorney’s allegedly improper remarks must be reviewed in the context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the instructions given to the jury.
Appellant first complains of two statements made by the prosecuting attorney during the State’s opening statement in the guilt phase of the trial. In suggesting the jury could come to know the deceased Ms. Holly C. Washa only through the testimony of witnesses, the prosecutor stated:
I’ve sort of lived with Holly [Washa] over the last two years or so preparing for this case, and perhaps I’ve personalized her a little bit. Maybe by the time this trial is over, you will know enough about her that maybe you’ll personalize her a little bit. The one thing I do hope though is that justice can be done by the end of this trial and we can put Holly [Washa] to rest.
The defense did not object to this statement.
Near conclusion of the State’s opening statement, the prosecutor stated:
I want to assure you at the end of this case you’re not going to look at me and say, "Did he do it?” I suggest you’re going to look at me and you’re going to say, "How could he have done it?” And, you know, that’s one question that I won’t be able to answer for you. I don’t have to answer it for you. I can’t imagine how any person could have done this to Holly Washa or to any other living human being. How could he have done it?
The defense did not object to this comment.
Upon conclusion of its opening statement, the defense moved for a mistrial based upon the prosecuting attorney’s personalized and emotional appeal to the jury in his opening statement. The defense in the alternative requested a remedial instruction to the jury. The trial court denied the motion for mistrial, but did instruct the jury that "counsels’ opinions, statements, whatever else they say in openings are certainly not evidence.”
Denial of a motion for mistrial for alleged prosecutorial misconduct lies within the sound discretion of
Appellant has not sustained his burden of establishing that either of the statements were improper. The first statement was introductory in nature and focused on the prosecutor’s preparation for trial. The second statement merely informed the jury what the state’s evidence was expected to show. There is no indication either statement was made to elicit an emotional response from the jury. Neither was improper.
Assuming the two statements might have been improper, Appellant has not established he was prejudiced by either of them. The context in which they were made demonstrates that Appellant suffered no prejudice which would have affected the jury’s verdict. The trial court properly instructed the jury that remarks by counsel in opening statements were not evidence. In fact, the defense made similar remarks in its opening statement. Defense counsel told the jury that "like the [prosecution] has personalized this case for a couple of years with Holly Washa, we have done so with Mr. Brown . . . .” Defense counsel also stated in the jury’s presence that Appellant’s killing of Ms. Washa was "incredibly horrible, brutal and bizarre” and asked the jury how any person could be so "twisted, so full of bottled up rage to commit this type of crime.” Appellant now claims error by the State for less provocative statements than those made by his own counsel in opening statement. This weakens the claim the
Closing Argument (Guilt Phase)
Appellant Brown next takes issue with two statements made by the prosecuting attorney during closing argument in the guilt phase of the trial.
The first statement was made near the beginning of the State’s closing argument when the prosecutor referred to Appellant’s motive for murdering Ms. Washa: "He saw Holly Washa as a vehicle for getting cash so that he could get to Susan Schnell.” The trial court overruled a defense objection.
The second statement was made later in closing argument when the prosecuting attorney was urging the jury to reject the lesser included offense of murder in the second degree. The prosecutor asked the jury not to "negotiate” with Appellant:
The defendant does not deserve a compromise. You should not negotiate with Cal Brown. You should not even think about negotiating with Cal Brown. Cal Brown didn’t allow Holly Washa to negotiate with him. She didn’t get to negotiate for her life. She didn’t get to negotiate for her money. She didn’t get to negotiate for her dignity. You should refuse any thought of negotiating with Cal Brown.
Defense counsel objected to this statement. The trial court overruled the objection and reminded counsel the jury had been instructed that counsel’s statements were argument and not testimony or evidence.
The defense moved for a mistrial at the conclusion of the State’s closing argument, claiming the prosecutor’s statements improperly appealed to the passion or prejudice of the jury. The defense in the alternative requested
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defense motion for a mistrial. The prosecuting attorney’s statements were not improper. "In closing argument a prosecuting attorney has wide latitude in drawing and expressing reasonable inferences from the evidence.”
Rebuttal Closing Argument (Guilt Phase)
Upon completion of the prosecuting attorney’s rebuttal closing argument, the defense moved for a mistrial, claiming three instances of misconduct.
The first instance was when the prosecuting attorney described as "ludicrous” the defense claim that Ms.
The second instance was the prosecuting attorney’s characterization of Appellant as one who needs to "control.” The evidence at trial supports that characterization. Appellant himself said in his recorded statement that he used torture to gain "control” over Ms. Washa. From this evidence alone the prosecuting attorney could reasonably draw and express the inference that Appellant used control to accomplish his purposes. Under these circumstances, use of the word "control” was not improper.
The third instance focuses on the prosecutor’s use of transcripts of Appellant’s recorded statements to the Palm
The jury was informed the transcripts were not evidence of Appellant’s statements. When the jurors listened to the tapes during trial, they were provided with transcripts to assist them in following the words. They were instructed at that time, however, that the words on the tapes, not the transcripts, were evidence of Appellant’s statements, and that any inconsistency between the two should be resolved by reference to their collective memory of the contents of the tapes. They were reminded of this instruction again by the court after a side-bar conference requested by the defense immediately prior to reference to the transcripts by the prosecuting attorney. Under these circumstances, it was not improper for the prosecuting attorney to repeat portions of Appellant’s statements by reading from the transcripts. Because the actual tapes were admitted into evidence at trial, as State’s Exhibit 89, Appellant was not prejudiced by any reference to portions of his statements during rebuttal since the jury had already heard the tapes. The trial court’s denial of the motion did not constitute an abuse of discretion because none of the prosecuting attorney’s statements or actions during rebuttal was improper.
Closing Argument (Penalty Phase)
Appellant claims the prosecuting attorney made two statements during closing argument in the penalty phase of the trial which constituted misconduct. The first was near the beginning of the state’s closing argument when the prosecuting attorney stated:
The legislature enacted the death penalty law so that it would be used in the most serious murder cases. So that in cases where the crime calls out for a death sentence, the jury,*568 in its discretion and its common sense and its good judgment, would impose such a sentence. I suggest to you that this crime screams out for the death sentence.
(Emphasis added.)
Near the conclusion of the prosecutor’s rebuttal closing argument, the prosecuting attorney stated:
I talk about reasons why the death penalty is appropriate. And one of the reasons it is appropriate, is just exactly the acts that he [Appellant] carried out, that is one of the reasons it’s appropriate.
If the death penalty is not appropriate in this case, I’d ask you to try to think of a case that it would be appropriate in, considering his acts, considering his evil.
(Emphasis added.)
Because the defense did not object to either statement, this court will consider any error waived unless either remark was so flagrant and ill-intentioned that it caused an enduring and resulting prejudice that could not have been neutralized by a curative instruction to the jury.
Both statements were supported by the evidence and thus were not improper. Appellant was convicted of committing a brutal murder with several aggravating factors. There was overwhelming evidence to support his conviction. Under these circumstances, the prosecuting attorney had wide latitude to make the argument that the evidence strongly supported imposition of the death penalty.
Testimony of Susan J. Schnell
(4) Whether the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Susan J. Schnell, surviving victim in a criminal encounter with Appellant in California.
Evidence Rule 404(b)
Appellant claims the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Susan J. Schnell under ER 404(b) in both the guilt and penalty phases of his trial. He argues that the reasons offered by the trial court for admitting the testimony were not adequate and that admission of the evidence violated his double jeopardy rights.
Prior to trial Appellant sought to exclude Ms. Schnell’s testimony as inadmissible character evidence under ER 404(b). Acknowledging that the testimony was prejudicial to Appellant, the trial court concluded its probative value substantially outweighed any unfair prejudice. The court ruled the testimony was admissible because it placed in context the crime for which Appellant was charged by describing the "fabric of events” or "res gestae” surrounding Ms. Holly C. Washa’s murder. It also found the testimony was probative of intent, premeditation and the aggravating factors.
Appellant asked the trial court to reconsider its ruling admitting Ms. Schnell’s testimony. The court adhered to its prior ruling and reemphasized the testimony was admissible as res gestae evidence and was probative of motive, intent and premeditation. It noted the testimony was also probative of the issue whether Appellant’s acts constituted a common scheme or plan. The court again acknowledged the prejudicial nature of the testimony, but concluded its probative value far outweighed any unfair prejudice.
Just before Ms. Schnell testified during the guilt phase
Ladies and gentlemen, regarding the evidence you are about to hear, the Court advises you now that you may consider evidence of the defendant’s conduct towards Ms. Susan J. Schnell only insofar as it bears on the issues of premeditation, intent and the four aggravating factors charged in the crime against Ms. Washa. You may not consider such evidence for any other purpose. In particular you must not use it to draw a conclusion about the defendant’s character or propensity to commit criminal acts.
(Emphasis added.)
Jury Instruction 8, given by the court, was substantially similar to that oral instruction.
ER 404(b) provides:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
Under Evidence Rule 404(b) evidence of other misconduct is not admissible to show a defendant is a "criminal type.”
To admit evidence of other crimes or misconduct under ER 4040)), the trial court must identify on the record the purpose for which it is admitted.
On December 6, 1993, Ms. Susan J. Schnell testified on direct examination concerning the circumstances leading to her encounter with Appellant. She related how she and Appellant first met and eventually made plans to spend Memorial Day weekend together in Palm Springs. She testified about Appellant’s assault upon her in the hotel in Palm Springs:
Suddenly during the back rub he jerked my arm behind my back very fast in a brutal way. My arms were jerked. As he was jerking my arms back, he said, "Don’t scream.” And at that point I did scream. And when I did scream, he slit my throat.[100 ]
Ms. Schnell also testified about Appellant’s sexual assault upon her:
A. After the ba[n]dages, he had me sideways on the bed. And he was tying my legs with panty hose and turned different parts of the, would move the handcuffs from my hands to my feet and change the . . . place, change the restraints
Q. Did the defendant do anything more after that?
A. He did sexually assault me.
Q. Is this something that is difficult to talk about?
A. Yes. It is difficult to talk about.
Q. Would you tell the jury the nature of the sexual assault?
A. He shaved my hair off.
Q. He shaved the hair located, where?
*573 A. My pubic hair. And had intercourse with me and asked me to perform oral sex on him.[101 ]
There was testimony from Ms. Schnell that, following the sexual assault, Appellant forced her to write several checks to him upon her account. She recalled that he rejected the first two checks because she had not matched to his satisfaction her signature on the checks with the signature on her driver’s license.
There was no abuse of discretion in admitting the testimony of Ms. Susan J. Schnell. The trial court identified on the record the reasons for its admission under ER 404(b). The testimony was relevant to material issues in the case relating to premeditation, intent, and the four aggravating factors. It also qualified as res gestae evidence because it provided the jury with a more complete picture of events surrounding the crimes committed against Ms. Holly C. Washa. The trial court properly weighed the probative value of the testimony against its prejudicial effect and concluded its probative value substantially outweighed its prejudicial effect.
Admission of the testimony of Ms. Schnell was proper under ER 404(b) because it was probative of Appellant’s motive, intent, preparation and plan to kidnap, rob, and murder Ms. Holly C. Washa. It was the State’s theory at trial that Appellant used Ms. Washa to finance his trip to join Ms. Susan J. Schnell in California. He was in contact with Ms. Schnell while he held Ms. Washa captive. Evidence of his encounter with Ms. Schnell supported the State’s theory. That evidence also supported the State’s
The testimony of Ms. Schnell was similarly probative on the issue of Appellant’s rape of Ms. Washa. Appellant contended at trial that the sexual contact between him and Ms. Washa was consensual. Ms. Washa was dead and not available to relate the true facts. Evidence of a sexual assault against Ms. Schnell would tend to rebut Appellant’s contention. Just two days after his assault upon Ms. Washa, Appellant sexually assaulted Ms. Schnell in a markedly similar manner. Both women were bound with the same pair of handcuffs, gagged, and had their pubic hair shaved by Appellant before he raped them. Because of these similarities, evidence of the attack on Ms. Schnell made it more probable that the sexual contact between Appellant and Ms. Washa was by forcible compulsion, and less probable that it was consensual.
Although Appellant was not actually convicted of sexually assaulting Ms. Schnell in California, her testimony concerning the entire incident was supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Appellant pleaded "guilty” in California to the crimes of attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated mayhem, torture, robbery in the first degree, and false imprisonment with Ms. Schnell as his victim.
The testimony of Ms. Schnell was also admissible as res gestae evidence because the crimes against Ms. Washa and against her were linked in significant ways. Appellant’s kidnapping, assault and robbery of Ms. Schnell was similar to the crimes he committed against Ms. Washa. Appellant sexually assaulted both women in a similar manner. He forced both women to write checks to him upon their respective bank accounts. He also used the same weapon to threaten both women into submission and to slit their throats. From this we can reasonably conclude that Appellant was engaged in an ongoing criminal enterprise of restraining, raping, robbing, and assaulting Ms. Washa and Ms. Schnell. Additionally, while Appellant was committing the crimes against Ms. Washa in Washington, he was also contacting Ms. Schnell to finalize his plans to meet her in California. He admitted to Palm Springs police officers that he kidnapped, assaulted, robbed and abused Ms. Washa because he needed money to get back to California, where he ultimately met Ms. Schnell and embarked on a similar pattern of criminal behavior. The events in California culminated a sequence of events which began in Washington with the crimes involving Ms. Holly C. Washa as victim. Under these circumstances, the jury was entitled to know about the events in Palm Springs with Ms. Schnell as -victim in order to have a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Washa’s death.
Appellant argues that Ms. Schnell’s testimony did not qualify as res gestae evidence because he committed the crimes against her more than two days after he committed the crimes against Ms. Washa and "hundreds of miles away in another state.” This argument is without
Appellant claims that even if the evidence of his crimes against Ms. Susan J. Schnell was admissible for a valid purpose, it was too prejudicial to be admitted. He concludes that because it was admitted, he is now entitled to a new trial. This claim, too, is without merit. The trial court considered the prejudicial nature of Ms. Schnell’s testimony and determined its probative value outweighed that prejudice. As a cautionary measure, the court gave the jury limiting instructions which explained that the testimony was not to be considered as character or propensity evidence.
Double Jeopardy
Appellant maintains that permitting the jury to hear Ms. Schnell’s testimony placed him twice in jeopardy for the same offense in violation of the state and federal constitutions.
There is no violation of double jeopardy in this case. A defendant is subjected to multiple prosecutions for
Appellant does not minimally satisfy this double jeopardy test because he was not prosecuted in Washington for the same conduct for which he was prosecuted in California. In California he was charged with and pleaded "guilty” to attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated mayhem, torture, robbery in the first degree and false imprisonment, with Ms. Susan J. Schnell as his victim. In this case, he was prosecuted for the crimes he committed in the state of Washington with Ms. Holly C. Washa as his victim.
Testimony of Jan M. Gray and Brieanna C. West
(5) Whether the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Jan M. Gray and Ms. Brieanna C. West, who had noncriminal encounters with Appellant in California and Washington.
Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion and committed reversible error by admitting the testimony of Ms. Jan M. Gray and Ms. Brieanna C. West during the guilt phase of his trial. He claims the court did not identify the relevance of this evidence and also did not balance its probative value against its prejudicial effect as required by ER 404(b).
The State will not be allowed to argue that Ms. West or Ms. Gray were other potential victims that were simply waiting to happen . . . but I think that all of this information goes to setting the ground work, setting the scene ... in front of the jury so that they can look at all the evidence before having to make the very difficult decisions in this case.[112 ]
Following the testimony of both Ms. West and Ms. Gray, the court orally instructed the jury there was no indication or allegation that Appellant intended to harm either of the two women. The court also instructed the jury that the testimony was presented "simply to place Mr. Brown’s actions and activities in some sort of logical context. You are not to consider the testimony for any other reason.”
The admission of evidence lies within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.
Miranda Rights
(6) Whether Appellant was adequately advised of his Miranda rights before making statements to Palm Springs, California police detectives.
Appellant contends he was not adequately advised of his Miranda rights by the Palm Springs police before making his recorded statements and that those statements therefore should have been suppressed. He claims the warnings required under Miranda v. Arizona were inadequate because they did not explicitly inform him of his
On May 27, 1991, Appellant was questioned for the first time by Palm Springs police detectives. One of the detectives informed Appellant of his rights before questioning began:
Detective: Basically, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and may be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney and have him present while you’re being questioned, and if you can’t afford one, one will be appointed for you by the court.
Appellant: All right.
Detective: Okay, having those rights, all of those rights
Appellant: Okay.
Detective: Are you willing to talk?
Appellant: I’m willing to talk.
Detective: Are you willing to talk with us Cal?
Appellant: Okay.
(Emphasis added.)
Later that day, the Palm Springs detectives conducted another interview with Appellant, at the beginning of which he was again advised of his rights:
Detective: I want to make sure that I’ve advised you of*581 your rights on their case [King County’s] too. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and may be used against you in court.
Detective: You have the right to an attorney and to have him present when you’re being questioned. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you.
Detective: Do you understand those rights?
Appellant: I understand those rights.
(Emphasis added.)
On May 28, 1991, the detectives spoke with Appellant at his request and he was again advised of his rights:
Detective: Okay. Cal, we’re here because you asked us to come in and before we talk to you, I go over your rights every time.
Appellant: Okay.
Detective: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and may be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney and to have him present when you’re being questioned. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you if you desire.
Appellant: Right.
Detective: Do you understand those rights?
Appellant: Right.
(Emphasis added.)
However, there is no requirement that the warnings be given in the precise language stated in Miranda. No "talismanic incantation” is required.
The case of People of the Territory of Guam v. Snaer is on point. There, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held this warning was adequate under Miranda: "You have a right to consult with a lawyer and to have a lawyer present with you while you are being questioned.”
As with the warnings at issue in Snaer, the Miranda warnings given Appellant by Palm Springs detectives adequately advised him of his constitutional rights. Prior to each of his three interviews with the detectives, Appellant was warned (1) that he had the right to an attorney and (2) that he had the right to have that attorney present during questioning. When read with the latter portion of that statement, the first part adequately advised Appellant he had the right to consult with counsel before questioning. Although the actual words "before questioning” were not included in the first part of the statement, the second part which read "and to have him present when you’re being questioned” made that point sufficiently clear.
Recording of Appellant’s Custodial Statements and RCW 9.73.090
(7) Whether Appellant’s statements to Palm Springs, California police, which were recorded without his knowledge as permitted by California law, violated Washington’s Privacy Act, RCW 9.73, and thus were inadmissible in Washington courts.
Washington’s Privacy Act, RCW 9.73, is designed primarily to protect private persons from public dissemination of illegally obtained information.
(1) The provisions of RCW 9.73.030 through 9.73.080 shall not apply to police, fire, emergency medical service, emergency communication center, and poison center personnel in the following instances:
(b) Video and/or sound recordings may be made of arrested persons by police officers responsible for making arrests or holding persons in custody before their first appearance in*585 court. Such video and/or sound recordings shall conform strictly to the following:
(i) The arrested person shall be informed that such recording is being made and the statement so informing him shall be included in the recording;
(ii) The recording shall commence with an indication of the time of the beginning thereof and terminate with an indication of the time thereof;
(iii) At the commencement of the recording the arrested person shall be fully informed of his constitutional rights, and such statements informing him shall be included in the recording;
(iv) The recordings shall only be used for valid police or court activities.
The Palm Springs police officers recorded Appellant’s statements. This is standard practice for Palm Springs police in serious felony cases.
Appellant claims State v. Gwinner,
In Gwinner, the Court of Appeals, Division One, adopted the principle that evidence independently obtained by federal officers in compliance with federal law, but in violation of state constitutional guaranties, is admissible in Washington state criminal proceedings.
The court in Mollica traced the history of the "silver platter” doctrine, which developed when federal standards for searches and seizures were more protective than many state standards.
The "key element of the silver platter doctrine requires that the officers of the federal jurisdiction not act as agents of the forum state jurisdiction nor under color of state law.”
[AJntecedent mutual planning, joint operations, cooperative investigations, or mutual assistance between federal and state officers may sufficiently establish agency and serve to bring the conduct of the federal agents under the color of state law. On the other hand, mere contact, awareness of ongoing investigations, or the exchange of information may not transmute the relationship into one of agency.[151 ]
The court in Gwinner found the contact between the Washington detective and the federal agents to be a mere "transfer of information by telephone.”
The reasoning of Gwinner, Mollica and Johnson leads to the preliminary conclusion that whether Appellant’s recorded confessions should be suppressed depends upon the answer to the question whether the Palm Springs police were "agents” of this state, as defined under those cases, or whether the Palm Springs police merely acted with the "cooperation and assistance” of King County police, as interpreted in Johnson.
The Palm Springs police arrested Appellant and questioned him concerning events surrounding the injuries to Ms. Susan J. Schnell in California. During the initial interview, Appellant asked the officers to tell the King County police to come and talk with him. He articulately and unhesitatingly described in great detail the events surrounding Ms. Holly C. Washa’s death and told them her body would be found in the trunk of a 1985 Oldsmobile parked in space 266 at the Budget Parking lot next to
The State correctly points out that the facts here are more similar to Gwinner than to Johnson. In Gwinner, the Washington state detective merely contacted the federal officers with information about the defendant. The detective did not ask them to search the defendant’s automobile and did not know beforehand they would conduct the search. In this case, the State simply telephoned Palms Springs police and asked them to get a statement from Appellant. The King County police did not tell the Palm Springs police what to ask or how to conduct the interview. Nor did they know the Palm Springs police would record Appellant’s statements.
Appellant contends the Palm Springs police were "cooperating and assisting” King County police by questioning him about the Washington incidents. But the pertinent question is whether King County police cooperated with and helped Palm Springs police so extensively that the latter did not "independently” obtain Appellant’s statements. When compared to Johnson, the facts here do not support a conclusion that King County police were "cooperating [with] and assisting” the Palm Springs police. The King County police merely telephoned Palm Springs police and asked them to question Appellant. Unlike in Johnson, in this case there was no collaborative ef
Appellant’s argument that his recorded statements should have been suppressed under Gwinner, Johnson and Mollica is thus not convincing.
Appellant does not identify any state interest to be advanced by suppressing the recorded statements. No Washington state officer violated ROW 9.73 and no one’s privacy interests protected by the statute were infringed. As suggested by the State, suppression of the statements would serve only to keep highly probative and lawfully obtained evidence from the jury.
The State asks this Court to adopt and affirm the reasoning of State v. Mayes
This Court in In re Teddington declared the Gwinner decision "correctly” held that evidence "independently and lawfully obtained by federal officers acting pursuant to federal law may be transferred to state authorities for use in a Washington State criminal proceeding.”
Sufficiency of the Record for Appellate Review
(8) Whether there is before this court a record of "sufficient completeness” for adequate appellate review of the issues presented in Appellant’s appeal.
Appellant argues there is not a record of sufficient completeness for adequate review of his conviction and sentence of death and that therefore he is entitled to a new trial. He takes issue with the absence of a portion of the CrR 3.5 pretrial hearing verbatim report of proceedings involving the July 10, 1992 testimony of one of the Palm Springs detectives who interrogated him. He concludes that because this portion of the record (which addresses his Miranda warnings) is missing, appellate counsel is unable to effectively assign and argue error on
Due Process requires that a record of "sufficient completeness” be provided for appellate review of the errors raised by a criminal defendant.
There is no verbatim report of proceedings for the portion of the CrR 3.5 pretrial hearing held on July 10, 1992 because the court reporter was unable to find the notes for that day. As a result, this court directed the trial court to "settle all issues regarding the completion of the record for review” in this case. The trial court accordingly prepared from its notes taken at the July 10, 1992 hearing a Supplementation of Report of Proceeding. This provided a record of sufficient completeness for adequate review of the issues raised by Appellant.
The trial court’s Supplementation of Report of Proceedings, based upon contemporaneous notes taken by the court on July 10, 1992, constitutes a narrative report of
Death Qualification of Jurors
(9) Whether the trial court erred in allowing prospective jurors to be ”death qualified” during voir dire examination.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Wash. Const, art. I, § 22 both warrant a defendant "the right to ... an impartial jury.” To ensure an impartial jury in capital cases, prospective jurors opposing the death penalty can be challenged for cause and excluded if their "views would 'prevent or substantially impair the performance of [their] duties as . . . juror[s],’ ” according to their instructions and their oath.
Whether the Washington Constitution should be independently analyzed as granting more protection than the federal constitution is determined by examining six nonexclusive factors set forth in State v. Gunwall.
Gunwall Analysis
The first Gunwall factor requires this Court to examine the text of the state constitutional provisions at issue. Const, art. I, § 21 provides that "[t]he right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the legislature may provide for a jury of any number less than twelve in courts not of record . . . .” Const, art. I, § 22 (amend. 10) provides that "[i]n criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to . . .a speedy public trial by an impartial jury . . . .” Const, art. I, § 21 emphasizes the importance of the right to trial by jury, by declaring the right "shall remain inviolate.” Nothing in the state constitutional provisions suggests that death qualifying a jury is prohibited.
The second Gunwall factor requires this Court to consider significant differences between the texts of parallel provisions of the federal and state constitutions. The Sixth Amendment and Const, art. I, § 22 are similar in that both grant the "right to ... an impartial jury.” But Const, art. I, § 21, which declares "[t]he right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate . . . .” has no federal counterpart. This Court in Pasco v. Mace
Under the third Gunwall factor this Court must look to
Appellant further asserts that Mace, Lane and Stegall evidence this state’s intent to expand federal constitutional protections relating to jury questions. Appellant’s assertion has little merit. In State v. Schaaf
Under the fourth Gunwall factor we look for guidance to preexisting law, or law existing prior to adoption of the
No person whose opinions are such as to preclude him from finding any defendant guilty of an offense punishable with death, shall be compelled or allowed to serve as a juror on the trial of any indictment for such an offense.
As that passage indicates, preexisting law supports the process of death qualification. And, as the State points out, no preexisting body of state law supports a broader interpretation of Const, art. I, §§ 21 and 22 in this context.
The fifth Gunwall factor requires this Court to examine the structural differences between the federal constitution and the state constitution. That factor always favors independent state constitutional analysis "because the federal constitution is a grant of power from the states, while the state constitution represents a limitation of the State’s power.”
Under the sixth Gunwall factor this Court examines whether the matter at issue is of particular state interest or local concern. In Taylor v. Louisiana, the United States Supreme Court stated:
The States remain free to prescribe relevant qualifications for their jurors and to provide reasonable exemptions so long as it may be fairly said that the jury lists or panels are representative of the community[183 ]
The Supreme Court has also emphasized there is not "any one right way for a State to set up its capital sentencing
Applying the Gunwall factors leads us to conclude there is no basis for Appellant’s argument that Const, art. I, §§ 21 and 22 should be independently analyzed as affording broader protection in the context of death qualification than the Sixth Amendment. Washington’s common law, statutory history and constitutional history do not support Appellant’s claim that death qualifying a jury violates the Washington Constitution article I, §§ 21 and 22.
Appellant argues death qualification produces a conviction-prone jury in violation of his right to an impartial jury. But that argument overlooks the fact that
The guarantee of impartiality cannot mean that the state has a right to present its case to the jury most likely to return a verdict of guilt, nor can it mean that the accused has a right to present his case to the jury most likely to acquit. But the converse is also true. The guarantee cannot mean that the state must present its case to the jury least likely to convict or impose the death penalty, nor that the defense must present its case to the jury least likely to find him innocent or vote for life imprisonment.
The logical converse of the proposition that death-qualified jurors are conviction prone is that non-death-qualified jurors are acquittal prone, not that they are neutral.[190 ]
In Hughes this Court declined "to define 'impartial’ as 'a middle ground that involves a jury with persons who are in effect defendant prone.’ ”
Appellant also refers to studies reviewed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Grigsby
Statutory Basis
Appellant asserts death qualification is unconstitutional because it has no statutory basis after former RCW 10.49.050
The State argues RCW 4.44.170(2) and CrR 6.4(c) provide sufficient basis for death qualification. RCW 4.44.170(2) provides for challenging a juror for cause for actual bias:
For the existence of a state of mind on the part of the juror in reference to the action, or to either party, which satisfies the court that the challenged person cannot try the issue impartially and without prejudice to the substantial rights of the party challenging, and which is known in this code as actual bias.
Although the statute does not specifically refer to death qualification, it does support that process. CrR 6.4(c)(2) provides that "RCW 4.44.150 through RCW 4.44.200 shall govern challenges for cause.” Those provisions include
Appellant’s reliance upon Witherspoon is misplaced. Although the Supreme Court in that case evaluated an Illinois statute requiring death qualification, the case does not stand for the proposition that a specific statute is required to permit death qualification by the State. As Appellant acknowledges, the Supreme Court has stated there is not "any one right way for a State to set up its capital sentencing scheme.”
RCW 4.44.170(2), CrR 6.4(c)(2) and our case law provide sufficient authority for death qualifying a jury. We reject Petitioner’s argument that because there is no statutory authority for it, death qualification of jurors is unconstitutional.
Trial Court Exclusion of Jurors Challenged for Cause
(10) Whether certain prospective jurors were properly excused for cause.
Appellant claims the trial court abused its discretion in excusing prospective jurors Ms. Lisa Denis, Ms. Kristin A. Henderson and Richard Deal upon challenges for cause by the State.
A trial court’s ruling on challenge of a prospec-
The standard for ruling on challenges for cause in a death penalty case is whether the prospective juror’s views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of that person’s duties as a juror according to instructions and the oath taken by jurors.
Voir Dire of Ms. Lisa Denis
When questioned on voir dire about whether she had ever made a life or death decision, Ms. Lisa Denis answered "No. I don’t know ... I don’t know if I could vote, I don’t know if I could.”
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excusing Ms. Denis for cause. The record supports the court’s finding that her views about the death penalty would have substantially impaired her ability to follow the court’s instructions.
Voir Dire of Ms. Kristin A. Henderson
On voir dire, Ms. Kristin A. Henderson agreed she could follow the court’s instructions and make a decision under the law. But she also voiced strong feelings against the death penalty. She said she felt the death penalty made "brutes of us all” and was "barbaric.”
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excusing Ms. Henderson for cause because her oral responses and
Voir Dire of Richard Deal
Appellant did not object at trial to the State’s challenge of Richard Deal for cause. At any rate, Mr. Deal was properly excused. On voir dire he indicated he would impose the death penalty where the defendant "would re-violate if released,” which is not a correct statement of the law. He also misunderstood the State’s burden of proof in a criminal case and understood it to be "beyond a shadow of a doubt,” although he was corrected later. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excusing Mr. Deal for cause.
Jury Instructions on Premeditation and Intent
(11) Whether the terms "premeditation” and "intent” were sufficiently explained in the trial court’s instructions to the jury.
Appellant contends the trial court committed reversible error by not instructing the jury that premeditation and intent are separate elements of aggravated first degree murder. He assigns error to the court giving Instruction 11 defining premeditation:
Premeditation means thought over beforehand. When a person, after any deliberation, forms an intent to take human life, the killing may follow immediately after the formation of the settled purpose and it will still be premeditated. Premeditation must involve more than a moment in point of time. The law requires some time, however long or short, in which a design to kill is deliberately formed[212 ]
Instruction 11 is Washington Pattern Instruction (Criminal) (WPIC) 26.01, which we have upheld in other capital
Intent and premeditation are not synonymous. Premeditation cannot simply be inferred from the existence of a criminal intent.
Premeditation involves the mental process of thinking beforehand, deliberation, reflection, weighing or reasoning for a period of time, however short. Although no specific period of time is required, sufficient time must have elapsed to allow deliberate formation of the intent to act and reflection upon the act intended. Premeditation necessarily involves an appreciable length of time.[214 ]
Errors in instructions are reviewed de novo.
A review of the instructions given in this case satisfies us the trial court did not err. In addition to Instruction 11, the court defined "intent” in Instruction 26, WPIC 10.01, which reads: "A person acts with intent or intentionally when acting with the objective or purpose to ac
To convict the defendant of the crime of first-degree premeditated murder, each of the following elements of the crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about the 24th day of May, 1991, the defendant caused the death of Holly Washa;
(2) That the defendant acted with intent to cause the death of Holly Washa;
(3) That the intent to cause the death was premeditated; and
(4) That the acts occurred in King County, Washington.
If you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of guilty.
On the other hand, if, after weighing all of the evidence, you have a reasonable doubt as to any one of these elements, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty.
A reading of Instructions 10, 11 and 26 indicates the court instructed the jury that "premeditation” and "intent” were separate elements of aggravated first degree murder.
Aggravating Factors
(12) Whether the trial court properly instructed the jury concerning the aggravating factors in the case.
Insufficiency of Evidence
The State charged Appellant with aggravated first degree murder by committing first degree murder in the course of, in furtherance of, or in immediate flight from robbery in the first or second degree, rape in the first or second degree, and kidnapping in the first degree.
Appellant contends there was not sufficient evidence to prove he killed Ms. Holly C. Washa during, in the course of, in furtherance of, or in immediate flight from the crimes of robbery, rape, or kidnapping. He thus claims he was denied due process when the trial court denied his motion to dismiss the aggravated murder charge, in which he claimed there was insufficient evidence of the aggravating circumstances of rape and robbery at the close of the State’s case in the guilt phase.
In challenges to the sufficiency of evidence to prove an aggravating factor in aggravated murder, this Court must view the evidence most favorably towards the non-moving party to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the presence of the aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt.
To establish that a killing occurred in the course
The trial court in this case relied primarily upon State v. Leech
The Court of Appeals, Division Three, in Dudrey, another felony murder case, concluded the killing was part of the res gestae of the felony where a burglary and a killing were closely related and occurred at about the same time and place. The defendant and a friend planned to burglarize the victim’s home, where they knew she was
But in State v. Golladay
Neither Leech, Dudrey nor Golladay completely addresses the specific issue raised by Appellant. He argues the killing of Ms. Washa was not in furtherance of either the rape or robbery because the killing occurred "hours” after those crimes were committed or completed, and thus the killing would not be within the res gestae of those crimes, or the killing was not committed to "further” those crimes. In Leech, Dudrey and Golladay, the killings and related felonies occurred within close proximity of time and place. In the circumstances presented by this case, the felonies occurred sometime within a two-day period, presumably "hours” before the actual killing.
Although Appellant claims his killing of Ms. Washa did not "further” the rape, robbery or kidnapping, following
The record in this case supports our conclusion that Appellant’s killing of Ms. Holly C. Washa was within the res gestae or had a "causal connection” to the rape, robbery and kidnapping. The crimes are linked by Appellant’s motive to obtain money to pay for his California trip. He made plans to meet Ms. Susan J. Schnell in Palm Springs, California and admitted to California police that he kidnapped Ms. Washa because he needed money to go there. He held Ms. Washa captive after robbing her. He told the Palm Springs police he had thought about robbing someone and letting that person go but "it would be just the same as waltzing into a bank and have my picture taken.” He held Ms. Washa captive for two days and raped and tortured her during that time. He admitted killing her because he did not want to leave a witness alive. Immediately after killing Ms. Washa, Appellant went to California. The killing and other felonies are intimately connected. From the beginning of Appellant’s criminal acts against Ms. Washa, he was not separated from her until he killed her and left for California.
Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the State leads us to conclude there was sufficient evidence from which any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the murder in this case was committed in furtherance of, in the course of, or in immediate flight from rape, robbery and kidnapping.
Jury Instructions
Appellant asserts the trial court committed reversible error and denied him due process by not instructing the jury on "in the course of,” "in furtherance of,” and "in immediate flight” as elements of the aggravating factors, as he proposed at trial. Appellant also complains the trial court erred in not giving that proposed instruction when, on December 9, 1993, the jury during deliberations asked in writing "Do we have a (legal) definition of in Furterance off [sic] and or Imidiate [sic] flight.”
Considering the jury’s request, Appellant complains the phrases "in the course of,” "in furtherance of,” "in flight from,” and "immediate flight” are technical terms in the context of this case and the court should have instructed the jury concerning them. A term is "technical” when it has a meaning that differs from common usage.
Trial courts must define technical words and expressions used in jury instructions, but need not define words and expressions that are of ordinary understanding
This Court has recognized that "[tjrial courts should exercise sound discretion to determine the appropriateness of acceding to requests that words of common understanding be specifically defined.”
Appellant also claims the court’s refusal to define those phrases violated his due process rights because they were "essential elements of the aggravators.” And he argues jury instructions omitting essential elements of the crime prevent an accused from arguing its theory of defense and requires reversal. Even assuming those phrases are essential elements of the crimes charged, this Court has recognized that failure to give a definitional instruction is not failure to instruct on an essential element.
The trial court did not commit reversible error or violate Appellant’s due process rights by not giving instructions defining "in the course of,” "in furtherance of,” or "in immediate flight from” a felony.
Penalty Phase Instructions
(13) Whether the trial court erred during the penalty phase in refusing to give the jury certain instructions proposed by the defense.
Appellant claims the trial court erred by not giving several of his proposed penalty phase instructions to the jury.
Weighing and Non-weighing Death Penalty Statutes
The United States Supreme Court has classified state death penalty statutes as either "non-weighing” or "weighing.”
In weighing states, it is constitutional error for the sentencer to give weight to an unconstitutionally vague aggravating factor, even if the other aggravating factors are valid.
In contrast, in a non-weighing state, like Georgia, the fact finder considers all the circumstances from both the guilt phase and penalty phase in deciding the penalty.
Appellant urges us to determine Washington is a "weighing” state. But Washington’s death penalty statute actually aligns this state with "non-weighing” states. At sentencing, the jury must answer only the statutory question "Having in mind the crime of which the defendant has been found guilty, are you convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that there are not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency?”
Appellant concedes this Court has not previously analyzed Washington’s death penalty statute under the United States Supreme Court’s weighing or non-weighing classification. By citing Washington cases which employ the words "weigh” or "weighs” or "outweighed,” he attempts to convince this Court to implicitly recognize RCW 10.95 et seq., as a "weighing” statute. We are not convinced.
[T]he Supreme Court’s weighing/non-weighing distinction may involve both procedural and substantive components. Procedurally, is the sentencer restricted to a "weighing” of aggravation against mitigation? Substantively, is the sen-tencer prevented from considering evidence in aggravation other than discrete, statutorily-defined factors? Our review of federal and state court decisions reveals that where both constraints are present, the regimes involved are uniformly treated as weighing; where neither is present, the regimes are uniformly treated as non-weighing ....
Applying the Williams approach to our death penalty statute supports our conclusion that RCW 10.95 et seq. is a "non-weighing” statute.
Penalty Phase Instructions
Appellant argues the trial court erred by not giving his proposed instructions P-9A, P-9B, 11, 12, 13, 17, 21, 22, and 23 during the penalty phase. He claims his proposed instructions were necessary to meet the constitutional requirement that the discretion of the jury be adequately focused by clear and objective standards.
An instruction must correctly state applicable
Claimed errors at the penalty phase of a capital case are reviewed under heightened scrutiny. This requires an appellate court to review the record more carefully, but does not entail a different standard of review.
Appellant’s proposed Instructions P-9A and P-9B sought to remind the jury of the limited purpose for which certain evidence had been admitted, including Ms. Brieanna C. West’s testimony, Ms. Jan M. Gray’s testimony, and the events in California. As Appellant acknowledged in those proposed instructions, the court had already given those instructions to the jury in the guilt phase.
In Appellant’s proposed Instruction P-11, he identified as the "crime” the jury was to have in mind the elements of premeditated first-degree murder and the aggravating circumstances found by the jury in the guilt phase. It further instructed the jury "You must not consider any other feature of the crime that is not necessarily reflected in the elements and aggravating circumstances.” That is a misstatement of the law.
Under RCW 10.95.070, the jury may consider other
Appellant’s proposed Instruction P-12 states that the phrase "having in mind the crime of which the defendant has been found guilty” was "intended merely to provide a context for [the jury’s] determination” of the death penalty. That misstates the law and is misleading. Under RCW 10.95.060(4), in answering the question on leniency, the jury is required to "hav[e] in mind the crime of which the defendant has been found guilty . . . .” The jury may thus consider all the evidence submitted in the guilt phase proving the crime the defendant committed. It is not correct to state the question is merely a context for the jury’s consideration.
Proposed Instruction P-12 also stated the jury must "not weigh the crime, any of its elements, any aspect of it or any circumstance surrounding it against the mitigating evidence” and that its "sole focus” should be whether there were insufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency. However, under non-weighing statutes, such as Washington’s RCW 10.95, "A capital sentencer need not be instructed how to weigh any particular fact in the capital sentencing decision.”
Four of Appellant’s proposed instructions would advise the jury not to consider certain factors as "weighing” against any mitigating evidence presented. Those factors include (1) any impression they may have of the crime as heinous, depraved or cruel, or any related emotional response they have which weighs against any mitigating circumstance (P-17); (2) the future dangerousness of Appellant (P-21);
"[T]he Constitution does not require a State to adopt specific standards for instructing the jury in its consideration of aggravating and mitigating circumstances[.]”
Washington’s death penalty statute properly provides for "categorical narrowing” of those eligible for the death penalty in the guilt phase and for individualized determination and appellate review.
The jury’s determination was based upon evidence admitted at trial. The jury was instructed in the guilt phase not to permit "sympathy or prejudice” to influence their decision.
RCW 10.95.130 requires this Court to determine upon review whether the death sentence was arbitrary, excessive, disproportionate, or brought about through passion or prejudice. In answering that inquiry in the negative, we conclude the trial court did not err in refusing to give Appellant’s proposed sentencing phase instructions.
Criminal History
Appellant assigns error to the trial court’s denial of his motion to exclude his criminal history during the penalty phase. However, our death penalty statute authorizes the jury to consider a defendant’s prior criminal history in the penalty phase. RCW 10.95.070(1) states:
In deciding the question posed by RCW 10.95.060(4), the jury . . . may consider any relevant factors, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Whether the defendant has or does not have a significant history, either as a juvenile or as an adult, of prior criminal activity!.]
During the penalty phase the State presented Appellant’s criminal history limited to his record of convictions: This is constitutionally permissible.
Notice of Special Sentencing Proceeding
(14) Whether Appellant was properly served with the Notice of Special Sentencing Proceeding required by RCW 10.95.040(2).
Appellant argues this Court should set aside his death sentence because there is no proof the State served him or
RCW 10.95.040 imposes upon the State specific requirements for notifying a defendant it intends to seek the death penalty. When a person is charged with aggravated first degree murder, the State must file a "notice of a special sentencing proceeding” to determine whether the death penalty should be imposed when there is reason to believe there are insufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency.
The record in this case shows the notice of special sentencing proceeding was properly filed on March 24, 1992 within 30 days after Appellant’s arraignment on February 26, 1992.
Dearbone cited by Appellant is distinguishable from this case. In that case, the State did not serve defense counsel with the notice of special sentencing proceeding until four days after expiration of the time for service under RCW 10.95.040(2). The defendant moved to preclude the State from requesting the death penalty because of violation of RCW 10.95.040(2). The State then moved to reopen the time for service and served defense counsel another copy of the notice. The trial court found good cause for reopening the time for service and granted the State’s motion, allowing the State to seek the death penalty. On review, this Court determined the State did not show good cause and reversed the trial court. In its reasoning, this Court stated that "filing and service of notice is mandatory—no notice, no death penalty.”
A review of the record supports a reasonable conclusion Appellant was properly served with the notice of special sentencing proceeding. On March 25, 1992, a day after the notice was filed, Appellant and one of his attorneys appeared before the court and signed an order setting trial date.
Appellant’s claim that his death sentence should be set aside for absence of proof of service of notice under RCW 10.95.040 is without merit.
Reciprocal Discovery
(15) Whether Criminal Rule 4.7 (CrR 4.7) mandates reciprocal pretrial discovery of evidence relevant to the penalty phase in a capital case.
On cross appeal, the State assigns error to the trial court’s ruling denying its pretrial motion to compel disclosure of Appellant’s penalty phase mitigation evidence. The State argues this court should hold that CrR 4.7 mandates reciprocal pretrial discovery of information pertinent to the penalty phase of a capital case.
On February 12, 1993, the State filed a pretrial motion to compel disclosure of any mitigation evidence in Appellant’s possession which he intended to present in the penalty phase of the trial.
In general, the scope of discovery is within the sound discretion of the trial court and its decisions will not be disturbed absent a manifest abuse of that discretion.
The State does not claim the trial court abused its discretion in making its discovery ruling. It asks this court to hold that CrR 4.7 provides for reciprocal pretrial discovery of penalty phase evidence in capital trials subject only to the trial court’s discretion over the scope of
In Mitchell, the court was asked to decide whether and to what extent California’s general criminal discovery rule, requiring reciprocal pretrial discovery by the parties to a criminal action, was applicable to the penalty phase of a capital case. The rule had been enacted into law in 1990 by initiative and codified in Cal. Penal Code, section 1054 (West Supp. 1997). Section 1054.3 of the code requires criminal defendants and their attorneys to disclose to the prosecuting attorney the names and addresses of persons they intend to call "at trial,” any relevant statements or reports of those persons, and any real evidence intended to be offered into evidence. The prosecuting attorney has similar obligations under the statute.
The defendant in that case refused to provide the prosecution with any pretrial discovery pertinent to the penalty phase of his trial.
The court in Mitchell found more persuasive the defend-
Mitchell suggests a similar resolution in this case. Like the California discovery rule in Mitchell, CrR 4.7 is a general criminal discovery rule applicable to all "criminal proceedings.”
The State’s position on the discovery issue is nothing more than actual practice and is merely a restatement of the law which is not in genuine dispute in this case.
Victim Impact Evidence
(16) Whether the trial court erred in refusing to admit victim impact evidence at the penalty phase of the trial.
The State relies upon State v. Gentry
At the penalty phase, the State, in absence of the jury, made an offer of proof of testimony by John L. Washa concerning his daughter’s interests and the impact of her murder upon her family. The trial court ruled the testimony was not admissible "under current law and current interpretation . . . .”
We . . . conclude that victim impact evidence is admissible in the sentencing phase of capital cases and that trial courts,*630 which are experienced in balancing the probative against the prejudicial, should exercise their informed discretion in deciding the scope of permissible victim evidence in a given case. In the case before us, there was no error in the admission of the victim’s father’s statements about his young murdered daughter or about the profound effect of the murder upon her family . . . victim impact evidence may properly include a description of the emotional trauma suffered by the victim’s family.[316 ]
If Gentry had been decided before the trial in this case, the trial court could have, in its discretion, admitted the testimony of John L. Washa as victim impact evidence at the penalty phase. But it would not have been error not to admit it. At any rate, the trial court did not commit error in denying victim impact evidence in this case.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
(1) There was sufficient evidence to justify the affirmative finding by the jury that there were not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency. The sentence of death was not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant. The sentence of death was not brought about by passion or prejudice. Nor is the defendant mentally retarded.
(2) The proportionality review mandated by RCW 10.95.130(b) is not void for vagueness under either the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, nor under article I, sections 3 and 14 of the Washington Constitution.
(3) None of the statements made by the prosecuting attorneys during either the guilt or penalty phases of the trial constituted prosecutorial misconduct requiring a new trial.
(4) The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admit
(5) The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the testimony of Ms. Jan M. Gray or Ms. Brieanna C. West. Their testimony merely served to establish the context of the case and was not prejudicial to Appellant.
(6) Appellant was adequately advised of his Miranda rights before giving statements to the Palm Springs, California police.
(7) The trial court did not err in admitting Appellant’s statements which were recorded by the Palm Springs police without his knowledge or consent. The officers lawfully recorded the statements under California law and were not acting as agents of the King County police at that time. Thus RCW 9.73, Washington’s Privacy Act, does not require suppression of that evidence. Suppressing the evidence would not further legitimate state interests and would only suppress highly probative evidence lawfully obtained in California.
(8) There is a record of "sufficient completeness” for adequate appellate review of Appellant’s case.
(9) "Death qualification” of jurors does not violate the Washington Constitution, article I, sections 21 and 22.
(10) The trial court properly exercised its discretion in excusing for cause prospective jurors Ms. Lisa Denis, Ms. Kristin A. Henderson and Richard Deal during voir dire. Their views would have prevented or substantially impaired their ability to follow the court’s instructions and abide by their oaths as jurors.
(11) The record shows the trial court properly instructed the jury that premeditation and intent were separate elements of aggravated first degree murder.
(12) Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have determined, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Appellant committed first degree murder in the course of, in furtherance of or in im
(13) The trial court properly refused Appellant’s proposed instructions P-9A, P-9B, P-11, P-12, P-13, P-17, P-21, P-22 and P-23 at the penalty phase. P-9A, P-9B, P-11, P-12 and P-13 were misleading, repetitious, or misstatements of the law. The trial court’s refusal of P-17, P-21, P-22 and P-23 did not render the jury’s sentencing decision a product of irrational decision making. The jury received adequate instructions from the trial court. RCW 10.95 properly provides for "individualized determination” of the death penalty and appellate review to ensure the sentence is not imposed arbitrarily, disproportionately or as a result of passion or prejudice.
(14) RCW 10.95.040 requires the State to serve a defendant with notice of its intent to seek the death penalty within 30 days of arraignment. The record supports a reasonable conclusion that Appellant was served in fact with the notice. The statute does not require proof of service. Thus, Appellant’s claim that his death sentence should be set aside merely because there is no proof of service is without merit.
(15) CrR 4.7 mandates reciprocal pretrial discovery of evidence relevant to the penalty phase of a capital case.
(16) Our decision in State v. Gentry was filed only after the trial in this case. That decision allows victim impact testimony during the penalty phase of a capital case. Even under Gentry it would not have been error for the trial court to exercise its discretion not to allow victim impact testimony. The trial court did not err in denying victim impact testimony in this case.
We affirm the conviction and death sentence of Appellant Cal Coburn Brown in the King County Superior Court for the aggravated first degree murder of Ms. Holly C. Washa.
A critical issue in this appeal is admissibility of the audio tapes admitted as State’s Ex. 89.
See Black’s Law Dictionary (6th ed. 1990): Confession ("A voluntary statement made by a person charged with the commission of a crime . . ., communicated to another person . . . [acknowledging oneself] to be guilty of the offense charged, and [disclosing] the circumstances of the act or the share and participation [the person charged] had in it.” Black’s at 296.) Admission ("[T]he avowal of a fact or of circumstances from which guilt may be inferred, but only tending to prove the offense charged, and not amounting to a confession of guilt.” Black’s at 48.).
The "knife” referred to throughout this narrative was actually an all-purpose tool, with the brand name "Leatherman,” which contained multiple folding implements, including a knife blade.
Ex. 89, tape 1, side 2.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 1, side 2.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 2.
x. 89, tape 1, side 2.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 3, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 1, side 2.
Ex. 89, tape 1, side 2.
She was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. She survived and testified as a witness in the King County trial.
The State also presented corroborating witness testimony and physical evidence. See Br. of Resp’t at 24-27.
RCW 10.95.130(2)(a), (b), (c), and (d).
RCW 10.95.130(1).
Clerk’s Papers at 1594 (Verdict Form).
State v. Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d 628, 682, 904 P.2d 245 (1995), cert. denied, 518 U.S. 1026 (1996).
Report of Proceedings at 31-32, Dec. 16, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 24, Dec. 17, 1993. Appellant was born April 16, 1953.
Report of Proceedings at 31, 33, Dec. 16, 1993.
Id. at 32-36.
id. at 127-29.
Report of Proceedings at 25-27, Dec. 17, 1993.
Id. at 30.
Id.
Id. at 67.
Report of Proceedings at 43-44, Dec. 20, 1993; Report of Proceedings at 70, Dec. 17, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 110-13, Dec. 21, 1993.
Id. at 102-10.
See State v. Lord, 117 Wn.2d 829, 906, 822 P.2d 177 (1991) (upholding under RCW 10.95.130(2)(a) a jury’s finding that antisocial personality disorder did not mitigate in favor of leniency for a capital appellant, noting that the disorder explained, but did not excuse, appellant’s behavior), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 856 (1992); see also State v. Dodd, 120 Wn.2d 1, 25, 838 P.2d 86 (1992) (diagnosis of severe pedophilia did not merit leniency under RCW 10.95.130(2)(a)).
Dodd, 120 Wn.2d at 25.
Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 907.
Br. of Appellant at 174.
Harris ex rel. Ramseyer v. Blodgett, 853 F. Supp. 1239, 1288 (W.D. Wash. 1994), aff’d, Harris ex rel. Ramseyer v. Wood, 64 F.3d 1432 (9th Cir. 1995).
State v. Brett, 126 Wn.2d 136, 207-09, 212, 892 P.2d 29 (1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1121 (1996).
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 683 (citing Brett).
State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 655, 888 P.2d 1105, cert. denied, 516 U.S. 843 (1995).
Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 910 (citing Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 54, 104 S. Ct. 871, 79 L. Ed. 2d 29 (1984)).
Both the appellant and the victim in this case are Caucasian.
Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 910.
Id.
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 213.
State v. Harris, 106 Wn.2d 784, 798, 725 P.2d 975 (1986), cert. denied sub nom. Harris v. Washington, 480 U.S. 940, 94 L. Ed. 2d 781, 107 S. Ct. 1592 (1987).
Compare Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 911 (suggesting a "family resemblances” approach) with State v. Benn, 120 Wn.2d 631, 680-693 (suggesting a statistically based approach).
rcw io.95.i3 mm.
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 686.
Dodd, 120 Wn.2d at 27.
Id.
Id. at 8.
Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 657-58.
Id. at 657.
See, e.g., Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Rupe, No. 81-1-00316-1 (Thurston County Super. Ct. June 7, 1983) (single gunshot wound to head of the victims; no torture); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Jeffries, No. 6488 (Clallam County Super. Ct. Nov. 18, 1983) (multiple gunshot wounds; no torture); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Benn, No. 88-1-01280-8 (Pierce County Super. Ct. June 12, 1990) (gunshot wound to the head of the victims; no torture); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Harris, No. 84-1-01190-6 (Pierce County Super. Ct. Jan. 14, 1985) (gunshot wound to the head and neck of the victim; contract killing; no torture).
Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 657.
Clerk’s Papers at 1451-52 (Special Verdict Form B).
RCW 10.95.030(2).
See, e.g., Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Gentry (one aggravating factor: concealment of identity); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Benn (one aggravating factor: multiple victims); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Harris (one aggravating factor: contract murder); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Jeffries (two aggravating factors: multiple victims, concealment of a crime).
Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Brown; Report of Proceedings at 45-46, Dec. 15, 1993.
See Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Rupe (no prior criminal convictions); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Harris (two prior convictions: assault, manslaughter); Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Benn (many misdemeanors and three prior convictions: first degree theft, grand larceny, first degree theft).
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 688.
For a more detailed and thorough description of Appellant’s mitigation evidence, see the discussion on "Sufficiency of the Evidence,” supra at 591.
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 688.
See, e.g., Dodd, 120 Wn.2d at 11 (severe homosexual pedophilia); Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 906 (antisocial personality disorder); State v. Rice, 110 Wn.2d 577, 592-96, 757 P.2d 889 (1988) (evidence presented of "deep personality disorder and disordered childhood,” but "no evidence of any organic central nervous system disease or intracranial abnormalities.”).
Br. of Appellant at 179.
Id.
RCW 10.95.030(2)(a), (c).
Report of Proceedings at 114, Dec. 20, 1993.
State v. Russell, 125 Wn.2d 24, 85, 882 P.2d 747 (1994).
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 672.
Russell, 125 Wn2d at 85-86.
Id. at 86.
Id. at 85.
Id. at 86.
Id.
See Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 89 (incorporation of improper statements made by prosecuting attorney into defense argument weakened defendant’s contention the statements denied him a fair trial).
Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 641.
Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 87.
Id
Id. at 86.
Id.
See Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 641.
Report of Proceedings at 104-05, Dec. 6, 1993.
See Clerk’s Papers at 1420.
State v. Lough, 125 Wn.2d 847, 853, 889 P.2d 487 (1995).
Id.
State v. Lane, 125 Wn.2d 825, 831, 889 P.2d 929 (1995).
Id.
State v. Tharp, 96 Wn.2d 591, 594, 637 P.2d 961 (1981).
ER 404(b); see also State v. Powell, 126 Wn.2d 244, 258, 893 P.2d 615 (1995) (citing exceptions).
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 649; Powell, 126 Wn.2d at 258; Lane, 125 Wn.2d at 832 (citing State v. Saltarelli, 98 Wn.2d 358, 362, 655 P.2d 697 (1982)).
Lane, 125 Wn.2d at 831; State v. Smith, 106 Wn.2d 772, 776, 725 P.2d 951 (1986); Saltarelli, 98 Wn.2d at 361-62; see also Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 649.
Saltarelli, 125 Wn.2d at 361-62; Powell, 126 Wn.2d at 259.
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 649.
State v. Laureano, 101 Wn.2d 745, 764, 682 P.2d 889 (1984), overruled on other grounds by State v. Brown, 111 Wn.2d 124, 761 P.2d 588 (1988), adhered to on rehearing, 113 Wn.2d 520, 782 P.2d 1013, 787 P.2d 906, 80 A.L.R.4th 989 (1989).
Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d at 648; Lane, 125 Wn.2d at 831; Laureano, 101 Wn.2d at 764.
Powell, 126 Wn.2d at 258.
Report of Proceedings at 135, Dec. 6,1993.
Id. at 141.
Id. at 141-42.
Id. at 154-55.
Report of Proceedings at 45-46, Dec. 15, 1993.
State v. Laureano, 101 Wn.2d 745, 764, 682 P.2d 889 (1984), overruled on other grounds by State v. Brown, 111 Wn.2d 124, 761 P.2d 588 (1988), adhered to on rehearing, 113 Wn.2d 520, 782 P.2d 1013 (1989) (citing Tegland); 5 Karl B. Tegland, Washington Practice: Evidence § 114, at 386 (3d ed. 1989).
See Lane, 125 Wn.2d at 831; see also 1 McCormick on Evidence § 190, at 799 (John W. Strong, ed., 4th ed. 1992) (res gestae evidence admissible "[t]o complete the story of the crime on trial by placing it in the context of nearby and nearly contemporaneous happenings.” (footnote omitted)).
See Lane, 125 Wn.2d at 833 (evidence of events occurring within a two- or three-day period of the charged crime admissible under res gestae exception to ER 404(b)).
State v. Brett, 126 Wn.2d 136, 181, 892 P.2d 29 (1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1121 (1996); State v. Laviollette, 118 Wn.2d 670, 676, 826 P.2d 684 (1992) (citing Grady v. Corbin, 495 U.S. 508, 521, 110 S. Ct. 2084, 109 L. Ed. 2d 548 (1990)).
Along with his double jeopardy claim, Appellant also argues his due process rights were violated when the trial court refused to "tell the jury [in the penalty phase] it could not consider the Susan Schnell facts as well as the uncharged sexual offense in deciding whether to impose death or life without parole.” Br. of Appellant at 129.
Clerk’s Papers at 1089-90.
Report of Proceedings at 10, Nov. 16,1993.
Id. at 10-11.
Report of Proceedings at 77, Nov. 30, 1993.
Clerk’s Papers at 1419. See Jury Instruction Number 7.
Laureano, 101 Wn.2d at 764.
Appellant’s reliance on State v. Halstien, 122 Wn.2d 109, 857 P.2d 270 (1993) for the proposition that Rule 404(b) applies to this testimony is misplaced. In Halstien, the defendant was convicted of burglary with a finding of sexual motivation, and the trial court had ruled that evidence of the defendant’s prior contacts with the victim did not constitute prior bad acts under ER 404(b). Hal-stien, 122 Wn.2d at 125-26. This court held that prior bad acts included "acts that are merely unpopular or disgraceful” and concluded that defendant’s prior contacts with the victim fell within the scope of Rule 404(b). Id. at 126. However, the defendant in that case had made the victim feel uncomfortable in their prior contacts by "watching her,” asking unwelcome and inappropriate questions, and giving her "the creeps.” Id. at 112-13. In this case, neither Ms. Gray nor Ms. West expressed any similar concerns regarding their prior contacts with Appellant.
Appellant also argues that admission of the testimony of Ms. Gray and Ms. West "for eventual use in the penalty phase without the appropriate limiting instruction . . . permitted the jury to consider Mr. Brown’s propensity to 'stalk’ other victims besides Holly Washa.” Br. of Appellant at 132. The testimony did not suggest Appellant was stalking either woman. And the court’s limiting instruction on the matter, given twice to the jury, made that point sufficiently clear.
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966).
See RAP 2.5(a)(3).
Ex. 89, tape 1, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
Ex. 89, tape 3, side 1.
Miranda, 86 S. Ct. at 1630.
See Duckworth v. Eagan, 492 U.S. 195, 109 S. Ct. 2875, 2879, 106 L. Ed. 2d 166 (1989); Cooper v. Dupnik, 963 F.2d 1220, 1239-40 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 953 (1992); State v. Creach, 77 Wn.2d 194, 461 P.2d 329 (1969).
Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 105 S. Ct. 1285, 1292, 84 L. Ed. 2d 222 (1985).
Duckworth, 109 S. Ct. at 2880.
Id.
Id. at 2880.
People of the Territory of Guam v. Snaer, 758 F.2d 1341, 1342-43, (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 828, 106 S. Ct. 90, 88 L. Ed. 2d 74 (1985).
Id. at 1342.
Id. at 1343.
Id. at 1343 (quoting United States v. Noti, 731 F.2d 610, 614-15 (9th Cir. 1984)).
See State v. Koopman, 68 Wn. App. 514, 520, 844 P.2d 1024 (1992) (rejecting appellant’s claim that her Miranda warnings were defective because she had not been explicitly told she had the right to have counsel present before and during questioning), review denied, 121 Wn.2d 1012 (1993).
State v. Fjermestad, 114 Wn.2d 828, 834, 791 P.2d 897 (1990); State v. Wanrow, 88 Wn.2d 221, 233, 559 P.2d 548 (1977).
State v. Cunningham, 93 Wn.2d 823, 829, 613 P.2d 1139 (1980).
State v. Rupe, 101 Wn.2d 664, 683, 683 P.2d 571 (1984).
RCW 9.73.030(l)(b) provides:
"(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for . . . the state of Washington, its agencies, and political subdivisions to intercept, or record any:
"(b) Private conversation, by any device electronic or otherwise designed to record or transmit such conversation . . . without first obtaining the consent of all the persons engaged in the conversation.”
Supplementation of Report of Proceeding, at 2, July 10, 1992.
See Cal. Penal Code §§ 632, 633 and 633.5 (West Supp. 1992).
State v. Gwinner, 59 Wn. App. 119, 796 P.2d 728 (1990), review denied, 117 Wn.2d 1004 (1991).
State v. Mollica, 114 N.J. 329, 554 A.2d 1315 (1989).
State v. Johnson, 75 Wn. App. 692, 879 P.2d 984 (1994), review denied, 126 Wn.2d 1004 (1995).
Gwinner, 59 Wn. App. at 120.
State v. Mollica, 114 N.J. 329, 554 A.2d 1315 (1989).
Gwinner, 59 Wn. App. at 124 (citing Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1324-26).
Id. (citing Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1324). However, the Supreme Court rejected the silver platter doctrine in 1960. Elkins v. United States, 364 U.S. 206, 223, 80 S. Ct. 1437, 1447, 4 L. Ed. 2d 1669 (1960).
Gwinner, 59 Wn. App. at 125 (citing Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1327).
Id. (citing Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1327-29).
Id. (citing Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1329-30).
Id. at 125.
Id. (quoting Mollica, 554 A.2d at 1329) (alteration in original).
Id.
Johnson, 75 Wn. App. at 700 (quoting Gwinner, 59 Wn. App. at 125).
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1.
The trial court found an agency relationship was created when the State asked the Palm Springs police to question Appellant further. However, the court concluded that the King County police did not know the statements would be recorded; no evidence suggested King County police were trying to violate Washington law; and the Palm Springs police were following California law. Thus, suppressing the tapes would not further Washington’s interest. Report of Proceedings, vol. 4-B, at 53-55 (Sept. 15,1992).
State v. Mayes, 20 Wn. App. 184, 579 P.2d 999, review denied, 91 Wn.2d 1001 (1978).
Id. at 193.
State v. Williams, 94 Wn.2d 531, 540 n.1, 617 P.2d 1012, 24 A.L.R.4th 1191 (1980) (citing Mayes, 20 Wn. App. at 193).
Williams, 94 Wn.2d at 540 n.1 (citing Commonwealth v. Bennett, 245 Pa. Super. 457, 369 A.2d 493 (1976)).
Id.
In re Personal Restraint of Teddington, 116 Wn.2d 761, 772-73, 808 P.2d 156 (1991). See also State v. Bradley, 105 Wn.2d 898, 902-03, 719 P.2d 546 (1986) ("Neither state law nor the state constitution can control federal officers’ conduct.”).
See Draper v. Washington, 372 U.S. 487, 496-98, 9 L. Ed. 2d 899, 83 S. Ct. 774, 779-80, cert. denied, 374 U.S. 850 and 374 U.S. 852 (1963). See also State v. Larson, 62 Wn.2d 64, 66-67, 381 P.2d 120 (1963). ("Under the rule of the Draper case, we must have a 'record of sufficient completeness’ for a review of the errors raised by the defendant in a criminal case.”)
See Ex. 89. The extensive verbatim record of proceedings consists of more than 50 volumes. The Clerk’s Papers number more than 1700. The trial court admitted 93 exhibits.
Report of Proceedings at 2-12, Sept. 15, 1993.
Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 424, 105 S. Ct. 844, 83 L. Ed. 2d 841 (1985) (quoting Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 45, 100 S. Ct. 2521, 65 L. Ed. 2d 581 (1980)); State v. Brett, 126 Wn.2d 136, 157, 892 P.2d 29 (1995) (quoting State v. Hughes, 106 Wn.2d 176, 181, 721 P.2d 902 (1986) (quoting Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. at 424)), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1121 (1996).
See Hughes, 106 Wn.2d at 180.
Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162, 106 S. Ct. 1758, 90 L. Ed. 2d 137 (1986); Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412; Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38; Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S. Ct. 1770, 20 L. Ed. 2d 776 (1968).
Br. of Appellant at 94-101, 105-12. Although Appellant also contends death qualification disproportionately excludes minorities and women from the jury panel, he does so in general terms and does not claim the jury in this case was disproportionately exclusive of women or minorities. The record does not support that claim. And Appellant presents no evidence showing that death qualification in Washington results in the systematic exclusion of minorities and women from the jury panel.
State v. Gunwall, 106 Wn.2d 54, 720 P.2d 808, 76 A.L.R.4th 517 (1986). In State v. Hughes 106 Wn.2d 176 this Court concluded that death qualifying a jury was permissible not only under the federal constitution, but under the state constitution as well. Some cases have relied upon Hughes to reach the same conclusion. See State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 634, 888 P.2d 1105, cert. denied, 516 U.S. 843 (1995); State v. Kron, 63 Wn. App. 688, 695, 821 P.2d 1248, review denied, 119 Wn.2d 1004 (1992); State v. Peerson, 62 Wn. App. 755, 779, 816 P.2d 43 (1991), review denied, 118 Wn.2d 1012 (1992). But Hughes did not analyze the six factors in State v. Gunwall to conclude that death qualification is allowed under the Washington Constitution. Thus, in determining whether death qualification violates the Washington Constitution, Hughes and the cases following do not control at this point. See State v. Irizarry, 111 Wn.2d 591, 595-97, 763 P.2d 432 (1988) (Utter, J., concurring).
Gunwall, 106 Wn.2d at 61-62.
State v. Wethered, 110 Wn.2d 466, 472-73, 755 P.2d 797 (1988); State v. Olivas, 122 Wn.2d 73, 82, 856 P.2d 1076 (1993). See also State v. Brett, 126 Wn.2d 136, 159, 892 P.2d 29 (1995) (declining to discuss the defendant’s right to an impartial jury under Const, art. I, § 22 because the Gunwall factors were not analyzed), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1121 (1996).
City of Pasco v. Mace, 98 Wn.2d 87, 653 P.2d 618 (1982).
See State v. Hobble, 126 Wn.2d 283, 298-99, 892 P.2d 85 (1995).
City of Pasco v. Mace, 98 Wn.2d 87.
State v. Lane, 40 Wn.2d 734, 246 P.2d 474 (1952).
State v. Stegall, 124 Wn.2d 719, 723, 881 P.2d 979 (1994).
Lane, 40 Wn.2d at 737.
Stegall, 124 Wn.2d at 729.
State v. Schaaf, 109 Wn.2d 1, 743 P.2d 240 (1987).
See The Journal op the Washington State Constitutional Convention 510-11 (Beverly Paulik Rosenow ed., 1962).
Gunwall, 106 Wn.2d at 61-62.
State v. Gocken, 127 Wn.2d 95, 105, 896 P.2d 1267 (1995) (citing State v. Young, 123 Wn.2d 173, 180, 867 P.2d 593 (1994)).
Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 538, 95 S. Ct. 692, 42 L. Ed. 2d 690 (1975).
Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S. 719, 725-26, 112 S. Ct. 2222, 119 L. Ed. 2d 492 (1992) (quoting Spaziano v. Florida, 468 U.S. 447, 464, 104 S. Ct. 3154, 82 L. Ed. 2d 340 (1984)).
E.g., Hughes, 106 Wn.2d 176, 181; Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 634.
Appellant urges this Court to adopt several dissenting opinions of cases from New Jersey and Utah, including State v. Ramseur, 106 N.J. 123, 524 A.2d 188, 250-57 (1987), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 947 (1993); State v. Bey, 112 N.J. 123, 548 A.2d 887, 900 (1988); State v. Marshall, 123 N.J. 1, 586 A.2d 85, 129-34 (1991) and State v. Young, 853 P.2d 327, 342-43 (Utah 1993), from which Appellant cites extensively to support his claim that death qualification violates the Washington constitution. The Gunwall analysis contradicts his claim. Although informative, those dissenting opinions do not affect our independent state constitutional analysis.
State v. Hughes, 106 Wn.2d 176.
State v. Mak, 105 Wn.2d 692, 707, 718 P.2d 407, cert. denied, 479 U.S. 995 (1986), sentence vacated on writ of habeas corpus sub nom. Mak v. Blodgett, 754 F. Supp. 1490 (W.D. Wash. 1991), aff’d, 970 F.2d 614 (9th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 951 (1993).
Hughes, 106 Wn.2d at 185 (citing Hayes v. Missouri, 120 U.S. 68, 70-71, 7 S. Ct. 350, 30 L. Ed. 578 (1887)).
Id. at 185-86 (quoting Smith v. Balkcom, 660 F.2d 573, 579 (5th. Cir. 1981), modified on other grounds, 671 F.2d 858 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 882 (1982)) (first alteration and emphasis in original).
Id. at 186 (quoting Smith, 660 F.2d at 579).
Id. at 186 (quoting Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. at 184).
Grigsby v. Mabry, 758 F.2d 226 (8th Cir. 1985), rev’d sub nom. Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162 (1986).
Hughes, 106 Wn.2d at 182-84. Hughes also rejects Appellant’s suggestion that separate juries should be required for the guilt and penalty phase. Id. at 186-88.
Former RCW 10.49.050 provided:
"No person whose opinions are such as to preclude him from finding any defendant guilty of an offense punishable with death shall be compelled or allowed to serve as a juror on the trial of any indictment or information for such an offense.”
Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S. Ct. 1770, 20 L. Ed. 2d 776 (1968).
E.g., Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 634; Mak, 105 Wn.2d at 707; Hughes, 106 Wn.2d at 180-88.
Spaziano v. Florida, 468 U.S. at 464.
Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S. Ct. 844, 83 L. Ed. 2d 841 (1985).
Witt, 469 U.S. at 430.
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 158; Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 634 (citing State v. Rupe, 108 Wn.2d 734, 759, 743 P.2d 210 (1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1061 (1988)); Mak, 105 Wn.2d at 707.
Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 634 (citing Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 425-26; In re Lord, 123 Wn.2d 296, 309, 868 P.2d 835 (1994)).
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 158 (citing Rupe, 108 Wn.2d at 749).
Witt, 469 U.S. at 428 n.9 (quoting Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 156-57, 25 L. Ed. 244 (1878)).
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 157; Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 635; Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424.
Report of Proceedings at 79, Nov. 4, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 79, Nov. 4, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 84, Nov. 4, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 93, Nov. 4,1993.
Report of Proceedings at 95, Nov. 3, 1993.
Report of Proceedings at 101, Nov. 3, 1993. Ms. Henderson crossed her arms, held her hand up and sat back.
Clerk’s Papers at 1423.
State v. Rice, 110 Wn.2d 577, 603, 757 P.2d 889 (1988), cert. denied, 491 U.S. 910 (1989); State v. Benn, 120 Wn.2d 631, 657-58, 845 P.2d 289, cert. denied, 510 U.S. 944, 114 S. Ct. 382, 126 L. Ed. 2d. 331 (1993).
Clerk’s Papers at 1175.
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 171.
Id.; Gentry, 125 Wn.2d at 613.
Rice, 110 Wn.2d at 603.
Benn, 120 Wn.2d at 655.
Clerk’s Papers at 1438.
RCW 9A.08.010(l)(a) states that "[a] person acts with intent or intentionally when he acts with the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes a crime.”
RCW 9A.32.030(l)(a) provides:
"Murder in the first degree. (1) A person is guilty of murder in the first degree when:
"(a) With a premeditated intent to cause the death of another person, he or she causes the death of such person or of a third person . . . .”
Clerk’s Papers at 1. Under RCW 9A.32.030(l)(a), a person is guilty of murder in the first degree when, with premeditated intent to cause the death of another person, the accused causes the death of that person or of a third person. RCW 10.95.020(9) provides that a person is guilty of aggravated first degree murder by committing first degree murder "in the course of, in the furtherance of, or in immediate flight from ... (a) Robbery in the first or second degree; (b) Rape in the first or second degree . . . (d) Kidnapping in the first degree[J”
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 166.
State v. Golladay, 78 Wn.2d 121, 132, 470 P.2d 191 (1970), overruled on other grounds, State v. Arndt, 87 Wn.2d 374, 378, 553 P.2d 1328 (1976).
State v. Leech, 114 Wn.2d 700, 706, 790 P.2d 160 (1990). See State v. Dudrey, 30 Wn. App. 447, 450, 635 P.2d 750 (1981), review denied, 96 Wn.2d 1026 (1982).
Golladay, 78 Wn.2d at 130.
2 Wayne R. LaFave & Austin W. Scott, Jr., Substantive Criminal Law § 7.5, at 225 (1986) (discussing "causal connection” necessary between felony and murder in felony murder cases).
Leech, 114 Wn.2d 700.
Dudrey, 30 Wn. App. 447.
Id. at 450.
Id.
Golladay, 78 Wn.2d at 131.
Id.
Appellant conceded at trial the kidnapping was a continuing course of conduct and the killing was committed "in immediate flight from” the kidnapping. The record shows he kept Ms. Washa captive until her death. Thus, the kidnapping did not terminate until Appellant killed her and immediately left
Clerk’s Papers at 1410.
Id.
See State v. Scott, 110 Wn.2d 682, 694, 757 P.2d 492 (1988) (Utter, J„ dissenting).
State v. Allen, 101 Wn.2d 355, 358, 678 P.2d 798 (1984); Scott, 110 Wn.2d at 689.
Allen, 101 Wn.2d at 361-62.
Benn, 120 Wn.2d at 673-74; State v. Jeffries, 105 Wn.2d 398, 420, 717 P.2d 722, cert. denied, 479 U.S. 922 (1986).
Benn, 120 Wn.2d at 674.
Id.
State v. Bartholomew, 101 Wn.2d 631, 647, 683 P.2d 1079 (1984).
Scoff, 110 Wn.2d at 692 (citation omitted).
State v. Ng, 110 Wn.2d 32, 42, 750 P.2d 632 (1988).
Scott, 110 Wn.2d at 690.
See Clerk’s Papers at 1411-41 ("Court’s Instructions to the Jury”).
See Appellant’s proposed instructions P-9A, P-9B, P-11, P12, P-13, P-17, P-21, P-22 and P-23.
Compare Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862, 873-80, 103 S. Ct. 2733, 77 L. Ed. 2d 235 (1983) (reviewing Georgia’s "non-weighing” death penalty statute) with Stringer v. Black, 503 U.S. 222, 229-35, 112 S. Ct. 1130, 117 L. Ed. 2d 367 (1992) (concluding Mississippi has a "weighing” death penalty statute).
In Williams v. Calderon, 52 F.3d 1465, 1478 nn.11-13 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1124 (1996), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit noted states with weighing or non-weighing death penalty statutes, according to state and federal court decisions.
The following states were identified or treated as having "non-weighing” death penalty statutes: Georgia, Zant v. Stephens, 462 U.S. 862 (1983) (Ga. Code Ann. § 17-10-30 (Michie 1994)); Illinois, People v. Todd, 154 Ill. 2d 57, 607 N.E.2d 1189, 1197-98 (1992) (Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/9-1 (West 1992)), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 944, 114 S. Ct. 381, 126 L. Ed. 2d 331 (1993)); Kentucky, Wilson v. Commonwealth, 836 S.W.2d 872, 891 (Ky. 1992) (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.025 (Michie 1994)), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 1034, 113 S. Ct. 1857, 123 L. Ed. 2d 479 (1993); Louisiana, Ward v. Whitley, 21 F.3d 1355, 1365 (5th Cir. 1994) (La. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 905.3-.4 (West 1994)), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1192, 115 S. Ct. 1257, 131 L. Ed. 2d 137 (1995); Virginia, Briley v. Bass, 742 F.2d 155, 166 (4th Cir.) (Va. Code Ann. §§ 19.2-264.2, 19.2-264.4 (Michie 1994)), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 893, 105 S. Ct. 270, 83 L. Ed 2d 206 (1984); Delaware, Bailey v. Snyder, 855 F. Supp. 1392, 1408-10 (D. Del. 1993) (Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 4209 (1994)), aff’d, 68 F.3d 736 (3rd Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1088 (1996) and Missouri, State v. LaRette, 648 S.W.2d 96, 102 (Mo.), (Mo. Ann. Stat. §§ 565.030, 565.032 (Vernon 1994)), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 908, 104 S. Ct. 262, 78 L. Ed. 2d 246 (1983).
The following states were identified or treated as having "weighing” death penalty statutes: Alabama, Lawhorn v. State, 581 So. 2d 1159, 1176 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990) (Ala. Code §§ 13A-5-46 to -49 (1994)), aff’d, Ex parte Lawhorn, 581 So. 2d 1179 (Ala.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 970 (1991); Arizona, Richmond v. Lewis, 506 U.S. 40, 113 S. Ct. 528, 534-35, 121 L. Ed. 2d 411 (1992) (Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-703 (West 1994)); Arkansas, Ford v. Lockhart, 861 F. Supp. 1447, 1453 (E.D. Ark. 1994) (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-4-602 to -604 (Michie 1994)); Colorado, People v. White, 870 P.2d 424, 447-49 (Colo.) (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 16-11-103 (1994)), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 841, 115 S. Ct. 127, 130 L. Ed. 2d 71 (1994); Florida, Parker v. Dugger, 498 U.S. 308, 318, 111 S. Ct. 731, 737-38, 112 L. Ed. 2d 812 (1991) (Fla. Stat. Ann. § 921.141 (West 1995)); Indiana, Bellmore v. State, 602 N.E.2d 111, 129-30 (Ind. 1992) (Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-2-9 (Michie 1994) ); Mississippi, Stringer v. Black, 503 U.S. 222, 229-30, 112 S. Ct. 1130, 1136, 117 L. Ed. 2d 367 (1992) (Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (1993)); Nebraska, State v. Reeves, 239 Neb. 419, 476 N.W.2d 829, 836 (1991) (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-2522 to 29-2523 (1993)), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 837, 113 S. Ct. 114, 121 L. Ed. 2d 71 (1992); Nevada, Canape v. State, 109 Nev. 864, 859 P.2d 1023, 1031-35 (1993) (Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 200.030, 200.033 (1993)), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 862, 115 S. Ct. 176, 130 L. Ed. 2d 112 (1994); New Mexico, State v. Henderson, 109 N.M. 655, 789 P.2d 603, 609-10 (1990) (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 31-20A-2, 31-20A-5 (Michie 1995) ); North Carolina, Smith v. Dixon, 14 F.3d 956, 974 (4th Cir.) (en banc) (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-2000 (1994)), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 841, 115 S. Ct. 129, 130 L. Ed. 2d 72 (1994); Ohio, State v. Davis, 38 Ohio St. 3d 361, 528 N.E.2d 925, 933 n.11 (1988) (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2929.03-.04 (Anderson 1993)), cert.denied, 488 U.S. 1034, 109 S. Ct. 849, 102 L. Ed. 2d (1989); Oklahoma, Stafford v. Saffle, 34 F.3d 1557, 1568 (10th Cir. 1994) (Okla. Stat. Ann. §§ 701.10-.12 (West 1995)), cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1099 (1995); Pennsylvania, Commonwealth v. Holcomb, 508 Pa. 425, 498 A.2d 833, 849-51 & n.16 (1985) (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711 (West 1994)), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1150, 106 S. Ct. 1804, 90 L. Ed.
E.g., Parker v. Dugger, 498 U.S. 308, 318, 111 S. Ct. 731, 112 L. Ed. 2d 812 (1991) .
Richmond v. Lewis, 506 U.S. 40, 47, 113 S. Ct. 528, 121 L. Ed. 2d 411 (1992).
Id.
Id. at 46.
Stringer, 503 U.S. at 236.
Stringer, 503 U.S. at 232.
Id. at 230 (discussing Georgia death penalty statute).
Id. at 233 (discussing Louisiana death penalty statute).
RCW 10.95.060(4).
RCW 10.95.060; RCW 10.95.070. See State v. Jeffries, 105 Wn.2d 398; State v. Mak, 105 Wn.2d 692.
Williams v. Calderon, 52 F.3d 1465, 1477-78 (9th Cir. 1995) (footnotes omitted), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1124 (1996).
In Campbell v. Blodgett, 978 F.2d 1502, 1512-13 (9th Cir. 1992), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit determined that nothing in RCW 10.95 suggests the jury is required to engage in a balancing test, or impose the death penalty after finding the factors "in balance.”
Eg., State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570 (victim impact evidence); State v. Bartholomew, 101 Wn.2d 631, 683 P.2d 1079 (1984) (adult convictions and juvenile court adjudications of guilt); Delo v. Lashley, 507 U.S. 272, 113 S. Ct. 1222, 122 L. Ed. 2d 620 (1993) (unadjudicated criminal conduct).
Benn, 120 Wn.2d at 654.
Id. at 655.
State v. Lord, 117 Wn.2d 829, 861, 822 P.2d 177 (1992).
Benn, 120 Wn.2d at 654-55.
Brett, 126 Wn.2d at 182.
Clerk’s Papers at 1419-20 (Instruction 7 and Instruction 8).
See Tuilaepa v. California, 512 U.S. 967, 114 S. Ct. 2630, 129 L. Ed. 2d 750 (1994).
Tuilaepa, 114 S. Ct. at 2638.
RCW 10.95.070(8) specifically provides that a jury may consider whether there is a likelihood the defendant will pose a danger to others in the future.
Zant, 462 U.S. at 890.
Stringer, 503 U.S. at 231.
Zant, 462 U.S. at 879 (emphasis omitted).
Id.
Clerk’s Papers at 1413 (Instruction 1).
Clerk’s Papers at 1581 (Instruction 1).
E.g., State v. Bartholomew, 101 Wn.2d at 640-41.
In Appellant’s brief, the argument heading for this section states: "THE STATE FAILED TO SERVE ITS NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY ON MR. BROWN OR HIS ATTORNEYS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE ARRAIGNMENT, REQUIRING THIS COURT TO STRIKE THE DEATH SENTENCE IN THIS CASE.” Br. of Appellant at 55. However, in the argument section itself, Appellant only claims "there is absolutely no proof’ the State served him or his attorneys. Id. at 56.
RCW 10.95.040(1).
RCW 10.95.040(2).
RCW 10.95.040(3).
Clerk’s Papers at 37.
Br. of Appellant at 56.
Br. of Appellant at 56, n.8.
State v. Dearbone, 125 Wn.2d 173, 177, 883 P.2d 303 (1994).
Clerk’s Papers at 38, 47-49.
Clerk’s Papers at 275.
Clerk’s Papers at 652-64.
Id. at 665-80.
Id. at 686.
Id.; Report of Proceedings at 26-34, Feb. 25, 1993.
Clerk’s Papers at 686.
State v. Yates, 111 Wn.2d 793, 797, 765 P.2d 291 (1988) (citing State v. Mak, 105 Wn.2d 692).
Id.
See CrR 1.1.
Yates, 111 Wn.2d at 797 (quoting Criminal Rules Task Force, Washington Proposed Rules op Criminal Procedure 77 (West Publ’g Co. ed. 1971)).
People v. Mitchell, 5 Cal. 4th 1229, 859 P.2d 102, 23 Cal. Rptr. 403 (1993).
Id. at 1232 (referencing § 1054.1).
Id.
Clerk’s Papers at 669-70 n.l.
Mitchell, 5 Cal. 4th at 1233.
Mitchell at 1233-34.
Id. at 1237.
Id.
Id. at 1238.
Id.
Id.
See CrR 1.1.
RCW 10.95 governs criminal proceedings involving the death penalty in this state. RCW 10.95.060, which sets forth the procedure to be followed in the penalty phase of a capital case, does not address the subject of discovery. Nor is that subject addressed elsewhere in the statute. See generally RCW 10.95.
Mitchell, 5 Cal. 4th at 1233.
Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570 (1995).
The State was aware the Gentry case was pending at the time. Report of Proceedings at 108, Dec. 15, 1993. In offering Mr. Washa’s testimony the State explained: “While we wanted to push hard and ask this Court to allow this evidence in front of the jury, we understand that that would put this Court in a very difficult position, but we would like to preserve the issue and be able to cross-appeal it. So essentially what we’re asking this Court to do is make a ruling at this time that we don’t like so that we would be able to cross-appeal.” Id.
Report of Proceedings at 109, Dec. 15, 1993.
Id. at 632-33.
Concurrence in Part
(concurring in part, dissenting in part) — I concur with the majority that Cal Brown’s conviction should be affirmed. However, I would hold the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Ms. Schnell, the victim in a criminal encounter with Brown in California. Further, I would hold the admission of that evidence was reversible error as to the sentencing phase of Defendant’s trial. Consequently, although I concur in affirming Brown’s conviction, I would remand for resentencing.
I. Guilt Phase
In this case, the trial court permitted the California victim, Ms. Schnell, to testify, over objections by defense counsel, regarding the Defendant’s violent behavior toward her during the days following the murder of Ms. Washa. Ms. Schnell testified how Brown restrained her with handcuffs and other devices, sexually assaulted her, forced her to write a check to him for $4,000, threatened her with a knife, and slit her throat.
The trial court ruled that Ms. Schnell’s testimony was admissible under two exceptions to Evidence Rule (ER) 404, the res gestae exception and the common scheme or plan exception. The court stated the evidence "was relevant to material issues . . . relating to premeditation, intent, and the four [statutory] aggravating factors” and that the "probative value of the testimony . . . substantially outweighed its prejudicial effect.” Majority at 573 (referring to the aggravating factors found by the jury pursuant to RCW 10.95.020). The majority agrees.
In my view, the majority and the trial court were wrong in concluding that under ER 404(b) it was proper to admit Ms. Schnell’s testimony during the guilt phase of Brown’s trial. First, the Schnell testimony is not res gestae evidence. The trial court erred in admitting her testimony under that legal exception to ER 404. Second, ER 404
A. Res Gestae
Evidence of other misconduct may be admissible under the res gestae exception "[t]o complete the story of the crime on trial by placing it in the context of nearby and nearly contemporaneous happenings.” 1 McCormick on Evidence § 190 at 799 (John W. Strong ed., 4th ed. 1992). See State v. Tharp, 96 Wn.2d 591, 594, 637 P.2d 961 (1981) (other misconduct admissible "in order that [the jury] have the entire story of what transpired on that particular evening”). In this case, the crimes against Ms. Washa were completed with her death, well before the Defendant’s conduct with Ms. Schnell occurred. Thus, evidence that Defendant raped and cut Ms. Schnell’s throat two or three days after the completion of his crimes "on trial” does not constitute res gestae evidence.
In oral argument before this Court the State conceded the same.
*635 Talmadge, J.: You would not be contending that if common plan or scheme were not part of this case that all the details of the crimes that were committed against Ms. Schnell would be at all relevant in terms of res gestae as an exception?
Ms. Pahmeier: That’s true.
Madsen, J.: Are you conceding that the evidence of the rape and the slashing of the throat would not be relevant if it were offered only for res gestae purposes?
Ms. Pahmeier: Yes, I would say it was definitely admitted under the ER 404(b) common scheme or plan.
Ms. Pahmeier: I’m not sure that the evidence of the incidents that took place then in California when he got there would come in except under the court’s ....
Alexander, J.: So it comes in under common scheme or plan or it doesn’t come in at all?
Ms. Pahmeier: That’s correct.
Tape of Oral Argument, side 7: 539-70.
Ms. Schnell’s testimony does not meet the definition of res gestae evidence and its admission under that exception was erroneous.
B. Necessity of Evidence
To constitute evidence of a common scheme or plan the prior misconduct must be an integral part of a larger or "overarching” scheme or plan. State v. Lough, 125 Wn.2d 847, 889 P.2d 487 (1995). Alternatively, the evidence may demonstrate a commonly used scheme or plan. See id. at 854-55. The State argues here that Schnell’s evidence was admissible under the common scheme or plan exception because his crimes against Ms. Washa were part of his overarching plan to rape, rob, and assault Ms. Schnell. Assuming that the evidence was part of a common scheme or plan, it should, nevertheless, have been excluded
The State says the Schnell evidence was necessary to rebut Defendant’s claim that Ms. Washa’s murder was an accident or an act of panic, not premeditated murder, and Defendant’s claim that the sexual intercourse with Ms. Washa was consensual.
Initially, I find the State’s justification for the Schnell evidence disingenuous, considering Defendant never testified and, in fact, offered no defense at all. Most of the evidence against Defendant came from his confession, which Defendant attempted to keep out of evidence. The confession was offered by the State in its case in chief as substantive evidence. Thus, it is the State’s own evidence, contained in the confession, which the State is attempting to discredit with Schnell’s testimony. The State should not be allowed to offer confession evidence, over defense objection, and then claim that ER 404 evidence is necessary to rebut Defendant’s claim that he lacked premeditation to murder or that sex was consensual. This is particularly true where Defendant has not testified or offered any evidence regarding premeditation, motive, or intent. See State v. Lavaris, 106 Wn.2d 340, 346, 721 P.2d 515 (1986) (State may not call witness for primary purpose of impeaching him with otherwise inadmissible testimony).
More importantly, the State’s assertions regarding the need for Schnell’s testimony are simply not borne out by the evidence. Rather than casting doubt on premeditation, Defendant’s confession establishes it. In his confession, Defendant stated:
I realized if I left her there, she could just bang and clang and crunch and scream and be out very quickly. Otherwise, I would have just left her there and that’s when I went to the back of the truck and I. . . killed her.
Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1, at 630-50. Moreover, Defendant’s discussion of being panicked was in relation to moving the car after he had killed her. "I forgot that trunks have like
Nor was the evidence necessary on the issue of consent. He stated in his confession that during intercourse he noticed she was looking at the door and thinking of escape. In response, Brown stated he decided "to have a little control . . . make her a little more scared of me.” Ex. 89, tape 2, side 1. Further, the physical evidence overwhelmingly proved that intercourse was not consensual. See Majority at 544.
Finally, it is difficult to see how Defendant’s conduct with Ms. Schnell had any bearing on his premeditation in the Washa murder or the consensual nature of his sexual contact with Ms. Washa. Defendant was not charged with premeditation in the Schnell crime, nor was he charged or convicted of sexual assault on Ms. Schnell.
Considering the overwhelmingly strong case for the State based on the physical evidence and Defendant’s confession, it is clear that the real reason the State offered Schnell’s testimony was to demonstrate the Defendant’s propensity to rape, rob, and slash women’s throats. The State candidly stated the "exclusion of Schnell’s testimony would not have changed the outcome of this case.” Br. of Resp’t at 109. The State thus concedes the evidence was not necessary.
In the present case, the exclusion of Schnell’s testimony would not have changed the outcome of this case. The remaining evidence, including Brown’s confession, is overwhelming. The heinous acts the defendant committed upon Washa were far more compelling than the streamlined testimony from Schnell concerning what the defendant did to her.
Br. of Resp’t at 109.
The Schnell evidence also fails the second part of the admissibility test; i.e., the probative value of the evidence must outweigh its prejudicial effect. Even assuming Schnell’s testimony was admissible under the common scheme or plan exception to ER 404, her testimony was, at best, cumulative and of marginal probative value. See De-Vore v. United States, 368 F.2d 396, 398 (9th Cir. 1966) (evidence of other bad acts deemed improperly admitted because, in view of the cumulative nature of the evidence, the "prejudice to appellants was not balanced by any substantial gain to the government’s case”). More importantly, the Schnell evidence was obviously "dragged in” for its prejudicial effect and the emotional response it would evoke. Carson v. Fine, 123 Wn.2d 206, 224-25, 867 P.2d 610 (1994). The prosecution was adding frosting to the cake.
D. Harmless Error
The State’s case, including the Defendant’s confession and the physical evidence, was overwhelming. Thus, while admission of Schnell’s testimony was error, it was harmless as to the guilt phase of this trial. It was not, however, harmless as to the penalty phase.
II. Penalty Phase
Unlike the guilt phase, admission of the Schnell testimony is reversible error as to the penalty phase of this capital case. The majority and the trial court fail to recognize that the balancing of the potentially undue prejudicial effect of Ms. Sehnell’s testimony against its probative value cannot be limited only to issues relevant to the guilt phase of this trial. A jury in a capital crime trial deliberates on an entirely separate question during the sentencing phase. Therefore, in deciding whether to admit evidence in the guilt phase of a capital trial, the trial court must weigh the effect of such potentially prejudicial evidence against the probative value in the sentencing
The decision to admit evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts "lies largely within the sound discretion of the trial court” and "will not be reversed on appeal absent a showing of abuse of discretion.” State v. Laureano, 101 Wn.2d 745, 764, 682 P.2d 889 (1984). However, a review of the evidentiary decision at issue here is also influenced by the fact that the evidence that was admitted had the potential to affect the imposition of the death penalty, which this Court recognizes "qualitatively differs from all other punishments.” State v. Lord, 117 Wn.2d 829, 888, 822 P.2d 177 (1991), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 856 (1992). Because of this qualitative difference, review of a claimed error associated with the sentencing phase of a capital case must receive a more careful review of the record to assure that "there [is] reliability in the determination that death is the appropriate punishment.” Id. See also Mak v. Blodgett, 754 F. Supp. 1490, 1493-94 (W.D. Wash. 1991) ("The Constitution requires the most careful scrutiny of every case in which a person has been sentenced to death.”), aff’d, 970 F.2d 614 (9th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 951 (1993).
A careful review of the record of this case indicates that the State properly notified the Defendant of the State’s intent to seek the death penalty, and that each member of the jury was questioned at voir dire about his or her views with respect to the death penalty. It is, therefore, beyond debate that the parties, as well as the trial judge, were well aware that a special sentencing proceeding, as provided by RCW 10.95.020-.070, would be required if the jury found Brown guilty as charged of aggravated first-degree murder. We must also assume that the trial judge was aware that it "is well settled that all evidence which is admissible in the guilt phase [of a capital case] is also
During the penalty phase, the essential question that the jury must answer is whether it is "convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that there are not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency.” RCW 10.95.060(4). In order to assure that the special sentencing proceeding in a capital case comports with "state and federal constitutional standards,” the Court has specifically held that the province of the jury in such proceedings "must be limited to mitigating evidence . . . and mitigating factors only.” Bartholomew, 101 Wn.2d at 642 (emphasis added). As we stated in Bartholomew, "in most cases the prosecution may open only with the defendant’s criminal record and evidence which would have been admissible at the guilt phase of the trial.” Bartholomew, 101 Wn.2d at 643. Therefore, the State acted properly in this case when it sought to admit evidence that Brown has a criminal record of prior convictions. However, because the "introduction of a certified copy of the judgment and sentence is the preferred way to introduce a prior conviction when it is admissible,” Ms. Schnell’s detailed testimony would not have been admissible at the penalty phase unless it would have been admissible at the guilt phase, or offered in specific rebuttal to a mitigating factor raised by the Defendant. State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 638, 888 P.2d 1105, cert. denied, 516 U.S. 843 (1995). As explained above, the evidence was not admissible during the guilt phase.
Looking to the penalty phase, it is indisputable that Ms. Schnell’s testimony is probative on the question of whether leniency is warranted. However, one of the reasons, if not the primary reason, such evidence is probative is because of its highly prejudicial nature. It is precisely for this reason that it is generally a violation of the Defendant’s due process rights for the jury to even
With respect to the question of whether leniency is warranted, Ms. Schnell’s account of Brown’s violent acts constituting sexual assault and rape, offenses Brown was neither charged with nor convicted of, posed a significant danger of being unfairly prejudicial. See, e.g., State v. Bowen, 48 Wn. App. 187, 738 P.2d 316 (1987); State v. Ramirez, 46 Wn. App. 223, 730 P.2d 98 (1986); State v. Harris, 36 Wn. App. 746, 677 P.2d 202 (1984) (admission of such evidence was reversed because of prejudicial effect on a jury’s deliberation of a defendant’s guilt or innocence). The trial court should have considered the potential prejudice in the penalty phase when deciding in the guilt phase whether to admit the evidence.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey expressed similar concerns about the impact of guilt phase evidence on the jury’s penalty determination in a capital case. State v. Erazo, 126 N.J. 112, 594 A.2d 232 (1991). The court said "[w]hen the same jury hears both phases of such a case, evidence admitted on the guilt phase may sometimes taint the penalty phase. With the stakes so high, the possibility of prejudice on the penalty phase persists as a cause for continuing concern.” Id. at 242.
Upon properly considering the prejudicial impact of the
In sum, the nature of the ER 404(b) evidence in this case was so inflammatory that the trial court’s failure to balance the probative value of the evidence against the prejudicial impact as it relates to the penalty phase inquiry constitutes an abuse of discretion, for it cannot be said that there is reliability in the determination that death is the appropriate punishment. Lord, 117 Wn.2d at 888. ("Because the death penalty qualitatively differs from all other punishments, there must be reliability in the determination that death is the appropriate punishment.”)
To be assured of such reliability, I would remand for a new sentencing proceeding where Ms. Schnell’s testimony is not presented to a new jury impaneled to determine Defendant’s sentence.
Alexander and Sanders, JJ., concur with Madsen, J.
Reconsideration denied September 23, 1997.