481 So. 2d 486 | Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | 1985
Lead Opinion
This appeal is brought by the State of Florida from a writ of habeas corpus discharging petitioner from a Governor’s warrant in an extradition proceeding.
The Governor’s warrant, issued on request of the State of New York, sought the delivery of Enrique Davila Torres a/k/a “Kiki” to face charges on an indictment for second-degree murder. Attached to the warrant was a copy of the indictment, a photograph, and an affidavit of a New York detective who swore that:
On April 19, 1985, a person known by me identified Enrique Davilla Torrez, by photo, as the perpetrator of a homicide which occurred on February 11, 1984, in Kings County. This photograph was provided to the New York City Police Department by the United States Department of Immigration.
Petitioner challenged the warrant by petition for habeas corpus on grounds that (a) he was not the person named and described in the warrant, and (b) he was not in New York at the time and place of the crime.
The court heard petitioner’s evidence at the extradition hearing. His first witness was the custodian of records at petitioner’s place of employment in Miami. Her testimony, based on reports kept by petitioner’s supervisor and not on personal knowledge, was that petitioner was at work on the date of the offense. Her records indicated that petitioner’s birthdate was the same as that of the fugitive named in the warrant. On cross-examination she identified the photograph attached to the New York warrant as that of the petitioner.
Petitioner’s second witness was his supervisor who testified on cross-examination that the photograph attached to the warrant was that of the petitioner. He further testified, based on employer’s records, that petitioner worked in Miami the full week of the New York homicide. The supervisor, however, had no independent recollection of that fact.
Petitioner’s wife testified that, to the best of her knowledge, her husband was
[B]eing of the opinion and belief that the petitioner Enrique Davila Suarez is not one and the same as the fugitive from the State of New York ... it is hereby
ORDERED and ADJUDGED:
1. The petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is granted and the petitioner is discharged from custody.
There are settled principles in the law of extradition which guide a resolution of this case. First, where there is a material discrepancy between the name contained in extradition documents and the actual name of the accused, the documents standing alone are not sufficient to make a prima facie case. Cf. State v. Perrera, 443 So.2d 1016 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983) (an identity of names raises presumption that petitioner is same person named in warrant); Solano v. State, 417 So.2d 302 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982) (same). Where there is a discrepancy in the names but the extradition documents also include a photograph of the accused, along with an appropriate affidavit, a pri-ma facie case may be established. Miller v. Debekker, 668 P.2d 927 (Colo.1983). The burden is on the petitioner to overcome the prima facie case. State ex rel. Kimbro v. Starr, 65 So.2d 67 (Fla.1953); Kohler v. Sandstrom, 305 So.2d 76 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974), cert. denied, 311 So.2d 669 (Fla.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 934, 96 S.Ct. 289, 46 L.Ed.2d 264 (1975).
The threshold question raised by this appeal, which we find dispositive, is whether the appellee met his burden of overcoming the State’s prima facie case by competent proof. See Kohler. We conclude that the trial court, in applying the above legal principles to the facts of the case, reached a correct conclusion. See Graziano v. State, 305 So.2d 867 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975) (the resolution of any conflicts in the evidence on the issue of identity is the province of the trial court).
A prima facie case is one which will suffice until contradicted or overcome by other evidence. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. v. Wallace, 158 Or. 210, 75 P.2d 942, 947 (1938). In extradition proceedings a petitioner may overcome the State’s prima facie case by competent proof that the Governor’s warrant is invalid, or that it is not supported by competent evidence. State ex rel. Kimbro; Kohler. Petitioner showed by competent proof that his name was not the same as the person named in the extradition documents. The warrant then rested on the photograph and affidavit of the New York detective. They are lacking in substance and competency.
All that can be said of the photograph is that it is of a person with a similar name which was sent to New York authorities by the Department of Immigration upon request.
The evidence which will justify remanding the accused must have at least the degree of certainty that would justify a magistrate in committing the accused. State ex rel. Kimbro, 65 So.2d at 68 (citing Ex parte Jowell, 87 Tex.Cr.R. 556, 223 S.W. 456 (Crim.App.1920)). The trial court did not weigh the evidence but found a lack of any competent evidence to support a remand. We cannot disagree.
Affirmed.
JORGENSON, J., concurs.
. There are actually two appeals, one from discharge on a fugitive warrant and another from discharge on a Governor's warrant. The findings made on the fugitive warrant were incorporated into the findings on the Governor’s warrant. The discharge was stayed pending this expedited review.
. We agree with the dissent that the sole issue before the trial court is whether petitioner is the same man charged with the New York offense. The original extradition document was insufficient on its face because of a material difference in names. The follow-up document added a photograph. Since it is "quite clear” that the person in the photograph is the person in custody, petitioner could only challenge the extradition documents based on the name variance. The trial court correctly found that there was no competent evidence showing that the person named in the extradition documents is the same person in the photograph and in custody.
. In Josey the first district noted a conflict between its holding and the fourth district's decision in Brunelle v. Norvell, 433 So.2d 19 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983), and certified the conflict to the supreme court. We also note that conflict.
. The difference between an "informant” and a "witness,” as noted by the dissent, is probably of no consequence since it cannot be determined from the affidavit whether the anonymous supplier of information is either. Assuming that the anonymous tipster was not an informant, nothing is added, as a matter of law, to establish any degree of testimonial competency.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting):
I must respectfully dissent. The majority in this case is sanctioning the trial court’s action which was in direct contravention of section 941.20, Florida Statutes (1983). This section provides that the guilt or innocence of the accused may not be inquired into in any proceeding after the demand for extradition accompanied by a criminal charge in legal form is presented to the governor. The single and narrow exception to this mandate is when the issue of guilt or innocence is somehow involved in identifying the person held as the person charged with the crime.
The law is well settled that an executive warrant which is regular on its face and complies with the essential statutory requirements establishes a prima facie showing of the propriety of extradition. State v. Scoratow, 456 So.2d 922 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984) and cases cited. The only “irregularity”- in the documents in the present case is a slight variance in the name on the warrant and charging documents and the petitioner’s name. It is generally held, however, that a charge is not insufficient as a basis for extradition because it does not allege the fugitive’s true name. All that is necessary is that it appear that the fugitive is the particular person charged in the demanding state. See 35 C.J.S. Extradition § 14(9), (1960) and cases cited.
The majority, however, finds that the affidavit of the New York detective and the photograph made a part thereof “are lacking in substance and competency” and, thus, the executive warrant relying thereon to establish identity is invalid. This decision is based upon the fact that the petitioner’s photograph is identified with the murder only through hearsay statements in the affidavit.
[SJince the question of the guilt or innocence of the accused is not at issue, the rules governing the admissibility of evidence in criminal trials are not generally applicable in extradition proceedings. Thus, in determining whether a person whose rendition is demanded is a fugitive from the justice of a sister state, the governor is not precluded from receiving evidence that fails to meet the requirements essential to proof of a criminal offense. And affidavits charging one with being a fugitive from justice constitute sworn evidence of the fact within the meaning of the statute requiring that a demand for rendition be accompanied by sworn evidence that the person demanded is a fugitive from justice.
[A]n affirmative finding on this question may be based on statements contained in an affidavit accompanying the requisition, even though the affidavit fails to set forth facts on which the statement is made and even though the evidence on the issue is meager or contradictory, [emphasis added]
31 Am.Jur.2d Extradition §§ 52-53 (1967). See also Annot., 93 A.L.R.2d 912, 921, § 12 (1964). Thus, the affiant need not have personal knowledge of the identity of the
Once the state established a pri-ma facie case, the burden shifted to the petitioner to “overthrow conclusively the presumption against him.” Kimbro, 65 So.2d at 68. The petitioner presented no evidence or testimony to indicate he was not the person depicted in the photograph. In fact, the uncontradicted evidence established that the photograph accompanying the extradition documents was that of the petitioner. Thus, the petitioner simply failed to meet his burden.
Finally, the testimony and evidence introduced by the petitioner to prove that he was in Florida at the time the crime was committed does no more than create a conflict in the evidence on the question of his whereabouts. In such a situation, the trial court must remand the petitioner to the custody of the demanding state. Kimbro. It is the duty of the trial court in the demanding state, not the court of the asylum state, to resolve such conflicts in a guilt or innocence determination. Kimbro; Brunelle.
Accordingly, since a prima facie case was established and the petitioner failed to overcome it, the trial court’s order should be reversed with directions to remand the petitioner to the custody of the New York authorities.
. Our supreme court has held that the constitutional and statutory provisions relating to interstate extradition must be liberally construed to effectuate their purpose. State v. Soto, 423 So.2d 362 (Fla.1982). To that end, the courts have held that the scope of inquiry of the trial court, in habeas corpus proceedings brought pursuant to section 941.10, Florida Statutes (1983), is extremely limited. See Fauls v. Sheriff of Leon County, 394 So.2d 117 (Fla.1981); State ex rel. Kimbro v. Starr, 65 So.2d 67 (Fla.1953); Moore v. State, 407 So.2d 991 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Cox, 306 So.2d 156 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974). Although the factual circumstances will vary from case to case, the issue of identity that may be challenged under the statute concerns only whether the person arrested in the asylum state is the person "charged with the crime” in the demanding state, § 941.20, Fla.Stat. (1983) (emphasis added), not whether the person charged with the crime is guilty as charged.
. The majority states, "All that can be said of the photograph is that it is of a person with a similar name which was sent to New York authorities by the Department of Immigration upon request.” Slip op. at 4. This is simply incorrect. The photograph was identified by a witness as depicting the person who committed the murder in New York and it was identified by all of the petitioner’s witnesses at the hearing below as depicting the petitioner.
. It should be emphasized that there is an indictment as well as an affidavit in support of extradition in the present case. The indictment is the basis for the extradition, with the affidavit merely serving to clarify the identity of the person charged. Cf. Shapiro v. State, 456 So.2d 968 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984) (where there is both a warrant and an indictment that charges the same crime against the same person, they may be used interchangeably in support of extradition; one is merely the continuation of the prosecution begun by the other). I do not dispute that the affidavit in this case, standing alone, would be insufficient to support extradition. § 941.03, Fla.Stat. (1983).
. See supra note 2. The hearsay declarant characterized as an "informant” by the majority would more accurately be described as a "witness.” The term "informant” or "informer” generally does not include persons who supply information only after being interviewed by police officers or who give information as witnesses during the course of an investigation. Gordon v. United States, 438 F.2d 858, 874-75 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 828, 92 S.Ct. 139, 30 L.Ed.2d 56 (1971); Black’s Law Dictionary 701 (5th ed. 1979).
. Apparently, the majority rejects the fourth district court’s decision in Brunette and recognizes a conflict between the districts on the sufficiency of an affidavit containing hearsay in extradition proceedings. See op. at 489 n. 2. See also Josey v. Galloway, 482 So.2d 376 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985).
. It should be noted that the validity or sufficiency of an indictment, affidavit or other pleading charging a crime is not the concern of the asylum state but rather is left to the demanding state. The only question to be considered by the asylum state is whether the indictment or affidavit satisfactorily shows that the fugitive has in fact been charged, however inartfully, with a crime in the demanding state. See State ex rel. Myers v. Allen, 83 Fla. 655, 92 So. 155 (1922); 35 C.J.S. Extradition § 14(6) (1960). See also 31 Am.Jur.2d Extradition § 51 (1967).
. The only relevant evidence presented by the petitioner went to challenge the name variance (wife’s testimony, petitioner’s passport, Miami telephone directory). As previously stated, however, a charge is not insufficient as a basis for extradition because it does not allege the fugitive’s correct name. All that is necessary is that it appear that the fugitive is the particular person charged in the demanding state. Thus, as in the present case, a person held for extradition may be sufficiently identified by a photograph attached to the requisition papers. See generally 35 C.J.S. Extradition § 14(9) (1960) and cases cited; 31 Am.Jur.2d Extradition § 67 (1967) and cases cited; Annot., 93 A.L.R.2d 912, 933, § 13 (1964) and cases cited.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I would deny the state’s motion for rehearing and adhere to the original majority opinion.
Rehearing
On Motion for Rehearing
The state’s motion for rehearing is granted. The original dissenting opinion filed by Judge Nesbitt is adopted as the majority opinion and judgment of the court.
It is so ordered.
NESBirr and FERGUSON, JJ., concur.
