State v. MatthewsState v. Matthews
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OPINION
DIETZEN, Justice.Appellant Zachery Otis Matthews was found guilty by a Hennepin County jury of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree domestic-abuse murder, second-degree intentional murder, and interference with a dead body, arising out of the strangulation death of Kristine Larson on December 19, 2007. Matthews was sentenced to life without the possibility of release. On appeal, Matthews argues (1) that the district court erred in failing to properly instruct the jury regarding the past-pattern-of-domestic-abuse element of first-degree domestic-abuse murder; (2) that prosecutorial misconduct in the closing argument deprived him of a fair trial; and (3) various other pro se arguments. Because the jury instructions correctly stated the law, the alleged prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument did not affect Matthews’ substantial rights, and Matthews’ pro se arguments lack merit, we affirm.
Matthews and Larson began dating in 2004 and together had a son, D.L., in 2006. Larson ended her relationship with Matthews in May 2007. At the time of the murder, Larson and D.L. lived in St. Paul Park with Larson’s mother, D.T., and Matthews lived in an apartment in St. Paul.
Minneapolis police detectives interviewed several witnesses, and the investigation quickly turned to Matthews. During Matthews’ first interview with police, he stated that Larson planned to arrive at his apartment around 2:00 p.m. to pick up D.L. and then go to Toys for Tots. According to Matthews, Larson did not show up, but he and D.L. took the bus to Toys for Tots, and returned home at about 6:00 p.m. Matthews stated that he had broken up with Larson a month earlier, but he admitted he was not happy that Larson was dating another man. He told police that he used his cell phone to call D.T. that afternoon to locate Larson.
Police reviewed bus video recordings and determined that Matthews and D.L. were not on the bus that afternoon. Further, a man matching Matthews’ description was seen at about 7:30 that evening walking eastbound on the shoulder portion of Highway 94 crossing over the Mississippi Bridge toward St. Paul. Also, Matthews’ cell-phone records revealed that his cell phone accessed a tower near his apartment in St. Paul in the late afternoon and then the cell phone accessed a Minneapolis tower between about 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
At a second interview, Matthews was given a Miranda warning and confronted with the discrepancies between his story and the police investigation. Eventually, Matthews admitted that when he arrived at his apartment that evening he found Larson dead in his kitchen closet and he panicked. He stated that he carried Larson’s body to her car, drove the car to Minneapolis, abandoned the car, and then walked alongside Highway 94 across the Mississippi bridge to his apartment in St. Paul. He denied killing Larson or starting the car on fire.
Police obtained a search warrant for Matthews’ apartment. New yellow pages phone directories were in a package in the lobby of Matthews’ apartment building; some of the directories were missing from the package. Blood found on a pillar near the kitchen and on the kitchen floor of Matthews’ apartment was tested for DNA, and Matthews and Larson could not be excluded as contributors. A mixture of DNA was also found on the shoelace ligature. The predominant DNA was Larson’s, but Matthews could not be excluded as a contributor.
Subsequently, Matthews was charged with second-degree intentional murder, in violation of
At trial, the State introduced the autopsy and fire investigation results, Matthews’ cell-phone records, and the substance of Matthews’ interviews with the police. R.M. and M.B., two witnesses who were incarcerated with Matthews, also testified that Matthews made various admissions to them regarding Larson’s murder. Both were awaiting sentencing on various charges and testified in exchange for reduced sentences. According to R.M., Matthews told him that he put a stringy object around Larson’s neck, that she “passed out,” and that he tried to “wake her up.” When Matthews realized Larson was dead, he panicked and put her body in the car, drove to Minneapolis, parked the car in an alley and set it on fire, and then walked away. M.B. testified in a similar fashion.
The jury found Matthews guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree domestic-abuse murder, second-degree intentional murder, and interference with a dead body. Judgment of conviction was entered, and Matthews was sentenced to life without the possibility of release. This direct appeal followed.
I.
Matthews argues that the district court erred in failing to properly instruct the jury regarding the past-pattern-of-domestic-abuse element of first-degree domestic-abuse murder, and therefore the unadjudi-cated jury verdict finding him guilty of first-degree domestic-abuse murder should be vacated. It is undisputed that the jury found Matthews guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree domestic-abuse murder. Judgment of conviction was entered only for the offense of first-degree premeditated murder, and Matthews was sentenced to life without the possibility of release. 1
Previously, the court has declined to address arguments related to an unadjudicat-ed jury verdict on the ground of mootness. State v. Jackson, 773 N.W.2d 111, 125-26 (Minn.2009); State v. Martinson, 312 N.W.2d 249, 251 (Minn.1981). But we may exercise discretionary review “to decide issues that are technically moot when the issue is ‘functionally justiciable’ and one of public importance and statewide significance.” Jasper v. Comm’r of Pub. Safety, 642 N.W.2d 435, 439 (Minn.2002) (quoting State v. Brooks, 604 N.W.2d 345, 347-48 (Minn.2000)). We exercise our discretion to address these issues. See Minn. R. CivApp. P. 103.04.
A. Failure to Instruct
Matthews argues that the district court failed to distinguish between past-pattern-of-domestic-abuse evidence and relationship evidence in the jury instructions, and therefore the jury could not distinguish between the different incidents of abuse. According to Matthews, it is likely that the jury improperly relied on relationship evidence to find a past pattern of domestic abuse.
Because Matthews did not object to the jury instructions at issue, we review for plain error.
See State v. Earl,
702 N.W.2d 711, 720 (Minn.2005);
State v. Crowsbreast,
629 N.W.2d 433, 437 (Minn.2001). Under the plain-error test, an appellant must show that there was (1) an error, (2) that is plain, and (3) the error must affect substantial rights.
State v.
District courts possess significant discretion in the selection of jury-instruction language, and those jury “instructions must be read as a whole to determine whether they accurately describe the law.” Earl, 702 N.W.2d at 720. “If the instructions, when read as a whole, correctly state[ ] the law in language that can be understood by the jury, there is no reversible error.” State v. Laine, 715 N.W.2d 425, 432 (Minn.2006) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted).
For a conviction of first-degree domestic-abuse murder, the State must prove, among other things, that the defendant engaged in a past pattern of domestic abuse against the victim or another family or household member.
Minnesota Statutes
Before trial, the State sought to introduce 18 incidents between Matthews and Larson as both past-pattern-of-domestic-abuse evidence under MinmStat.
Before the testimony was given, the jury was instructed that:
The purpose of this evidence, members of the jury, is to assist you in evaluating whether there is a past pattern of domestic abuse, which is one of the elements of one of the charges, Domestic Violence Murder. Some of the evidence is also being introduced to illuminate the history of the relationship between Mr. Matthews and the deceased, Kristine Larson. 3
At the close of the case, the jury was instructed, among other things, that:
Minnesota statutes define domestic abuse to include assault, which consists of either (1) committing an act with intent to cause fear in another of immediate bodily harm, or death, or (2) intentionally inflicting, or attempting to inflict bodily harm upon another.... Third ... the defendant engaged in a past pattern of domestic abuse against Kristine Larson. A past pattern consists of prior acts of domestic abuse, which form a reliable sample of observable traits or acts, which characterize an individual’s behavior.
Matthews correctly points out that the instructions did not indicate that stalking and harassing phone calls do not qualify as past-pattern-of-domestic-abuse evidence under
B. Improper Instruction
Matthews argues that the district court erred by failing to give the complete pattern jury instruction for the definition of a past pattern of domestic abuse. He concedes that he failed to raise this objection before the district court, and therefore our review is limited to a plain-error analysis. We review the instructions as a whole to determine if the instructions correctly state the law. State v. Smith, 674 N.W.2d 398, 401 (Minn.2004). The district court is not required to use pattern jury instructions. Id. at 400.
The pattern jury instruction provides:
A “past pattern” consists of prior acts of domestic abuse which form a reliable sample of observable traits or acts which characterize an individual’s behavior. More than one prior act of domestic abuse is required for there to be a past pattern.
10 Minn. Dist. Judges Ass’n, Minnesota Practice —Jury Instruction Guides, Criminal, CRIMJIG 11.15 (2006). The district court omitted the last sentence of that instruction.
We conclude that the jury instruction given did not constitute plain error. The instruction given indicated that a “past pattern” consists of “prior acts of domestic abuse.” Both the term “past pattern” and the explanation that it consists of “prior
acts
” (emphasis added) make clear that more than one act of domestic abuse must be proven. As a result, the instruction correctly stated the law and did not eon-
II.
Matthews argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during the closing argument that deprived him of a fair trial. Because no objection was made, we apply the modified plain-error test outlined in Ramey, 721 N.W.2d 294. 4 Under that test, the defendant has the burden to demonstrate that the misconduct constitutes (1) error, (2) that was plain. State v. Wren, 738 N.W.2d 378, 393 (Minn.2007); Ramey, 721 N.W.2d at 300. If the defendant is successful, the burden then shifts to the State to demonstrate that the error did not affect the defendant’s substantial rights. Ramey, 721 N.W.2d at 300. To meet the third prong, the State must show that there is no “reasonable likelihood that the absence of the misconduct in question would have had a significant effect on the verdict of the jury.” Id. at 302. If these three prongs are satisfied, the court then assesses whether the error should be addressed to ensure fairness and the integrity of the judicial proceedings. Id. at 298.
Matthews asserts three instances of prosecutorial misconduct. First, he argues that the prosecutor’s statements that Matthews was in a “fit of insatiable rage,” that he “hatched a plan” to “ambush” Larson, and that he landed a “powerful blow” to Larson’s face, were not supported by the record. The prosecutor’s argument need not be “colorless,” and it may include conclusions and inferences that are reasonably drawn from the facts in evidence. State v. Porter, 526 N.W.2d 359, 363 (Minn.1995); State v. Salitros, 499 N.W.2d 815, 817 (Minn.1993); State v. Wahlberg, 296 N.W.2d 408, 419 (Minn.1980). Further, we have allowed “dramatic characterizations” of the murder when the evidence at trial supported those characterizations. State v. MacLennan, 702 N.W.2d 219, 236 (Minn.2005).
But D.T.’s testimony that Matthews was “a little upset, anxious,” when she spoke to him on the day of the murder, and the manner in which Larson was killed, support the reasonable inference that Matthews was angry when he killed Larson. Further, evidence that the shoelace had a larger loop “threaded through the smaller loop,” indicates that it was prepared in advance, supporting the reasonable inference that Matthews made a plan to attack Larson. Also, the nature of the injuries to
Matthews next challenges the prosecutor’s statement that the fire originated “directly under the head and neck” of Larson. The arson investigator testified that the fire was intentionally set, and originated near the back seat on the passenger side. Because the evidence showed the fire was started in the vicinity of Larson’s upside down body, it was a reasonable inference from this evidence that the fire was started under Larson’s head.
Also, Matthews argues that the prosecutor’s statement that D.L. witnessed the murder was not supported by the record. According to M.B. and R.M., Matthews admitted that he put D.L. in his bedroom before murdering Larson in the kitchen. If D.L. was in his bedroom, it is possible that he heard the struggle that resulted in Larson’s murder. See State v. Vance, 765 N.W.2d 390, 394 (Minn.2009) (discussing that a child witnesses a murder by either seeing or hearing the murder). Assuming without deciding that the prosecutor’s argument was not supported by the evidence, we conclude that the misconduct did not affect Matthews’ substantial rights. The alleged misconduct is limited to a few lines in a 48-page closing argument, and therefore it did not permeate the entire argument. See Wren, 738 N.W.2d at 393 (Minn.2007) (misconduct that spanned 3 pages in a 70-page closing argument did not affect defendant’s substantial rights); State v. Griese, 565 N.W.2d 419, 428 (Minn.1997) (misconduct that spanned 2 pages in a 50-page closing argument did not affect defendant’s substantial rights). Additionally, the evidence of Matthews’ guilt is overwhelming. See MacLennan, 702 N.W.2d at 236; State v. Bradford, 618 N.W.2d 782, 800 (Minn.2000); Griese, 565 N.W.2d at 428. And the jury was instructed that the statements of attorneys were not evidence. State v. Johnson, 616 N.W.2d 720, 728 (Minn.2000) (concluding that argument based on facts not in evidence did not prejudice the defendant, in part, because the jury was instructed that the arguments of counsel were not evidence).
Second, Matthews argues that the prosecutor degraded his defense by describing Matthews’ explanation of events as “concocted,” “ridiculous,” and “unbelievable.” The State argues that the prosecutor fashioned a colorful argument that pointed out why Matthews’ version of events was “ridiculous” and “100 percent unbelievable.” Prosecutors are allowed to argue that there is no merit to the specific defense raised by the defendant, although they may not belittle either the defendant or a particular defense in the abstract. State v. Simion, 745 N.W.2d 830, 844 (Minn.2008); Salitros, 499 N.W.2d at 818. Essentially, the prosecutor argued that Matthews’ story — someone had dumped Larson’s dead body at his apartment, Matthews transported her body to Minneapolis, and another person set the ear on fire — is unbelievable. While the argument is dramatic, it is directed at the credibility of Matthews’ description of events, and not the validity of a particular defense in the abstract.
Third, Matthews argues that the prosecutor materially misstated the law by including an incident admitted as relationship evidence to establish a past pattern of domestic abuse. Matthews is correct that the prosecutor referenced one incident of relationship evidence along with three incidents of domestic abuse to argue that the State had proven a past pattern of domestic abuse. We have carefully reviewed the record and conclude that the prosecutor
III.
In his pro se supplemental brief, Matthews raises three arguments. First, he argues that the district court erred in admitting evidence of domestic abuse because the incidents were not corroborated and did not fall within the conduct defined by
Relationship evidence is admissible under
We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting relationship evidence under
Second, Matthews argues that the indictment was insufficient because it failed to charge domestic abuse, an essential element of first-degree domestic-abuse murder. The State counters that Matthews’ argument is untimely and without merit. The sufficiency of an indictment is a constitutional question we review de novo. State v. Kendell, 723 N.W.2d 597, 611 (Minn.2006).
Objections to an indictment must be made by motion no later than three days before the omnibus hearing.
Matthews timely moved to dismiss the first-degree domestic-abuse murder count based on the objection that the State had insufficient evidence to prove a past pattern of domestic abuse. But Matthews did not include the objection that the indictment was insufficient. Therefore, Matthews has waived his right to argue that the indictment failed to charge domestic abuse.
See State v. Drieman,
457 N.W.2d 703, 709 (Minn.1990) (declining to consider defendant’s new objection to the indictment because it was not included in his original motion objecting to the indictment). Further, “[a] presumption of regularity attaches to a grand jury indictment, and courts will rarely invalidate the indict
Third, Matthews argues that his Batson challenge for juror 31 was improperly denied. The State responds that the district court properly denied Matthews’ Batson challenge. The Fourteenth Amendment “prohibits purposeful racial discrimination in jury selection.” State v. Martin, 773 N.W.2d 89, 100-01 (Minn.2009). Accord Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 84, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). We utilize the Batson three-step framework for determining whether a peremptory challenge is motivated by racial discrimination. Martin, 773 N.W.2d at 100-01. Batson challenges are not reversed unless the district court’s denial was clearly erroneous. Id. at 101. We “afford great deference [to the district court] because ‘the record may not reflect all of the relevant circumstances that the court may consider.’ ” Id. (quoting State v. Pendleton, 725 N.W.2d 717, 724 (Minn.2007)). See also State v. Bailey, 732 N.W.2d 612, 619 (Minn.2007) (concluding that in review of Batson challenge, considerable deference is given to the district court’s finding regarding the State’s intent because that finding is based on credibility).
The first step of a Batson challenge is for the defendant to make a prima facie showing that the State’s peremptory challenge was racially motivated. Martin, 773 N.W.2d at 101. If the defendant does so, the State must then provide a race-neutral explanation, which “need not be persuasive or even plausible,” for the peremptory challenge. Id. The third step of a Batson challenge is for the district court to determine whether the defendant has proven purposeful racial discrimination. Id.
Matthews is African American. It was unclear whether juror 31 was African American; he marked “other” on his jury questionnaire. For purposes of the Bat-son analysis, the district court considered juror 31 African American. When the district court engaged in its analysis, it first noted that out of nine jurors selected at that point, only one was a person of color. The court also discussed that out of the five peremptory challenges the State had exercised at that point, four were against people of color. As a result, the district court found that the defendant satisfied the first step of his Batson challenge.
Second, the district court considered whether the State had provided a race-neutral reason for excluding juror 31. The State explained that juror 31 “made a number of statements which ... in effect, blam[ed] the victim of domestic abuse.” The State indicated that it did not want a juror who believed that domestic abuse victims were “sort of at fault.” The district court determined that juror 31’s view on domestic assault was a race-neutral reason for excluding juror 31.
Finally, the district court considered the State’s other peremptory challenges to jurors of color but found that the record did not indicate that any of them had been challenged because of their race. For example, juror 6 was a woman from Somalia who had difficulty with English, particularly “the concepts of reasonable doubt [and] burden of proof.” Juror 11 was an African-American woman who was married to a man incarcerated for murder and had a brother who worked for the Public Defender’s Office. Juror 30 was an Asian woman whose father was arrested for domestic abuse. Therefore, the district court concluded that Matthews had not shown
Matthews argues that the district court improperly concluded that he had not proven the State challenged juror 31 because of his race. He contends that there is evidence of purposeful discrimination because the State did not challenge other jurors who had experienced murder or domestic abuse in their families.
It is true that other jurors had personal experience with domestic abuse. None of those jurors, however, expressed that the victim was partially at fault. 5 See State v. Gomez, 721 N.W.2d 871, 884-85 (Minn.2006) (explaining that although other jurors had family or Mends who were convicted of a crime, none of those jurors expressed that it was a wrongful conviction, thereby validating the State’s race-neutral explanation).
Additionally, the district court’s conclusion that there was no evidence demonstrating that the State engaged in a pattern of challenging jurors of color because of their race is supported by the record. The State’s reasons for excluding other jurors of color — because of family involvement in the legal system or language problems — were all credible, race-neutral reasons for challenging those jurors. See Martin, 773 N.W.2d at 104 (“We have consistently held that a family member’s involvement with the legal system is a legitimate race-neutral reason ... to exercise a peremptory challenge.”); Wren, 738 N.W.2d at 388-89 (recognizing that language difficulties are a race-neutral reason for exercising a peremptory challenge). As a result, the district court’s conclusion that Matthews failed to establish purposeful discrimination in the State’s challenge to juror 31 is not clearly erroneous.
Affirmed.
Notes
. A life sentence without the possibility of release is not available for a conviction of first-degree domestic-abuse murder without additional findings that did not occur here.
See
. The State withdrew one incident at the motion hearing.
. The wording varied slightly each time the instruction was given, but the substance remained unchanged.
. The State urges us to abandon the Ramey modified plain-error test on the ground that the defendant should bear the burden of proving that the misconduct affected substantial rights. The State argues that the Ramey modified test encourages defendants not to object at closing argument, and later assert prosecu-torial misconduct to receive the benefit of the Ramey modified test. We do not overturn precedent unless there is a “compelling reason” to do so. Oganov v. Am. Family Ins. Group, 767 N.W.2d 21, 26 (Minn.2009). The State has provided no support for its claim regarding the effects of the Ramey modified plain-error test. In addition, application of the Griller plain-error test, rather than the Ramey modified plain-error test, would not affect the result in this case. Cf. State v. Wren, 738 N.W.2d 378, 394 n. 13 (Minn.2007) (concluding that the court did not need to decide whether the two-tiered standard announced in State v. Caron, 300 Minn. 123, 218 N.W.2d 197 (1974), for determining whether objected-to prosecutorial misconduct was harmless was still viable because the misconduct was harmless under both tiers). Therefore, we decline to reach this issue.
. Juror 13’s coworker was killed by her husband. Juror 17’s brother was murdered, and her niece was a victim of domestic abuse.