490 So. 2d 572 | La. Ct. App. | 1986
Lead Opinion
On November 5, 1984, defendant, Gervis Thibodeaux, was arrested and charged, in a single bill of information, with attempted second degree murder, a violation of La. R.S. 14:27 and 14:30.1; and, with aggravated criminal damage to property, a violation of La.R.S. 14:55. ' The defendant waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to both charges. Defendant elected trial by jury.
Trial was had on June 12-13, 1985, before a jury of twelve persons. The jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged to both offenses. The court ordered a pre-sentence investigation. During the sentencing hearing, the State moved, joined by defense counsel, that the court set aside the conviction on count (2), i.e., aggravated criminal damage to property, as defendant was tried before an improperly composed jury for that offense. The trial court granted the motion and set aside the conviction on count (2).
Following the sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced defendant to serve a term of fifteen (15) years at hard labor in a state penal institution, with credit for time served. Defendant appeals his conviction and urges the following assignments of error:
1. The trial court erred in that it failed to compel production of exculpatory evidence at the trial.
2. The trial court erred in refusing to quash the charges that were improperly joined in violation of defendant’s protection against double jeopardy and contrary to the criminal code of procedure of the State of Louisiana.
3. The trial court erred in refusing to charge simple criminal damage to property as a responsive verdict to the charge of aggravated criminal damage to property.
FACTS
On the evening of September 30, 1984, defendant went to a local drinking establishment known as Alex Broussard’s Ranch. There he met his brother, Whitney Thibodeaux, his sister-in-law, Evella Thibo-deaux, and his estranged girlfriend, Myrtle Guillory. The defendant and Miss Guillory spent several hours together that evening dancing and talking. Shortly after 10:00 p.m., Mrs. Thibodeaux and Miss Guillory decided to leave. While they and Whitney Thibodeaux were talking in the parking lot, defendant suddenly approached the three. As his brother embraced him, Whitney felt a shotgun which defendant was carrying hidden behind his back. Without audibly saying a word, Whitney informed his wife that defendant had a gun. She in turn warned Myrtle who immediately got in her car to leave. At this point, defendant pushed his brother aside, aimed the gun directly at Myrtle as she sat behind the steering wheel, and fired two shots at almost point blank range. The shots hit the car door below the window and Myrtle sped away unharmed.
Upon arriving safely at home, Myrtle phoned the Sheriffs department and an immediate investigation into the incident began. Defendant was later arrested and charged as aforementioned. He was ulti
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
Through this assignment, defendant argues that the trial court erred in that it failed to compel production of exculpatory evidence at trial. During the course of the State’s case in chief, the State introduced into evidence several photographs of the victim’s car door. Defendant moved for production of the door itself, though he had not made any pre-trial efforts to inform the State that he considered such evidence as exculpatory, nor did he seek to preserve the evidence by any other means. The State responded that the car door was not evidence within its control and that the State believed the victim had already had the damage repaired. The trial judge ruled that in any event the photographs were sufficient and there was no particular need to produce the door if it is indeed available.
Defendant’s main interest in introducing the actual door into evidence revolved around his claim that the angle at which the shots hit the door prove that he did not fire upon the victim intending to kill her. Thus, he argues, the door itself is exculpatory evidence and the photographs are misleading. Defendant argues, under the best evidence rule, that he has a right to demand production of this “exculpatory” evidence and that the State had a duty to preserve such evidence.
La.R.S. 15:436 provides:
“The best evidence which from the nature of the case must be supposed to exist, and which is within a party’s control, must be produced.”
First, it does not appear that the door was within the State’s control. During pretrial discovery, the State allowed inspection of all evidence. Defendant never viewed the vehicle and never requested to do so. The State, being satisfied with the photographs, made no attempt to impound the door as evidence. In addition, it is apparent from the victim’s testimony that the evidence sought no longer existed at the time of trial. Ms. Guillory testified as follows:
“Q. Did it cost you any money to repair the vehicle?
A. Yes. It did.
A. About four ($400.00) or five hundred dollars ($500.00).”
In State v. Williams, 309 So.2d 303 (La. 1975), the defendant argued, under the best evidence rule, that a couch and aluminum window screen should be introduced into evidence rather than just photographs of these objects which the State deemed sufficient to prove its point. The court held that these were not items within the State’s control, that no request had been made to preserve them in a particular state, and thus the State was not required to produce them.
In State v. Bennett, 341 So.2d 847 (La. 1976), a defendant sought to compel the introduction into evidence of a watch stolen during the commission of a crime rather than a photograph of the watch, arguing that the watch itself was the “best evidence”. The Supreme Court held that defendant had not shown how his defense was impaired by introduction of the picture instead of the watch.
“Absent a showing of some prejudice to the defendant, the ‘best evidence’ rule will not be applied unreasonably. See State v. Fallon, 290 So.2d 273, 290 (La. 1974).”
The jurisprudence clearly establishes that the trial judge possesses inherent authority to regulate the unnecessary and irrelevant introduction of evidence at trial. It is evident that discretion is vested in the trial judge over such matters and his decision will not be disturbed absent a showing of abuse. State v. Sneed, 328 So.2d 126 (La.1976).
“The use of such [demonstrative] evidence is left within the sound discretion of the trial judge, who can decide best whether they serve a proper place in the jury’s enlightenment; his ruling in this respect will not be disturbed in the absence of an abuse of discretion.” (cita*575 tions omitted). State v. Mayberry, 457 So.2d 880 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1984).
It is apparent from the record that the trial judge was satisfied that the State laid a proper foundation for the introduction of the photographs and that the photographs accurately depicted the damage which resulted from the shotgun blasts. Realizing that the defendant had made no effort to preserve this evidence and realizing that such evidence would not necessarily have been viewed as exculpatory by the State, it does not appear that the trial judge abused his discretion. Furthermore, as the judge noted, there was no showing that such evidence still existed, and in fact, it was subsequently disclosed at trial that the damage had been repaired before trial. The trial judge’s determination that the photographs and testimony of the victim and other witnesses was sufficient to establish the angle of the shots and defendant’s intent when he fired the shots appears to be without error. For the reasons stated, this assignment is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2
Through this assignment, defendant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to quash the information on the basis of improper joinder contrary to the provisions of La.C.Cr.P. art. 493 and Article I, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. The State correctly asserts that defendant did not raise this precise issue in his motion to quash. Defendant specified in his motion to quash that the State’s action in charging the two offenses constituted double jeopardy as the State sought to charge defendant with a general criminal act and a specific criminal act for a single series of actions. At the trial level defendant did not move to quash the information on the basis of improper joinder. The State submits, therefore, that such failure constitutes a waiver since the ground of misjoin-der of offenses, urged on appeal for the first time, were not timely raised in the motion to quash.
An improper jury makeup is an error patent on the face of the record and thus reviewable even in the absence of an objection.
In arguing that defendant’s failure to timely object on grounds of misjoinder constitutes a waiver, the State relies on State v. Defraites, 449 So.2d 540 (La.App. 4th Cir.1984), writ denied, 452 So.2d 179 (La. 1984), and State v. Mallett, 357 So.2d 1105 (La.1978).
In Mallett, supra, the Supreme Court was faced with a misjoinder of offenses where the defendant had failed to file a motion to quash. In affirming defendant’s conviction, the court stated as follows:
“The prohibition against misjoinder of offenses and improper consolidation of offenses for trial is grounded on the possible prejudice arising from a single trial on two or more offenses. The defects are not jurisdictional nor do they constitute a denial of due process. State v. McZeal, on rehearing, 352 So.2d 592 (La. 1977); State v. Peters, on rehearing, 298 So.2d 276 (La.1974). Hence, misjoinder of offensés may be waived by the failure to timely assert it by a motion to quash, and improper consolidation of offenses for trial may be waived by the failure to object. La.Code of Criminal Procedure article 495; State v. McZeal, supra; State v. Peters, supra.”
Recently, our brethren of the Fourth Circuit, in State v. Defraites, supra, relying upon Mallett, determined that a duplicitous indictment was of the same character as misjoinder of offenses and improper consolidation of offenses and such defect was not
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
Defendant argues through this assignment that the trial court erred in refusing to charge the jury that simple criminal damage to property was a responsive verdict to the charge of aggravated criminal damage to property. This assignment is not properly before this court as the conviction on count (2), aggravated criminal damage to property, was set aside and accordingly, no sentence was pronounced. See State v. London, 316 So.2d 743 (La.1975); La.C.Cr.P. art. 912 and State v. Singletary, 428 So.2d 965 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983). For these reasons, we do not consider this assignment of error.
For the reasons assigned, defendant’s conviction and the sentence imposed are affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
. State v. Pollard, 438 So.2d 1208 (La.App. 3rd Cir. 1983). Also note that the conviction on count (1), triable before a jury of twelve, is not affected by the fiu;t that count (2) was improperly tried before a jury of twelve when it should have been tried before a jury of six. Pollard, Id.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Defendant, Gervis Thibodeaux, was convicted of attempted second degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property. At sentencing the verdict on aggravated criminal damage to property was vacated, all as will be more fully discussed hereafter. On the conviction of attempted second degree murder the defendant was sentenced to serve fifteen years at hard labor. He has appealed his conviction, citing five specific alleged errors of the trial court.
The facts of the case have been stated in the majority opinion.
This dissenting opinion is concerned only with defendant’s assignment of error number two, namely, the assignment of error that related to the improper joinder of offenses.
Defendant was charged in a bill of information, with having, on or about, the 30th day of September, 1984,
(1) “Attempted to commit second degree murder of one Myrtle L. Guillory, in violation of the provisions of R.S. 14:27(30) (sic) and count 2, on the 30th day of September, 1984, committed aggravated criminal damage to property, being the property of Myrtle L. Guillory, in it was foreseeable that human life might be endangered, in violation of the provisions of R.S. 14:55.”
Prior to trial defendant filed a motion to quash predicated on the premise that the bill of information sought to impose criminal penalties upon the defendant for a single alleged act, under two separate statutes, namely
Defendant’s motion to quash was overruled. Defendant timely objected to the ruling, and the case was tried. The defendant was found guilty as charged on both counts.
At the time of defendant’s sentencing it came to the attention of both the state and counsel for defendant that a jury of twelve persons is required to try a charge of attempted second degree murder, while a charge of aggravated criminal damage to property requires a jury of only six 'persons. At that point, by joint motion, before sentencing was had, the conviction on count number two (2) was set aside, with defendant specifically reserving his right to appeal the record on count number one (1).
Assignment of error number two has raised the issue which this member of the court considers crucial.
Through this assignment, defendant takes the position that the trial court erred in refusing to quash the information on the basis of improper joinder of offenses, one requiring a 12 person jury and the other requiring a 6 person jury. Defendant cites La.C.Cr.P. Art. 493 and Article I, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. The state correctly asserts that defendant did not raise this precise issue in his motion to quash, in the district court. The state submits, therefore, that defendant’s failure to raise the issue in the lower court constituted a waiver and could not now be considered.
The issue of improper jury make up is an error patent on the face of the record and thus reviewable even in the absence of an objection. State v. Pollard, 438 So.2d 1208 (La.App. 3rd Cir., 1983).
Accordingly the question of improper joinder is properly before this court for review.
In the McZeal case the defendant had been charged, in the same indictment, with separate counts of aggravated rape, in violation of La.R.S. 14:43, and armed robbery, in violation of La.R.S. 14:64. He was tried by a single jury and found guilty as charged, on both counts, by a unanimous verdict. He was sentenced to death for the crime of aggravated rape and to serve 99 years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for the crime of armed robbery. He appealed.
In re-hearing the supreme court reversed both the convictions and sentences, and remanded the cases for retrial, by separate trials. In articulating its reasons for doing so the court reviewed, in great detail, the history and development of procedure and rules involving the joinder of more than one criminal offense in a single bill of indictment, or bill of information.
In its opinion the court referred to Article One, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, which provided in pertinent part, as follows:
“A criminal case in which the punishment may be capital shall be tried before a jury of twelve persons, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. A case in which the punishment is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall be tried before a jury of twelve persons, ten of whom must concur to render a verdict. A case in which the punishment may be confinement at hard labor or confinement without hard labor for more than six months shall be tried before a jury of six persons, five of whom must concur to render a verdict.” (Emphasis added).
Acting under this constitutional authority the Louisiana Legislature enacted Article 493, which provides as follows:'
“Two or more offeiises may be charged in the same indictment or information in a separate count for each offense if the offenses charged, whether felonies or misdemeanors, are of the same or similar character or are based on the same act or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan; provided that the offenses joined must be triable by the same mode of trial.”
“It is readily apparent that the words “same mode of trial” could refer to more than one logical method of classifying trials in criminal cases. Article 1, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 suggests four classes of trials: trial before a judge only; trial before a jury of six persons, five of whom must concur to render a verdict; and trial before a jury of twelve persons, ten of whom must concur to render a verdict; and trial before a jury of twelve persons, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. These classifications are based upon both the character of the trier of fact and the requirement for reaching a verdict. By selecting different criteria, other classes of trials could be devised: if one focused on the presence or absence of a jury, there would be two modes of trial; non-jury, and jury; if one focused on the number of triers of fact, there would be three modes of trial, “judge, six-person jury, twelve-person jury.”
The court further stated:
“The state’s argument that ‘mode of trial’ should be defined broadly because a defendant may seek a severance as relief from a prejudicial joinder of offenses fails to recognize the difference between a misjoinder and a permissible but prejudicial joinder. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, when offenses are not properly joinable under Article 493, the defendant has a right to have the indictment quashed. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 495. In contrast, if the offenses are joinable, but the joinder is prejudicial, a defendant is only entitled to seek a severance, which shall be granted before trial “if it is deemed appropriate to promote a fair determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence of each offense. La.C.Cr.P. Art. 495.1(a). Thus, Article 493 may be said to contain a built-in standard of prejudice which simply means that any form of joinder not permitted by the terms of the article is conclusively prejudicial.”
Continuing in this line of reasoning the court said:
“For these reasons we conclude that the legislature, by requiring that offenses joined for trial be triable by the same mode of trial, had reference to the four modes of trial indicated by Article 1, See. 17 of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, viz., trial by judge, trial by jury in cases in which the punishment may be with or without hard labor, trial by jury in cases in which the punishment necessarily is with hard labor, and trial by jury in cases in whch the punishment may be capital.”
“Under the joinder-quash-severance scheme of the code of criminal procedure any improper joinder under Article 493, as amended by Act 528 of 1975, is conclusively presumed to be prejudicial or harmful. As under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 8(a) which is the primary source of our present Article 493, this means that where the trial judge determines that offenses have been mis-joined, he has no discretion to deny relief. Similarly, when an appellate court is faced with a decision below erroneously sustaining joinder, it should reverse and order separate trials.”
The court concluded by saying that the violation of Article 493 and the error in the instant (McZeal) case was not a mere technicality, but that it was an impermissible, conclusively prejudicial, joinder, to which the defendant timely and properly objected. The error was “prejudicial to the substantive rights of the accused (and) a substantial violation of a ... statutory right.”
The McZeal case was subsequently cited by the Louisiana Supreme Court in State v. Carter, 362 So.2d 510 (La.1978), in determining whether four counts contained within one indictment “were triable by same mode of trial.” McZeal was quoted favorably.
In the instant case, where the criminal offense of attempted second degree murder, requiring a twelve person jury, was included in the same indictment with the criminal offense of aggravated criminal
Accordingly, the conviction of the defendant should be reversed, and the case remanded for trial.
For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent.
Bill of information incorrectly designated this as R.S. 14:27(30).