Scanland v. State
Scanland v. State
Opinion
William Michael Scanland was indicted for the murder of one Timothy Keeling in violation of §
Wilbur Williams testified that he was employed by the Mobile Police Department. On December 22, 1983, the police received a call to investigate a homicide at Solomon's Delicatessen Restaurant and Bar. Upon arriving at the scene Williams saw the body of a white male lying on the floor of the restaurant. Paramedics were trying to revive the victim at this time.
Williams identified a number of photographs which had been taken of the parking lot area at Solomon's and a photograph showing the hands of the appellant. When the appellant was taken into custody he had abrasions on his knuckles and two slice marks on the palm of his right hand which were consistent with knife cuts. Williams' investigation of the parking lot revealed blood on a pole of a chain link fence surrounding the parking lot. This blood turned out to be the same type as that of the victim. His investigation further revealed that some $240.00 in cash was found on the body of the victim.
Douglas Malkamus testified that he was employed as the general manager of Solomon's. On December 22, 1983, he observed the victim in one of the restaurant booths. The victim appeared to be having a problem and Malkamus started toward him. At this time the appellant entered the restaurant and told Malkamus that he would take care of the victim. Malkamus stated that appellant had blood on his hands when he entered the restaurant. Malkamus then called the police and an ambulance. Appellant told Malkamus that he was leaving because he was "wanted by the law."
Paul Hilyer testified that he was an employee of Solomon's on December 21-22, 1983. Approximately 15 minutes before the police and ambulance were called, he observed the appellant running behind the victim in the parking lot at Solomon's. He stated that the appellant was wearing a plaid flannel shirt and dark pants at this time. He further stated that appellant told him that he (appellant) had to chase the victim all over the parking lot to catch him.
Donnie Ray Sparks testified that he had been at Solomon's on December 22, 1983. He left the club with the appellant and was still with the appellant when the police stopped appellant's car. Appellant told Sparks that someone had jumped him and Keeling in the parking lot and wanted to know if Sparks would help him if the people came after him.
Marlon Douglas Richardson testified that he was a Mobile police officer. On December 22, 1983 he responded to a call of a stabbing at Solomon's. Appellant was placed in Richardson's patrol car and Richardson read the appellant his Miranda rights. Appellant stated that he understood those rights. Appellant told Richardson that he had gone to the parking lot to get some money when he saw two people leaning over Tim Keeling. Appellant ran the people away and then helped Tim inside Solomon's.
Wilbur Williams testified that he was a Mobile police officer and he participated in the stop of appellant's automobile and the arrest of appellant. After the appellant was arrested, his car was impounded. After obtaining a search warrant, the officers conducted a search of appellant's car. The search revealed a black knife sheath found lying on the front seat of the car and a blue plaid flannel shirt with blood on it was found in the trunk of the car.
John Boone purchased a knife and sheath similar to the sheath found in appellant's car. The knife which was purchased by Boone fit into the sheath found in appellant's *Page 1185 vehicle. The knife had a four inch blade with no knife guard.
Boone further testified that he read the appellant hisMiranda rights at the time appellant gave a statement. The statement was tape recorded and then transcribed at a later time. Boone stated that no inducements, threats, intimidation or any other types of coercion or persuasion were used to get the appellant to make a statement. Boone further stated that although appellant had been drinking he appeared to know what he was doing in answering questions. The recorded statement was played for the jury over objection by defense counsel. Boone further stated that cuts found in the appellant's hands were consistent with one using a knife to stab another and the hand sliding across the top of the blade of the knife.
Dr. Leroy Riddick performed the autopsy on the victim. Such autopsy revealed some 18 stab wounds on the body of the victim. Dr. Riddick stated that the wounds were consistent with a four inch knife. He further stated that the cause of death was the stab wounds to the body.
The appellant testified, in essence, that he and Tim Keeling were good friends. He found Keeling in the parking lot of Solomon's. He denied having caused Keeling any harm or having any confrontation with him at all. He left the scene that night because he was on parole in Texas and did not want to go back there.
In the prosecution of an accused for the offense of murder, the State must prove the corpus delicti which includes: (1) the death of the victim named in the indictment, and (2) that death was caused by the criminal agency of another. See Johnson v.State,
"When the evidence raises a question of fact for the jury and such evidence, if believed, is sufficient to sustain a conviction, the denial of a motion for acquittal, the refusal to give the affirmative charge, or the denial of a motion for new trial by the trial court do not constitute error." Young v.State,
In the case at bar the jury heard all the evidence. They chose not to believe the appellant's version of the incident, i.e., his complete denial of the crime. We have carefully reviewed the evidence in this cause and find that the State did, in fact, prove a prima facie case of murder and that there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict of guilty of murder. Cumbo, supra. *Page 1186
We have carefully reviewed the record in this cause and such record reveals that, for aught that appears, no objection was ever made during any prior proceeding or at trial to the evidence of other crimes contained within the appellant's statement. Therefore, this has not been preserved for our review. Acoff v. State,
The State must show a voluntariness predicate and a Miranda
predicate in order for a statement to be deemed admissible.Thomas v. State,
Further, "[t]his court has held on many occasions that in order for intoxication to render a confession inadmissible, it must amount to a `mania' which impairs the will and mind to the extent that the person confessing is unconscious of the meaning *Page 1187
of his words, [a] lesser state of intoxication will not render a confession inadmissible. Willis v. State,
The record in the present case does not support appellant's contention. It was not established that he was so highly intoxicated as to be at a point of "mania". At least one officer testified that he would not have allowed appellant to operate his vehicle due to his intoxicated state. However, "[t]he fact that appellant was so intoxicated that he would have been arrested for public drunkenness is not sufficient" to establish that appellant was intoxicated to a point of "mania". See Woods v. State,
A careful review of the record indicates that the trial judge's conclusion that the statement was voluntary was adequately supported by the facts. Therefore, this statement was properly admitted into evidence.
The trial court may properly refuse a written requested charge which is not applicable to the evidence as presented at trial. See Rogers v. State,
The appellant's testimony at trial was that he denied causing any harm to Tim Keeling or in any way having any confrontation with Keeling. Appellant found Keeling badly beaten in the parking lot at Solomon's. Appellant saw two white males exiting the parking lot. He then helped Keeling into Solomon's where paramedics and police were notified. Under the evidence in this cause, the trial judge acted properly in refusing the written requested charges on self defense.
Our review of the record in this cause does not indicate that the admission of the photographs was prejudicial to the appellant. They were properly admitted as evidence. Brodka v.State,
The trial court held a hearing on these matters and determined that the allegations were without merit. We agree. Our review of the record on this point does not indicate that the events complained of by appellant had any bearing on his trial. The determination of the trial court that no improper communications occurred will not be disturbed in this cause.
We have carefully examined the record in this cause and find no errors therein. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is due to be and is hereby affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All the Judges concur. *Page 1188
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William Michael Scanland v. State.
- Cited By
- 39 cases
- Status
- Published