Lewis v. State
Lewis v. State
Opinion
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *Page 230
Appellant, Thomas Lewis, was first convicted on November 19, 1977, of the capital offense of robbery during the course of which the victim is intentionally killed, in violation of § 13-11-2(a)(2), Code of Alabama 1975,1 and sentenced to death. On *Page 231
appeal to this court, we held that the death penalty was not sustained by the evidence presented at the hearing on aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Lewis v.State,
A new trial was held within sixty days on the capital offense charged, robbery during the course of which the victim is intentionally killed, § 13-11-2(a)(2). Appellant was again convicted of the capital offense on October 9, 1986, and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. From this second conviction, he appeals, raising ten issues.
The facts surrounding the robbery-murder are sufficiently reported in our prior decisions, Lewis v. State; Colleyv. State,
The record reflects that two of the black prospective jurors were clients or former clients of the defense counsel. The voir dire examination shows the following:
"MR. CARLTON [prosecutor]: Are any of you friends or clients of Bruce McLean or Steve Blair, the lawyers in this case? Mr. Brown, you a client?
"JUROR BROWN: Yes, previously.
". . . . *Page 232
"MR. CARLTON: . . . Does anybody know the defense lawyers Bruce McLean and Steve Blair? Do you consider yourself to be friends with or friendly with the defense lawyers? (None.)"Have any of you ever gone to them seeking legal advice? Ever had any business dealings with Bruce McLean or Steve Blair, the defense lawyers?
". . . .
"THE COURT: Billy R. Townsend, you raised your hand also?
"JUROR TOWNSEND: Yes. I think he did the closing on a house for me.
"THE COURT: You think Mr. McLean or Mr. —
"MR. CARLTON: Mr. McLean or Mr. Blair?
"JUROR TOWNSEND: McLean. I think he is the one.
"THE COURT: He did a home closing, but you are not sure? I appreciate that response. If you are not sure let us know."
In addition to striking prospective juror Townsend for having been a client of defense counsel, another reason developed during voir dire examination. The record shows the following:
"THE COURT: Have any of you ever been the victim of a crime?. . . .
". . . .
"THE COURT: . . . . Mr. Townsend, Mr. Billy Townsend?
"JUROR TOWNSEND: Yes.
"THE COURT: What crime were you the victim of?
"JUROR TOWNSEND: Controlled substances.
". . . .
"THE COURT: Violation of the Controlled Substance Act. Anyone else. (None.)"
It is reasonable to conclude that Townsend misunderstood the trial court's question and responded as having been a defendant in a criminal case instead of a victim. The prosecutor informed the court that, in addition to striking Townsend because he had been a client of defense counsel, he felt that he may have had some prior trouble with the "law" as it related to drugs.
In reference to the third black prospective juror, Johnnie Eubanks, the voir dire examination disclosed uncertainty as to whether she resided within the jurisdiction of the court. She testified that she and her husband had just moved to Dale County from Calhoun County. She stated that she lived at Fort Rucker in Dale County with her husband and that her mother maintained a residence in Enterprise (Coffee County). The prosecutor advised the court that he used a peremptory strike to remove her rather than take a chance and leave someone on the jury whose qualifications might be questioned in the future, especially in light of the fact that this was potentially a death penalty case. In addition, the prosecutor stated that it appeared that Mrs. Eubanks was seizing every opportunity to stay off the jury. The record supports this conclusion.
The trial court denied appellant's motion to quash the jury panel, finding that there was no evidence that any blacks had been excluded for racially motivated reasons, but, on the contrary, were excluded for racially neutral reasons.
We find that the record reveals legitimate, nonpretextual, neutral explanations for the state's use of its peremptory challenges against the three black members of the venire. The denial of appellant's motion attacking the jury selection process on the basis of Batson v. Kentucky was proper.
Our review of the record indicates that, in this case, Bailiff Counts did not perform the duties of bailiff requiring contact with the jury and, indeed, may not have performed any of the duties of bailiff at all. The record shows that the jury was sequestered during the trial and placed under the supervision of Deputy Sheriff John Moore and a matron. The record refers to Moore as the bailiff.
Canon 3 C.(1) of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics, provides, "A judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his disqualification is required by law or his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. . . ." The Canon does not require disqualification "upon mere accusation of bias unsupported by substantial fact." Taylor v.Taylor,
Our review of the record, particularly the evidence presented by appellant in support of his recusal motion, fails to reveal any evidence which would require the disqualification of the trial judge or cast question upon his impartiality. We find nothing to indicate a personal bias toward appellant. The relationship between the trial judge and Bailiff Counts, considered in the light of the evidence of this case, does not have the appearance of impropriety, as is urged by appellant. We also note that appellant has pointed to no occurrence during the trial, and we can find none, in which the judge acted in any way other than entirely impartially. See Murphy v. State,
Appellant made three inculpatory statements to police which were allowed into evidence. He challenges all three. The first statement was given in an automobile on the way from Montgomery to Troy, the second was given in Troy that night, and the third was given in Enterprise the following day.
The two Troy police officers who took appellant's first statement testified that they read the warnings required byMiranda v. Arizona,
In taking the first statement, the two Troy officers began by questioning appellant about unrelated burglaries and larcenies. They then questioned him about the robbery-murder of Counts. He stated that a third man, Robert Lee Franklin, was with him and Kelly Colley and that Franklin committed the robbery and the murder.
Later that evening and after the police learned that Franklin had an alibi, appellant *Page 234 in the second statement stated that Franklin was not with them during the commission of the crime, but that Colley killed Counts. In the second statement, appellant admitted taking money from the cash register. Officer Steve Weekly, an agent for the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, testified that appellant was read his Miranda rights again before he made this second statement and indicated that he understood them.
The following day, appellant gave the third statement, during which time Colley was present. Officer Weekly testified that, prior to giving his third statement, he again was read his rights and indicated that he understood them. When asked who did the shooting, appellant pointed at Colley and said, "He did." Appellant admitted in this statement that he took the wallet from the victim.
All the officers testified that no promises or offers of reward were made to appellant, and that no violence, threat of violence, or coercion was directed toward appellant.
In support of his motion to suppress, appellant presented Fred George, a clinical psychologist. He testified that appellant was in the moderate mentally retarded range and had a reading I.Q. of 45. He gave his opinion that appellant would not have been able to understand the Miranda rights on the waiver form. Appellant did not testify at the suppression hearing.3
In rebuttal, the state called James Corbitt, a psychologist employed by the State Department of Corrections. Corbitt's testimony contrasted sharply with George's. He testified that appellant had an I.Q. of 64 to 65 and was in a mild mentally retarded range. It was his opinion that appellant would understand his Miranda rights if they were read to him and, particularly, if he read along with the person reading the rights. Corbitt had examined appellant far more extensively than George, having seen him three times a week for several years, while George had had only an interview of one and one-half hours. The state also called Jerry Scarbrough, a Montgomery police officer, in rebuttal, who testified that he had observed appellant read theMiranda rights and sign a waiver of them in an unrelated case in the past and that, from his knowledge of appellant he obtained as a juvenile officer, he considered appellant to be "alert" and "street smart."
Appellant's contention that his statements were coerced is based on a statement made by Officer James McLendon to appellant during the taking of the second statement. During the questioning, McLendon told appellant the following: "We haven't tried to beat you up or hurt you in any way. We did not threaten you. We don't work like Montgomery does." Appellant argues that it can be implied from this that he was "beaten, threatened or hurt while in police custody in Montgomery." We assume that appellant is further arguing that these statements, coupled with the fact that he expressed a readiness to be moved to Troy, raise the inference that he made the inculpatory statements in exchange for release from the Montgomery police into custody of the Troy officers.
The oft-stated rule is that a confession is prima facie involuntary and inadmissible, and the state must show voluntariness and a Miranda predicate in order for it to be admitted. Thomas v. State,
In the case sub judice, the evidence presented in support of appellant's claims of threats, coercion, physical abuse, and the promise for release from the Montgomery authorities was the statement of Officer McLendon quoted above and appellant's readiness to go to Troy. McLendon testified that he had no reason or basis for making the remark about the Montgomery police, and that it was just "off the cuff." The officers present when the statements were taken testified that no threats or promises were made and that no evidence of physical trauma was observed when appellant was initially picked up in Montgomery. The officers testified that, when they met him in Montgomery, appellant did not appear to be afraid; he seemed calm; he did not appear disheveled or apprehensive; and he exhibited no signs of physical abuse. They further testified that he made no complaints. There was no evidence that the officers threatened to leave appellant in Montgomery. We find no evidence from which it could be reasonably concluded that appellant was beaten, threatened, abused, or coerced in any manner, either while he was in Montgomery or after he was removed to Troy. We find that not only were the statements not obtained by physical force or threats, they were not induced by any promise.
We have reviewed the evidence presented concerning the mental subnormality of appellant and conclude that there was sufficient evidence before the trial court for it to conclude that appellant had sufficient intelligence, education, and comprehensive ability to understand his Miranda *Page 236 rights as well as the waiver of those rights and the consequences of doing so.
We find that, upon this evidence, the trial court properly held that appellant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made the incriminating statements to the police, after properMiranda warnings which were knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived. The denial of the motion to suppress was proper, and the statements were properly admitted into evidence.
In deciding whether or not there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict of the jury and the judgment of the trial court, the evidence must be reviewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Cumbo v. State,
In reviewing a conviction based on circumstantial evidence, the test to be applied is whether the jury might reasonably find that the evidence excluded every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt; not whether such evidence excludes every reasonable hypothesis but guilt, but whether a jury might reasonably so conclude. Cumbo v. State. Our responsibility in such cases is to examine the record to determine whether there is any theory of the evidence from which the jury might have excluded every reasonable hypothesis except guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. "No person should be convicted, whether on circumstantial evidence or on direct evidence, unless it is shown beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty; on the other hand, if the state meets its burden of proof, then a jury may find a defendant guilty." Dolvin v. State,
In the instant case, appellant admitted planning and executing the robbery with his accomplice, Colley. Although he denied shooting the victim and blamed Colley, the pistol used in the killing was recovered from appellant's sister, appellant's fingerprint was found on the victim's cash register, and eyewitness testimony placed him and his vehicle at the scene of the murder. The fingerprint on the cash register indicates that appellant was behind *Page 237 the counter where the body of the victim was found. Appellant admitted taking the victim's wallet after the victim had been shot, and he received a share of the proceeds from the commission of the crime. The victim had been shot three times, twice in the back. This evidence, along with other circumstances surrounding the crime, strongly implicates appellant in the shooting of Counts.
"No defendant is guilty of a capital offense unless he had an intent to kill, and that intent to kill cannot be supplied by the felony murder doctrine." Lewis v. State,
After examining the evidence and applying the proper standards of review, we find that there was sufficient evidence presented by the state from which the jury could have excluded every reasonable hypothesis except guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the capital offense charged. Appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal based on the assertion of insufficient evidence was properly denied.
Scarbrough first testified, without objection, that appellant had owned an automobile when he knew him in 1977; that he had heard appellant read a form waiving hisMiranda rights and had observed him sign the form; and that appellant was "alert" and "street smart." This was obviously proper rebuttal to testimony which had been presented by appellant to the effect that appellant did not have the mental capacity to understand and intelligently waive his Miranda rights. Scarbrough was then asked, of the two, which was the leader and which was the follower. Over the objections of appellant, he was permitted to answer, and he stated that appellant was the leader and Colley was the follower. Appellant objected on the grounds that the question called for a mental operation and a conclusion which the witness was not qualified to give. The prosecuting attorney contended that he expected the defense to argue that, due to appellant's mental capacity, he was led into committing the crime by Colley, who had a superior intellect, and that the state was entitled to present such testimony in anticipation of such an argument.
Neither party contends that Scarbrough is an expert witness, although he does have considerable education and training as a counselor and had considerable contact with and knowledge of appellant and Colley. We must consider Scarbrough a lay witness in reviewing this issue. The general rule is that a lay witness can testify to facts which he observed but cannot testify to opinions, conclusions, deductions, or inferences which are based upon facts.Andrews v. State,
We find that the trial court committed error by overruling appellant's objections to Scarbrough's testimony giving his opinion as to which of the perpetrators of the crime was the leader and which was the follower. We find no exception to the general rule which would permit such opinion testimony under the circumstances of this case. Had the question become relevant as to which of the men was the leader and which was the follower, it would have been the function of the jury to draw the conclusion based upon facts submitted to it. To allow the lay witness to engage in such activity invades the jury's province and usurps its function. See id. at § 127.01(2).
Even though we have found error here, we do not believe that it calls for a reversal of this case. We have examined the entire record in light of the lay opinion of Scarbrough which was erroneously admitted, and we conclude that the error did not injuriously affect a substantial right of appellant. In light of the evidence, it is highly unlikely that the opinion that appellant was the "leader" and Colley the "follower" had any effect upon the outcome of the trial. The admission was error without injury. A.R.A.P. 45.
Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the circuit court is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Thomas Lewis, Alias v. State.
- Cited By
- 55 cases
- Status
- Published