Jelks v. State
Jelks v. State
Concurring in Part
Concurring and Dissenting Opinion
— I concur in the result reached by the majority, because the over-all effect of Dr. Hogle’s testimony made it clear that, in his opinion, the defendant was not legally responsible for the homicide, and I do not believe that his having been disallowed to answer the specific question under consideration could have detracted from the persuasiveness of his testimony. It was error, however, to have precluded his answer on the basis that it would invade the province of the jury. Williams v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 190, 352 N.E.2d 733; Smith v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 187, 285 N.E.2d 275.
Bobbitt v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 164, 361 N.E.2d 1193, stands for the proposition that reversal may not be predicated upon the erroneous admission of evidence when evidence having the same probative effect is admitted without objection and without contradiction. The majority cites it as authority for holding the rejection of evidence as harmless, which is quite a different thing. I am aware of no authority that admissible material evidence may be rejected and the error held to be harmless for the reason alone that there was other evidence having the same probative value.
Note. — Reported at 378 N.E.2d 848.
Opinion of the Court
Appellant was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to a term of 15 to 25 years imprisonment.
The record indicates on January 26, 1974, appellant had quarreled with his wife and she was preparing to leave town. Appellant asked his mother to call the bus station to ask them not to allow his wife to leave on a bus. While his mother was on the telephone, appellant came behind her and began stabbing her in the neck with a knife. As she tried to wrestle the knife from him he sliced her across the nose. At that point his mother called for another son, Elmer Jelks, who was in the next room to help her. Elmer tried to grab appellant to prevent him from further injuring his mother but appellant stabbed his brother in the chest causing his death.
Appellant first contends the trial court erred in excluding the testimony of a psychiatrist. The witness was asked if it was his opinion that appellant’s mental condition would prevent him from knowing right from wrong. The court sustained an objection on the ground that the question called for an opinion as to an ultimate question of fact. However another psychiatrist testified later in the trial that in his opinion appellant did not know right from wrong and could not control himself from committing the act. Thus, assuming without deciding that an erroneous ruling was made, there is no reversible error. Appellant cannot predicate error on the exclusion of evidence on the issue of insanity when other evidence having the same probative value was admitted. Bobbitt v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 164, 361 N.E.2d 1193.
Finally appellant claims his counsel was incompetent in his conduct at the trial. On appeal there is a presumption that counsel is competent. This presumption can be overcome only by strong and convincing evidence showing that the proceedings were a mockery of justice. Roberts v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 72, 360 N.E.2d 825; Maldonado v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 492, 355 N.E.2d 843. Isolated mistakes or poor tactics and strategy do not
The judgment of the trial court is in all things affirmed.
Hunter and Pivarnik, JJ. concur; DeBruler, J. concurs in result without opinion; Prentice, J. concurring and dissenting with opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Richard Lee Jelks v. State of Indiana
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published