Case Title: State v. Bailey

Citation: 132 Ariz. 472, 647 P.2d 170

Docket Number: 

State: arizona

Court: Arizona Supreme Court

Date: 1982-06-01T00:00:00Z

Document:
132 Ariz. 472 (1982) 647 P.2d 170 STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Randall Eugene BAILEY, Appellant. No. 5118. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. June 1, 1982. Rehearing Denied June 29, 1982. *473 Robert K. Corbin, Atty. Gen. by William J. Schafer, III, and Greg A. McCarthy, Asst. Attys. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Jose M. Lerma and Ruben Teran Sonoqui, Douglas, for appellant. *474 CAMERON, Justice. Defendant, Randall Eugene Bailey, was convicted on 15 July 1980 of first degree murder of Edwin Jeffrey in violation of A.R.S. § 13-1105, and theft of Jeffrey's automobile in violation of A.R.S. § 13-1802. He was sentenced for the murder, pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-703, to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years. His sentence of 5 years for the theft was ordered to run concurrently to the life sentence. We have jurisdiction of this appeal pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4031. We must consider only one question and that is: Did instances of alleged prosecutorial misconduct constitute reversible error? The facts necessary to a determination of this appeal are as follows. Defendant, Randall Eugene Bailey, and the victim, Edwin Jeffrey, were engaged in the illegal sale of drugs in Monterey, California. Upon Jeffrey's discharge from the Army, they planned a camping trip to Arizona, where they intended to buy a quantity of marijuana for resale in California. They left Monterey on Monday, 17 June 1979. En route to the purchase in Arizona, both defendant and Jeffrey ingested large amounts of marijuana, amphetamines and LSD. On Thursday, 20 June 1979, the two decided to camp for the night near Sorin Pass, a campsite off Middle March Road in the Coronado National Forest. About midday, they both took LSD and Bailey took the last "hit" of the LSD that evening. During the evening, Bailey alleges that he became increasingly apprehensive of Jeffrey, who he perceived was playing with his knife and watching him. Sometime before dawn, Bailey testified that he saw Jeffrey armed with a knife and moving toward him. Defendant stated that he seized his sawed-off shotgun and fired from a distance of several feet, killing Jeffrey. Bailey bundled Jeffrey's body in his sleeping bag and blankets, tied it with a cord and covered it with sand in a nearby wash. He then collected items around the campsite, including Jeffrey's watch and what remained of his army severance pay, loaded them into Jeffrey's car, and returned to Monterey. Defendant was arrested in Monterey, returned to Arizona and tried for the murder of Jeffrey. Defendant claimed self defense and alternatively that his perception of an attack, if not real, was imagined as a result of the LSD. Bailey also defended on the basis that his long history of drug abuse, particularly the heavy use of drugs during the 4 days preceding the homicide, rendered him insane at the time of the killing. From a jury verdict and judgment of guilt to the murder and theft, defendant appeals. The defendant urges that the prosecutor was guilty of misconduct at the trial which denied the defendant a fair trial. He argues that this misconduct was sufficiently prejudicial to warrant reversing the case and remanding it for a new trial. Four examples are given in the brief. a. Weeping prosecutor and detective The first incident cited by the defense occurred when Mrs. Jeffrey, the mother of the victim, was testifying on cross-examination. During Mrs. Jeffrey's testimony, the prosecutor and the case officer were in tears. The defense moved, in chambers, for a mistrial which was denied. The court stated: The court concluded that the emotion was genuine. It stated: b. Improper questioning Defendant next contends that improper questioning by the prosecutor throughout *475 the trial resulted in prejudicial error. Specifically, he cites a remark made by the prosecutor during the testimony of Deputy Bob Randall in describing the scene of the killing. *476 c. Reference to the gloves Over defendant's objection, a pair of white gloves, found in defendant's possession, was introduced into evidence. When the defendant took the stand, the county attorney cross-examined the defendant as follows: Objection to the question was sustained. The question was stricken and the jury instructed to disregard it. Defendant argues that the suggestion he was a burglar constitutes reversible error. d. Comments on Dr. Hirsch's testimony Finally, defendant asserts that the prosecutor's remarks unfairly impugned the professional integrity of a defense witness, Dr. Hirsch, to the prejudice of the defendant. The State argued that the killing was deliberate and premediated. Bailey, on the other hand, contended that he shot the victim in self defense. If the wound were a "tight contact" wound, that is, a wound from a shot made close or next to the body, it would indicate that the victim was shot while asleep or, at least, not while attacking the defendant, and the defendant's story would be discredited. The State had produced a pathologist who had examined the body and had testified that the wound was a "tight contact" wound. Dr. Hirsch, the defendant's pathologist, testified from a photograph that the wound was not a close contact wound, but that the gun was fired from a distance of from 18 inches to 8 feet. In his opening argument, the prosecutor stated: In chambers, the prosecutor was admonished that he was arguing beyond the scope of the record and drawing inferences from facts not in evidence. The defense moved for a mistrial, which was denied. Upon resuming the proceedings, the court instructed the jury: In his closing argument, the prosecutor again discussed Dr. Hirsch's qualifications: The defense again objected and was overruled. We agree with the trial court's determination concerning the weeping of the prosecutor and the officer. The trial court was able to observe both counsel and the jury, and we must rely upon his finding that the weeping was "spontaneous" and genuine, and that the jurors did not pay "particular attention to Mr. Riley or Lieutenant Buvia." As to the three remaining examples of prosecutorial misconduct, we believe there was error. The prosecutor's reference to blood on the rock was clearly improper. An attorney may not refer to evidence which is not in the record or "testify" *478 regarding matters not in evidence. State v. King, 110 Ariz. 36, 514 P.2d 1032 (1973); State v. Ballantyne, 128 Ariz. 68, 623 P.2d 857 (App. 1981); State v. Harrington, 27 Ariz. App. 663, 558 P.2d 28 (1976). The white gloves had no connection to the murder, and the county attorney's reference to the gloves as being "burglar's gloves" was improper, implying that the defendant had committed prior bad acts. Innuendo can be impossible to refute convincingly, and the prosecutor may not impeach the defendant by prior bad acts or making insinuations to matters which are not properly admissible. State v. Enriquez, 102 Ariz. 402, 430 P.2d 422 (1967). The unfair and unfounded remarks regarding Dr. Hirsch were most damaging. There was no testimony that the doctor was less than a qualified pathologist. Dr. Hirsch's qualifications included graduation from N.Y.U. College of Medicine and 4 years of special training in pathology in New York and Cleveland. He served as medical examiner for Pima County for 33 years and was certified by the American Board of Pathology in Clinical Pathology and in Anatomic Pathology, as well as the American Board of Forensic Pathology. He was a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science and the National Association of Medical Examiners. Prior to testifying, he reviewed the report of the autopsy of Dr. Froede. He also examined the sleeping bag and the photographs taken at the autopsy. On cross examination he testified: Counsel are given wide latitude in argument, but their comments must be based on the evidence or reasonable inferences which may be drawn from it. State v. Mincey, 130 Ariz. 389, 636 P.2d 637 (1981); State v. King, supra. Arguing matters which are not in evidence can be reversible error. We have stated: The record does not support the inference of the prosecutor that Dr. Hirsch was not qualified as an expert in his field or that he was "nonobjective, nonprofessional and unethical." It is proper impeachment to inquire into the credentials and employment of an expert witness to show bias or motive. People v. Washington, 80 Cal. Rptr. *479 567, 71 Cal. 2d 1061, 458 P.2d 479 (1969). However, a prosecutor may not insinuate that an expert is unethical or incompetent without properly admitted evidence to support it. Unfair attacks on the veracity of a witness are of particular concern when the target is a key witness. State v. Gonzales, 105 Ariz. 434, 466 P.2d 388 (1970); State v. Harrington, supra; Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 55 S. Ct. 629, 79 L. Ed. 1314 (1935). The adversary system is the best system yet devised by man to determine the truth. For it to work properly, free-wheeling and wide-ranging cross examination is not only allowed, but protected and encouraged. State v. Dunlap, 125 Ariz. 104, 608 P.2d 41 (1980). The same is true for comment on the evidence by counsel. If these valuable tools for the determination of truth cross examination and comment on the evidence are to be retained, some restraint must be exercised by the court and its officers in order that witnesses who come into court, most of them willingly, to assist in determining the truth, are not insulted and abused. Counsel is given wide latitude in closing argument, State v. Price, 111 Ariz. 197, 526 P.2d 736 (1974), and juries are routinely instructed, as here, that comment of counsel is not evidence. We will, however, particularly in capital cases, scrutinize county attorneys' remarks carefully, Burrows v. State, 38 Ariz. 99, 297 P. 1029 (1931), and we will reverse if, based upon the circumstances of the individual case, the misconduct probably influenced the jury. State v. Gonzales, supra; State v. Price, supra. There is no question that the defendant killed the victim. In addition to the self defense plea of the defendant, however, there was a question of whether this was first degree or second degree murder. If the wound was a contact wound, then it could be inferred that the victim was killed while asleep and with premeditation, which is the difference between first and second degree murder. If the shot was fired from a distance, then not only does defendant's self defense plea have some substance, but there is less evidence of premeditation and a finding of second degree murder might follow. Under the circumstances, it cannot be said that the improper and unfounded attempt to discredit Dr. Hirsch did not influence the jury. From the record we have before us, we believe that the remarks of the county attorney were unsupported and when considered with the other examples of misconduct, constituted reversible error. A new trial should be granted. Reversed and remanded for new trial. HOLOHAN, C.J., GORDON, V.C.J., and HAYS and FELDMAN, JJ., concur.