Case Title: State v. Zaerr

Citation: 110 Ariz. 585, 521 P.2d 1131

Docket Number: 2853

State: arizona

Court: Arizona Supreme Court

Date: 1974-05-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
110 Ariz. 585 (1974) 521 P.2d 1131 The STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Joe Anthony ZAERR, Appellant. No. 2853. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. May 13, 1974. Rehearing Denied June 11, 1974. *586 Gary K. Nelson, Atty. Gen., by R. Wayne Ford, Asst. Atty. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Ross P. Lee, Maricopa County Public Defender, by Rudy Gerber, Special Deputy Public Defender, Phoenix, for appellant. CAMERON, Vice Chief Justice. This is an appeal from jury verdicts and judgments of guilt to the crime of murder in the second degree, Counts I and II, §§ 13-451, 13-452, and 13-453 A.R.S., and sentences thereon of not less than fifty years nor more than life; and a verdict and judgment of guilt to the crime of assault with a deadly weapon § 13-249 A.R.S., and a sentence thereon of not less than thirty nor more than sixty years, all three sentences to run concurrently. The defendant raises four issues on appeal: The facts necessary for a determination of this matter on appeal are as follows. Defendant, Joe Anthony Zaerr, at the time of the incident, was a 22 year old Marine stationed at the El Toro Marine Base in Orange County, California. He was 6'2", 210 pounds, and his wife, some four years younger than he, was 5'2", and weighed between 106 and 109 pounds. The two had been married in Missouri in 1971 while the defendant was between enlistments. The marriage was not a smooth one. The defendant contends that the wife accused him of paying too much attention to other girls, and that she was extremely jealous. The testimony indicates that the defendant physically abused his wife on more than one occasion. Twice he choked her until she blacked out; he held a knife to her throat on at least one occasion; and one time he beat her two days before she suffered a miscarriage. He told numerous associates with whom he worked that he was going to kill his wife, once stating that he was going to cut her head off, put it in a box, and send it to his wife's mother so that her mother would die of a heart attack. In January 1973 Mrs. Zaerr left the defendant and came to Phoenix, Arizona, where she stayed with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Wass. There were several phone calls between the defendant and his wife concerning her allotment checks and the need of the wife for funds which he refused to send her. Despite his pleas she refused to return to him. The defendant then bought a shotgun in California, together with shells, and came to Arizona. On arriving in Phoenix he located his wife by telephone. He testified he stopped at a nearby house and left the shotgun in a package with the occupant before he arrived at the grandparents *587 house. Testimony as to why he brought the shotgun was as follows: After asking his wife several times, both at the house and a nearby drive-in, to come back to him and having his wife refuse, he left, picked up the shotgun, loaded it, and returned to the home. When asked why he loaded the shotgun, he stated: As to his wife's reaction he testified: He stated that he started to talk to his wife about reconciliation and he wanted the grandparents to help, but the grandmother stated, "Well, if you kids are going to get worse, you might as well get a divorce and get it over with." This started an argument and the grandfather stated, "I don't want any commotion like that raised in my house. You can just leave." At this point, the wife fled to the bathroom to hide, and, according to the defendant, in the hassle that ensued between him and the grandparents, the gun went off accidentally, mortally wounding the grandmother. Then he had to shoot the grandfather to defend himself from the attacks of the grandfather. After this, according to the defendant, the following transpired: After some discussion they called the police. The defendant was charged with the murder of the two grandparents and assault with a deadly weapon on the wife. At the trial the wife testified for the State, *588 and the defendant testified on his own behalf. From the jury verdicts, judgments, and sentences, the defendant appeals. ADMISSION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS INTO EVIDENCE The defendant contends that the admission of colored photographs showing the two victims at the morgue and the extent of their wounds were gruesome and prejudicial and had no probative value since the defendant was willing to stipulate to the identification of the deceased, the manner of the deaths, and the fact that the defendant had caused the deaths. The pictures, admittedly gruesome, were admitted during the testimony of Dr. Jarvis, the pathologist, and appear to support Dr. Jarvis' testimony concerning the cause of death of the two victims. We have stated: The court is, of course, in the best position to determine the possible prejudicial effects upon the jury of the admission of photographs. Reviewing the pictures admitted as well as the transcript, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion even though we may not have admitted them had we been the trial judge. Our function is to determine whether there was an abuse of discretion. We find none. Defendant also contends that having his wife (the victims' granddaughter) identify the pictures instead of the pathologist, and the resulting weeping on the stand, was prejudicial and inflammatory. In a proceeding outside the presence of the jury, the defendant objected to showing these photographs stating: The county attorney refused to enter into a stipulation. The following transpired: The two pictures were shown to the defendant's wife, Mary Zaerr, then aged 19. One showed the head of the grandmother with the rest of the body covered and the other showed the head of the grandfather with blood in and around his mouth. Upon seeing the pictures she did break down, and a motion for a mistrial was made. Mr. Hyder for the State stated: The trial court denied the motion for a mistrial. Because of the nature of the photographs, the head only, showing no wounds, they were admissible only for the purpose of identification which the defendant already stated they were willing to admit, and the pictures had no other probative value. It would appear that having the granddaughter identify the pictures was done not for evidentiary reasons, but for the emotional impact it would have on the jury and in callous disregard for the witness's feelings. While we agree that the prosecutor overstepped the bounds of propriety, we do not feel, under the facts of the case, that the error was prejudicial, and the effect of these pictures would be relatively minor. As to the emotional behavior of the witnesses, we believe that the trial court was in a better position to observe the prejudicial effect that this had on the jury and we find no abuse of discretion. THE ALLEGED SUPPRESSION OF THE EVIDENCE The fingerprint expert for the Phoenix Police Department took charge of the shotgun immediately after the crime and dusted it for fingerprints. He testified as follows: We find no concealment of evidence by the State as was apparent in State v. Fowler, 101 Ariz. 561, 422 P.2d 125 (1967), or bad faith by the prosecutor or the fingerprint expert. Admittedly, according to defendant's testimony, since the two victims fought over the gun, it would have many fingerprints on it, including those of the defendant. This is the uncontradicted testimony of the defendant and the only testimony concerning the fight after the wife fled to the bathroom. We find no error. COMMENT ON THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT Mary Zaerr testified: Immediately defense counsel moved for a mistrial on the basis of the comment of the defendant's exercise of his constitutional right to refuse to talk and request an attorney. The statement appeared to be inadvertent and considering the context in which it was given, not prejudicial. We do not find that it was a violation of the defendant's right to remain silent. State v. Shing, 109 Ariz. 361, 509 P.2d 698 (1973). We find no error or prejudice. EXCESSIVE SENTENCE Defendant contends that the sentence is excessive, conceding that the sentences are within the maximum and minimum allowed by law. We have read the transcript, particularly the defendant's testimony, and we do not believe that the sentences were excessive. Judgments affirmed. HAYS, C.J., and STRUCKMEYER, LOCKWOOD and HOLOHAN, JJ., concur.