Case Title: State v. Colwash

Citation: 564 P.2d 781, 88 Wash. 2d 468

Docket Number: 

State: washington

Court: Washington Supreme Court

Date: 1977-04-21T00:00:00Z

Document:
88 Wn.2d 468 (1977) 564 P.2d 781 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Appellant, v. CLYDE GUS COLWASH, Respondent. No. 44368. The Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc. April 21, 1977. *469 Jeffrey C. Sullivan, Prosecuting Attorney, and David W. Waterbury, Deputy, for appellant. Jim Gavin and Gavin, Robinson, Kendrick, Redman & Mays, for respondent (appointed counsel for appeal). DOLLIVER, J. This is an appeal from a split decision of the Court of Appeals. State v. Colwash, 15 Wn. App. 530, 550 P.2d 57 (1976). That court reversed the defendant's conviction for second-degree murder and remanded for a new trial. We affirm that order. On April 30, 1973, Clyde Gus Colwash was charged with first-degree murder for the stabbing of Danny Sampson. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to not more than 25 years. The jury signed a special verdict, finding that Colwash was armed with a deadly weapon during the crime. As a result, he received a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 1/2 years pursuant to RCW 9.95.040(2). The Court of Appeals was divided on only one of the several issues raised by defendant, namely, whether the trial court erred in refusing to give defendant's proposed manslaughter instructions. The jury was instructed on the elements of first- and second-degree murder. All three appellate court judges found, as we do, there was ample evidence of voluntary intoxication to justify a manslaughter instruction. Defendant's counsel offered such an instruction to the court but it was refused. One judge, dissenting, found the trial court was not clearly apprised of the defendant's theory in accordance with CrR 6.15(c), and, therefore, the Court of Appeals could not properly reverse the trial court. The rule in question, CrR 6.15(c) states: (Italics ours.) [1] The defendant argues that, even if the trial court was not apprised of the theory supporting the proposed manslaughter instructions, a new trial is required because his right to a fair trial was violated. See State v. Frazier, 81 Wn.2d 628, 503 P.2d 1073 (1972); State v. Louie, 68 Wn.2d 304, 413 P.2d 7 (1966). While there may be some merit in the argument that the absence of a manslaughter instruction violated the defendant's constitutional right, it is not necessary to reach this issue, and we choose to rest our decision on the adequacy of the exception taken by defendant's counsel. It has been often stated that the purpose of the rule in question (CrR 6.15(c)), is to afford the trial court an opportunity to correct any error. Seattle v. Rainwater, 86 Wn.2d 567, 571, 546 P.2d 450 (1976). We find that the exceptions taken by counsel adequately performed this function. In its opinion, the Court of Appeals convincingly demonstrates the sufficiency of the exceptions: State v. Colwash, supra at 533. Colwash further contends the trial court committed reversible error in giving instruction No. 12: [2] It is his contention this constitutes instructing the jury on a matter of fact in violation of Const. art. 4, § 16. As we have held in the past, jury instructions must be read as a whole. State v. Alvis, 70 Wn.2d 969, 425 P.2d 924 (1967). In a prior instruction, the court set out an extensive explanation of "reasonable doubt" and instructed the jury to find the defendant not guilty of any charge if a reasonable doubt exists. It further instructed the jury not to single out or place undue emphasis upon any instruction but rather to consider the instructions as a whole. We find no error in instruction No. 12 when read in conjunction with the other instructions given by the court. [3] Next, defendant challenges the constitutionality of instruction No. 9: This court has recently considered the constitutionality of this instruction in State v. Roberts, 88 Wn.2d 337, 562 P.2d 1259 (1977). In Roberts, we held that this instruction constituted an impermissible shift of the burden of persuasion which relieved the State from proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Such a shift is a violation *472 of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The instructions given at defendant's new trial must, accordingly, conform to that decision. We have examined defendant's remaining assignments of error. We affirm the disposition made of those considered by the Court of Appeals, and find those not considered to be without merit. The conviction of Clyde Gus Colwash for second-degree murder is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial consistent with this opinion. ROSELLINI, HAMILTON, and UTTER, JJ., concur. STAFFORD, J. (concurring in the result) As indicated by the majority, this court recently considered an instruction similar to instruction No. 9 given by the trial court. It was found constitutionally wanting. For that reason I agree a new trial must be ordered. Nevertheless I do not agree with the majority's resolution of the manslaughter issue. At the time the trial court rejected defendant's manslaughter instruction, defense counsel failed to adequately inform the trial court of the reason for his objection. There being no compliance with CrR 6.15(c), the majority and the Court of Appeals should not have reversed the trial court on that ground. Rather than extend the length of my opinion, I shall adopt the well reasoned dissent of Judge Munson in the court below. WRIGHT, C.J., and BRACHTENBACH and HOROWITZ, JJ., concur with STAFFORD, J.