Title: State v. Thomas

State: arizona

Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court

Document:

104 Ariz. 338 (1969) 452 P.2d 512 STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Gary THOMAS, Appellant. No. 1931. Supreme Court of Arizona. In Banc. April 4, 1969. *339 Gary K. Nelson, Atty. Gen., by Carl Waag, Asst. Atty. Gen., Darrell F. Smith, Former Atty. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Robert A. Wertsching, Phoenix, for appellant. STRUCKMEYER, Justice. Appellant, Gary Thomas, was tried and convicted of kidnapping with intent to commit rape, in violation of A.R.S. § 13-492. From the judgment and sentence he appeals. Thomas urges that the trial court erred in denying his motion to appoint a psychiatrist to examine the complaining witness. Aside from the fact of which we express doubt that the court could compel a witness to submit to a psychiatric examination, we have recently been twice called upon to decide whether indigent defendants should be afforded expert testimony at State expense. In both cases, State v. Chambers, 104 Ariz. 247, 451 P.2d 27, 1860 (March, 1969) and State v. Bowen, 104 Ariz. 138, 449 P.2d 603, we held that the Court, in the absence of enabling legislation cannot furnish experts to assist in the presentation of a defendant's case. In State v. Chambers, supra, we said: Thomas also urges that the trial court erred when it refused to appoint an investigator to assist in the defense. The appointment of private investigators to assist a defendant or his counsel is in the same category as expert witnesses. For the same reasons expressed in State v. Chambers, supra, we are compelled to reject defendant's position. Judgment affirmed. UDALL, C.J., LOCKWOOD, V.C.J., and McFARLAND, J., concur. NOTE: Justice JACK D.H. HAYS, having disqualified himself, did not participate in the determination of this appeal.