Title: State v. Clayton

State: arizona

Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court

Document:

109 Ariz. 587 (1973) 514 P.2d 720 The STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Kenneth CLAYTON and Herbert Penrod, Appellants. No. 2283. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. September 27, 1973. Rehearing Denied October 30, 1973. *590 Gary K. Nelson, Atty. Gen., Phoenix, by Howard L. Fell, Tucson, and Louis A. Moore, Jr., Asst. Attys. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Cohen, Gerst, Groseclose & Meissner by David A. Groseclose, Phoenix, for appellants; Ramon R. Alvarez, Douglas, of counsel. CAMERON, Vice Chief Justice. This is an appeal from jury verdicts and judgments of guilt as to each defendant to the crimes of burglary in the nighttime, § 13-302, subsec. B A.R.S., with sentences thereon of from 14 to 15 years; and first degree murder, § 13-452 A.R.S., with sentences of death. Omitting the questions concerning the death penalty which have been disposed of by the United States Supreme Court cases of Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S. Ct. 2726, 33 L. Ed. 2d 346 (1972) and Stewart v. Massachusetts, 408 U.S. 845, 92 S. Ct. 2845, 33 L. Ed. 2d 744 (1972), we are called upon to answer the following questions on appeal: The facts necessary for a determination of this matter on appeal are as follows. On the evening of 3 October 1970, the defendant, Herbert Penrod, drove to the residence of Richard Evans in Sierra Vista, Arizona, picked him up, and from there they went to the residence of the defendant Kenneth Clayton in Benson, Arizona. The three had previously met as members of a motorcycle club called "The Soul Sinners." The three evidently decided to burglarize *591 some establishment although they had no particular place in mind. Taking burglar tools, a pistol, and a shotgun, they drove from Benson on U.S. Highway 80 to the area of Bisbee and Lowell, Arizona, and then took Highway 92 back toward Sierra Vista, Arizona. After traveling several miles they passed a restaurant known as "The Brite Spot" which is located approximately halfway between Bisbee Arizona, and Sierra Vista, Arizona. They noticed at that time a Volkswagen parked in front of "The Brite Spot" and continued on for a short distance and then returned to the area and noticed that the Volkswagen was gone. They concealed their automobile on a side road which led to the home of Robert Cline, Sr., the decedent, who was also the owner of "The Brite Spot." They succeeded in opening the back door of "The Brite Spot" with a crowbar and entered the kitchen area. A silent burglar alarm went off in the home of Robert Cline, Sr., who lived about a quarter of a mile away. Robert Cline, Sr., called the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and together with his son-in-law, both armed, drove toward "The Brite Spot" with their lights out. Because the lights were out their car became stuck in a cattle guard and they then proceeded to "The Brite Spot" on foot. Cline covered the back while the son-in-law covered the front of the building. Cline called to the burglars to come out and, according to the testimony of the codefendant Evans, the defendant Clayton started to the door with a shotgun in his right hand and with his hands over his head. As he came out the door there was a gun blast and Clayton fell and stumbled back into the kitchen. The testimony of Richard Evans continued: After the defendant Clayton was struck by the blast, evidently from Robert Cline's shotgun, Clayton then fired at Cline. Cline fired again and Clayton fired a second time. At this point the defendants observed a car rapidly approaching and fled from the building to their car parked by a nearby dump. The car would not start and they fled on foot. They were apprehended the following day having been followed from the scene of the crime. Robert Cline, Sr., was found dead outside of "The Brite Spot." The three defendants were charged with Count I, burglary in the first degree, § 13-302, subsec. B A.R.S.; Count II, first degree murder, §§ 13-451 and 13-452 A.R.S.; Count III, murder under the felony-murder rule, § 13-452 A.R.S. Count II was stricken upon motion of the County Attorney at the close of the State's case. The defendant Evans testified on behalf of the State in return for being allowed to plead guilty to burglary and manslaughter. Penrod and Clayton were tried jointly. The jury found both defendants guilty of Counts I and III and assessed the death penalty as to Count III. Both defendants appealed. EMPANELING THE JURY Defendants first contend that it was error for the court to deny challenges or, in absence of challenges, upon its own motion to fail to dismiss for cause 11 of the jurors passed. The law in Arizona concerning the disqualification of jurors has been stated as follows: Absent a challenge for cause we will not consider upon appeal the failure of the court, on its own motion, to dismiss a juror for cause unless it is such an abuse of discretion as to constitute fundamental error. § 13-1715 A.R.S.; State v. Burrell, 96 Ariz. 233, 393 P.2d 921 (1964). Early in the jury selection process the trial court stated as follows: We have gone over the selection of the jury paying particular attention to all the jurors the defense contends on appeal should not have been passed for cause. Jurors numbered 5, 16, 20, 30, 31, 38, 42, and 49 were not challenged for cause though some were preemptorily challenged by the defendants. Some of the jurors had outside problems such as a death in the family, but these problems did not indicate that the jurors could not be fair and impartial triers of the facts. We find no fundamental error in the passing of these eight jurors not challenged by the defendants at the jury selection. Juror No. 2 was challenged for cause because as she stated: The court personally addressed juror No. 2: We believe that juror No. 2 was rehabilitated and it was not error to refuse to dismiss her from the jury panel. Defendants next contend that juror No. 7 indicated that she could not render a fair and impartial verdict for the reason that it would be inconvenient for her to be away from home because her children were 13 and 17 and there was no other person in the household to care for them during the period of time that the jury would be sequestered. Objection was made to this juror. Although it was inconvenient for juror No. 7 to appear, in answer to the question as to her duties she stated: We find no error in passing juror No. 7 for cause. Defendants next challenge juror No. 25, Mrs. McRae. Mrs. McRae indicated that she had read or heard something about the case in the newspapers and that she had known the Clines back in the '40's. She stated: And also in response to questions by Mr. Alvarez: The County Attorney examined the witness as follows: We believe that Mrs. McRae was properly rehabilitated and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in failing to sustain the challenge for cause by the defendants as to Mrs. McRae. A reading of the voir dire of the jury panel indicates that while the jury was not a perfect jury, it was a fair and impartial jury. The fact that there was a limited number of jurors available resulted in some jurors' being retained who might not normally have been retained, as for example, those with certain household problems, death in the family, etc., and while this may have been an imposition upon certain of the jurors selected, we find no prejudice to the defendants in requiring such jurors to remain on the jury panel. WERE DEFENDANTS DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL? During the voir dire of the jury, at which time there were spectators in the *595 courtroom as there had been throughout the voir dire examination, it was noticed that in order for one of the jurors to get out of the courtroom she had to knock on the door. The matter was brought to the attention of the judge who indicated that he was unaware of the problem and the door was unlocked. The reporter's transcript indicates as follows: The locking of the door was inadvertent and apparently of short duration and we find no denial of a right to a public trial under the facts in the instant case. State v. Von Reeden, 104 Ariz. 404, 454 P.2d 149 (1969). FAILURE TO INSTRUCT ON SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER Defendants contend that under the facts of the case it was reversible error to fail to instruct the jury on second degree murder and manslaughter. The trial court should instruct the jury on every degree or grade of the offense which is supported by the evidence, State v. Brady, 105 Ariz. 190, 461 P.2d 488 (1969); State v. Sorensen, 104 Ariz. 503, 455 P.2d 981 (1969), and there is a duty to instruct the jury on inferior degrees of homicide suggested by the evidence even though no request has been made. State v. Madden, 104 Ariz. 111, 449 P.2d 39 (1969). Our statute reads: And we have stated: Defendants, however, contend that the facts in the case indicated the burglary was terminated and the defendants were trying to surrender when the shooting occurred. The trial court instructed on self-defense based upon evidence that the defendants had been trying to surrender at the time the victim fired the first shot. Under the facts presented at the trial and after the striking of Count II of straight first degree murder, the defendants were then faced with an all or nothing situation. If the jury believed the burglary had been completed and the defendants were trying to surrender and had communicated that desire to the victim Cline, then the jury could find the defendants not guilty of first degree murder under the felony-murder rule, § 13-452 A.R.S. The jury found otherwise. Under the instructions given, *596 they found that the defendants had committed a burglary and were still in the process of committing the burglary when the shooting occurred and the defendants were guilty of first degree murder, the only degree of murder for which they could be found guilty under the felony-murder rule and the facts in the instant case. § 13-452 A.R.S. We find no error in the failure to give instructions on second degree murder and manslaughter. Defendants contend that the County Attorney was guilty of misconduct in impeaching his own witness, Evans, who had pled guilty and was testifying for and on behalf of the State against the two codefendants Clayton and Penrod. There was some evidence that at the time of capture one of the "deputies" had placed a rope around the neck of defendant Penrod and dragged him through the bushes while the "deputy" was still on a horse. It was never determined whether this was a "deputy" of the Sheriff's Department, one of the sheriff's posse members, or merely an individual who was assisting in the search. It was agreed, however, informally in chambers by both the State and the defense, that no reference would be made to this fact. During the examination of the defendant Evans by the State the following occurred: The photograph of Penrod, Exhibit No. 35, did not show any marks around his neck. And: The court then excused the jury for the evening and the County Attorney stated: The court then also stated, concerning the prior agreement not to mention the roping incident, as follows: The defendant Evans who had plead guilty to the crime of burglary and manslaughter, evidently surprised and was adverse to the State's position. We find no error in the cross-examination and impeachment of the witness Evans in the manner indicated in the transcript. State v. Lane, 69 Ariz. 236, 211 P.2d 821 (1949). We have stated: We find no error in the failure to grant the mistrial. DOUBLE JEOPARDY The defendants were charged with three counts: Count I, a charge of burglary in the nighttime; and Count II, reading as follows: After the State had rested its case, the State moved for a dismissal of Count II of the indictment, first degree murder. There is no question that jeopardy had attached, State v. Stout, 5 Ariz. App. 271, 425 P.2d 582 (1967), but we do not agree with the contentions of the defendants that the dismissal of the first degree murder charge constituted an acquittal of the murder in Count III. Count II reads in the traditional first degree murder charge, murder that is "willful, deliberate and premeditated." Count III restates the felony-murder rule as provided by statute, that a murder committed in the perpetration of burglary is murder in the first degree. § 13-452 A.R.S. Rule 128 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., specifically allows "different statements of the same offense." At the close of the State's case, the State elected to stand on first degree murder under the felony-murder rule rather than first degree murder based upon premeditation. The felony-murder rule dispenses with the required showing of premeditation as the act of committing a felony supplies the premeditation necessary for first degree murder. In dismissing Count II the State ran the risk that if the jury did not find the defendants guilty of first degree murder under the felony-murder rule, they would not be allowed to find them guilty of second degree murder or manslaughter. The County Attorney evidently felt, and the court agreed, that the facts would not support a premeditated murder count and it was properly dismissed and the jury allowed to consider only murder committed in the perpetration of a burglary. We find no violation of the double jeopardy requirements or any prejudice to the defendants in the granting of this motion. The defendants contend that the jury should have been instructed that if the jury found the killing occurred after the intention to burglarize had been abandoned and while they were attempting to surrender, the felony-murder rule would not apply. No instruction was requested on this point and the defendants contend that the court should have sua sponte given an instruction covering this point and that the failure to do so constitutes fundamental error. The jury was instructed on the plea of self-defense. We find no error. ERROR IN THE "STIPULATED INSTRUCTION" At the settling of the instructions, the attorneys for the State and the defendants stipulated that an instruction be given in lieu of other self-defense instructions submitted or considered by the parties. The first part of the instruction reads: It is the contention of the defendants that this stipulated instruction, and particularly the emphasized portion, constitutes a comment on the evidence contrary to Art. 6, § 27 of the Arizona Constitution A.R.S. and is therefore fundamental error. Defendants' brief states: It is clear that the instruction points out to the jury that if they find certain things then they may also find that Kenneth Clayton was justified in firing, etc. We do not believe this is a comment on the evidence. FAILURE TO DENY THE MOTION FOR ARREST IN JUDGMENT Our statute reads: It is the contention of the defendants that because the crime of burglary is included within the charge this is double punishment for but one offense. Under this statute we have held that the State may not rely upon one act to support multiple convictions of crimes with identical components. State v. Mays, 108 Ariz. 172, 494 P.2d 368 (1972); State v. Jernigan, 108 Ariz. 97, 492 P.2d 1204 (1972); State v. Mendoza, 107 Ariz. 51, 481 P.2d 844 (1971); State v. Hill, 11 Ariz. App. 230, 463 P.2d 125 (1969). In the instant case they committed a homicide. The fact that the burglary supplies the premediation necessary for first degree murder does not make it part of the same offense. This case may be distinguished from the situation in Mendoza, supra, where the statute defining *600 first degree rape as rape where the victim is prevented from resisting by threats of "immediate and great bodily harm," § 13-611, subsec. A, par. 3, A.R.S., and the defendant was charged with first degree rape and assault with a deadly weapon based upon the same threats used to commit the rape. In that case we stated: In the instant case the statute defines the crime of felony murder or murder committed in the course of a burglary as a separate crime in addition to the crime of burglary. They are separate offenses one committed against the person and the other committed against the property of another. Where the offenses are so closely intertwined, as for example assault with a deadly weapon which results in a homicide, the statute may apply. Where the offenses are separate the statute does not apply. The motion in arrest of judgment was properly denied. ERROR IN FORMS OF VERDICT As to the murder charge the trial court submitted three forms of verdict one of guilty with the death penalty, one guilty with life imprisonment, and one not guilty. Defendant contends that this over-emphasized the guilty aspect of the case by 2 to 1. Defendant contends that the proper form with reference to guilt should have been: "Guilty of murder in the First Degree and fixed the penalty at _______." We disagree with defendants' allegation of over emphasis. Our Court of Appeals has stated: We find no error. WAS THE DEFENDANT CLAYTON FORCED TO TESTIFY? After the State had rested both the defendants, Clayton and Penrod, also rested their cases, neither defendant presenting any testimony. After this there was a discussion in chambers (not reported) which led the defendant to believe that the court would refuse to give any instruction on self-defense or manslaughter. Mr. Clayton's attorney had previously notified the court that his client, Clayton, had indicated to the court that he did not wish to take the stand. After a motion by Clayton's attorney to reopen, the following transpired: After the defendant Clayton testified the court did agree to give an instruction on self-defense. It may well be that the defendant Clayton's decision to testify was based upon the expected refusal of the trial court to give an instruction for self-defense. This is merely a question of trial strategy on the defendant's part. If he wants the instruction or any other instruction not supported by the evidence presented up to that time, he or someone on behalf of the defendant is going to have to testify. Defendant may feel he was "coerced" into testifying and, in a sense he was, in that he was well-advised to do so if he wanted to present evidence upon which to base a request for an instruction on self-defense, but it is not coercion in the sense that it was illegal or error. WAS THERE CORROBORATION TO SUPPORT THE CONVICTION OF PENROD? It is the contention of the defendant Penrod that there was no corroboration or other evidence which tended to independently link Penrod with the commission of the crime. Our statute states: In the instant case the testimony of the codefendant or accomplice Evans, clearly implicated Penrod and Clayton. A reading of the transcript indicates that in addition to the testimony of Evans, a bag containing tools and a crowbar was found in the automobile parked near the restaurant, that in the automobile were equipment repair orders made out to Penrod and Clayton, plus a permit to enter on the Ft. Huachuca Military Reservation made out to Herbert Penrod. The testimony of the sheriff indicated that three sets of tracks led from the backdoor of the restaurant, the deputies followed these tracks and Penrod and Evans were then apprehended together *602 some 15 miles from the scene as a result of this tracking. We believe this is sufficient corroboration of the accomplice's testimony. We have stated concerning § 13-136 A.R.S.: SEPARATE TRIAL Finally, the defendant Penrod contends it was reversible error to deny his timely motion for separate trial even though the two defendants were represented by different counsel. Defendant Penrod contends that he was prejudiced by the introduction into evidence of a handwritten note by the defendant Clayton exhorting the defendant Evans not to testify against the defendants Clayton and Penrod. This note was admitted by the court with the instruction that it was applicable only to the defendant Clayton and was not to be considered against the defendant Penrod. The defendant further contends that the fact that Clayton felt that he had to take the stand to testify prejudiced him because he, Penrod, did not take the stand. We disagree. Rule 254, Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., gives the trial judge discretion in granting or refusing a request for separate trial and will not be reversed unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown, State v. Webb, 101 Ariz. 307, 419 P.2d 91 (1966), and whether there is an abuse of discretion in the denial of severance must be based on the showing at the time the motion is made and not what ultimately transpires at the trial. State v. Goodyear, 100 Ariz. 244, 413 P.2d 566 (1966). There is no indication that the defendant Penrod was limited in his right to cross-examine the codefendant Evans; neither was there any limitation on the part of Penrod to cross-examine Clayton when Clayton took the stand and the attorney for Penrod did in fact cross-examine Clayton concerning the note from Clayton to Evans. The fact that the codefendant Clayton took the stand and Penrod did not may have been detrimental to Penrod. The trial judge specifically instructed the jury of Penrod's right not to take the stand and that this was not to be used against Penrod. We find no error. DEATH PENALTY We have not, in this opinion, discussed issues involving the death penalty. Furman v. Georgia, supra, and Stewart v. Massachusetts, supra. In accordance with our announced policy in this regard, the death penalties are set aside and reduced to life imprisonment. State v. Taylor, 109 Ariz. 267, 508 P.2d 731 (1973); State v. Chatman, 109 Ariz. 275, 508 P.2d 739 (1973); § 13-1717(B) A.R.S. Judgments affirmed. HAYS, C.J., STRUCKMEYER, and HOLOHAN, JJ., and MARY ANNE RICHEY, Superior Court Judge, Pima County, concur. LORNA E. LOCKWOOD, J., did not participate in the determination of this matter.