Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Samuel COREY
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1976-11-08
Citations: 339 So. 2d 804
Docket Number: No. 58138
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Samuel COREY.
Judges: DIXON, J., dissents with reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 339
Pages: 804–818

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Samuel COREY.
No. 58138.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Nov. 8, 1976.
Rehearing Denied Dec. 10, 1976.
F. Irvin Dymond, Law Offices of Dymond & Crull, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Harry F. Con-nick, Dist. Atty., William L. Brockman, Geraldine S. Veazey, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-appellee.

Opinion:
SANDERS, Chief Justice.
The Orleans Parish Grand Jury indicted the defendant for the first-degree murder of Patricia Albernoski Giesick, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:30. After trial by jury, he was found guilty as charged. The trial judge imposed the mandatory death sentence. On appeal, defendant relies upon seventeen assignments of error for reversal of his conviction and sentence; the remaining assignments of error, having been specifically abandoned, are not considered.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NOS. 6, 7, 8, AND 20
Assignments of Error Nos. 6, 7, and 8 relate to the testimony of Officer John P. Dillman of the New Orleans Police Department. Dillman identified documents he personally secured from the Ramada Inn, Holiday Inn, and Avis Rent-A-Car.
Assignment of Error No. 20 was reserved by defendant when the trial court allowed into evidence original telephone slips received from both the Quality Inn and Holiday Inn showing telephone calls made by the defendant. Defendant argues that these documents represented inadmissible hearsay information, and they were, therefore, inadmissible.
Assignments of Error Nos. 6, 7, and 8 are without substance. Defense counsel had originally objected to the introduction of this evidence, but when the State offered it into evidence, defendant specifically stated that he had no objection to its introduction into evidence. (Vol. IV, 12, 161-162). Defendant waived any right to raise these issues on appeal. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 841, State v. Marcell, La., 320 So.2d 195 (1975).
In Assignment of Error No. 20, defendant objects to the introduction of "telephone slips" from the Quality Inn and the Holiday Inn showing telephone calls made by defendant on certain dates in question. A police officer retrieved the telephone records from the Quality Inn and Holiday Inn showing that the defendant had called the Giesick residence. The defendant contends this was error because no employee of either motel testified concerning the telephone slips.
At trial, the officer testified that he had picked up the slips from the Holiday Inn on the day of the trial and brought them into court himself. He also testified that he had secured the document from the Quality Inn on April 22, 1975, identifying the document in court which bore his initials and date. The documents showed that the defendant had called the Giesick residence in Texas. Mrs. Giesick had previously testified that Corey had called her several times and that she was acting as a "go-between" for Corey and Giesick in a scheme to collect insurance on the life of Patricia Albernoski Giesick. The defendant denied calling Giesick. These documents tended to show that the defendant did telephone the Giesick residence from New Orleans.
While LSA-R.S. 15:434 specifically states that hearsay is inadmissible, it also recognizes exceptions to that general rule. LSA-R.S. 15:460 provides for the admission of business records under certain circumstances. In State v. Launey, La., 335 So.2d 435 (1976), we held:
"Business records are admissible in evidence if relevant and material without the necessity of identifying, locating or producing as witnesses the individuals who made the entries in the regular course of business."
The trial court correctly stated:
"This court felt that the documents were business documents kept in the usual course of business, that they were properly identified by the retrieving officer and that they were proper rebuttal."
Assignments of Error Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 20 are without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 9
This assignment of error arose as a result of the trial court's permitting the State to adduce testimony from an investigating officer relating to a statement made by the defendant in San Antonio, Texas prior to being advised of his constitutional rights enumerated by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Defendant alleges that the Miranda warnings were required because defendant was the focus of a criminal investigation and was in custody at the time the statement was made. The State argues that this contention is belied by the record and that the statements were properly admitted.
When an accused is in custody, Miranda warnings must be given prior to interrogation. However, when the questioning is non-custodial, Miranda warnings are not essential. The objective test to determine the necessity of the warnings must be applied. United States v. Hall, 421 F.2d 540 (2d Cir. 1969). An examination of the record normally discloses four factors that are particularly helpful in this task: (1) whether, prior to interrogation, probable cause existed to arrest the accused; (2) statements or actions by the police indicating an intention to hold or restrain him; (3) statements or actions by the accused indicating his reasonable belief that he is in custody; and (4) the extent to which the investigation has focused on the accused.
At the time Dillman questioned the defendant, the police did not have probable cause to arrest him. The questioning was merely investigatory. Defendant would have been permitted to leave if he had so desired, and, as the trial judge correctly noted, the defendant, at this stage, did not believe himself to be a suspect. There is no indication that the statements or actions of the officer gave the defendant reason to believe that he was in custody or under restraint when he was questioned. Therefore, the lack of Miranda warnings does not bar admission of the testimony regarding these statements. State v. Roach, La., 322 So.2d 222 (1975).
Assignment of Error No. 9 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NOS. 10, 12, AND 14
These assignments of error are consolidated for discussion since, in each, it is contended that photographs admitted into evidence were so prejudicial as to outweigh their probative value, and that their admission constituted reversible error.
The State and defendant agree on the fundamental principle of law which governs the admissibility of the photographs: the probative value of the photographs must outweigh their prejudicial impact. State v. Smith, La., 327 So.2d 355 (1976).
In Assignment of Error No. 10, defendant alleges that certain photographs shown to the jury were inflammatory and highly prejudicial. The trial court excluded some photographs which it considered inflammatory or repetitious but allowed the introduction of the contested photographs. A careful examination of the record verifies the explanation for the introduction of the photographs given by the trial judge. The trial judge's Per Curiam correctly disposes of the defense contention:
"This assignment of error was taken when, over objection by the defendant, this court permitted the State to introduce exhibits S-16 through S-22, S-30, 31 and 33, and to exhibit same to the jury. The objection of the defense was based on the fact that these photographs were inflammatory and highly prejudicial to the defendant. However, the court allowed the photographs into evidence after excluding a number of other photographs which it determined in its own mind to be inflammatory and/or repetitious. The reason for the introduction into evidence, over objection, was that the State had removed from the undercarriage of a 1974 Monte Carlo automobile which the State contended was the death vehicle particles of hair and scalp which the State again contended was that of the victim. The 1974 Monte Carlo was further linked by other evidence to the possession of the defendant, Sam Corey. It was, therefore, necessary for the State to lay the proper predicate for the exhumation of the deceased, the removal of particles of hair and scalp from the body of the deceased after exhumation and to link that up with the hair and skin particles found in the undercarriage of the 1974 Monte Carlo. These pictures reflecting this procedure, therefore had a definite function in the State's case in chief. Further, the scenes depicted in these exhibits were highly probative and corroborative of the State's main issue against the defendant, to wit: that the car rented by the defendant, Sam Corey, was the car used to kill the deceased, Patricia Albernoski Giesick."
Even if photographs are unpleasant or repulsive, this does not mean that they are necessarily inadmissible. The test of admissibility is whether the probative value of the photographs outweighs the prejudice which may result from their display to the jury. In this case, the probative value of the photographs outweighed any prejudicial effect that they might have. State v. Cooper, La., 334 So.2d 211 (1976); State v. Smith (On Rehearing), La., 327 So.2d 355 (1976); State v. Beach, La., 320 So.2d 142 (1975).
Assignment of Error No. 12 relates to a photograph of the victim after she had been exhumed, S-27, introduced in connection with Officer Dan Henderson's testimony. He identified the person in the photograph as the same person whose body he had found at the scene of the reported hit-and-run accident on January 16, 1974.
The relevance of this photograph and testimony is obvious: it provided the essential link between the body found at the scene of the crime and the exhumed body from which the hair and scalp particles were removed that ultimately established defendant as the driver of the murder vehicle.
Since the probative value of the photograph thus clearly outweighed any prejudicial effect it might have had, it was properly admissible in evidence. State v. Curry, La., 292 So.2d 212 (1974).
Assignment of Error No. 14 deals with a photograph of the victim taken prior to her death and identified by her mother at the trial. Defendant makes the novel argument that its admission constituted reversible error because it: "served to intensify the extent of the injuries suffered by the victim by providing a contrast."
The introduction of this photograph was proper to establish the identity of the victim, and the photograph, taken prior to the victim's death, was in no way gruesome; hence, it was admissible. State v. Smith, supra. Furthermore, as the trial judge points out in his Per Curiam, there was another very important reason for admitting the photograph into evidence:
"The Court allowed the introduction of S^46 in order to establish the identify of the victim. S-46 was a picture of the victim taken prior to her death and in no manner was gruesome or prejudicial to the defendant. As a matter of fact, the identity of the deceased could have been established by a showing of one of the previously introduced exhibits which depicted a morgue picture and/or the exhibits from the exhumation. However, the witness identifying Patricia Albernoski Giesick was the deceased's mother and this court felt that a showing of any of the previous exhibits would not only be cruel and inhumane, but also would cause the witness to break into hysteria and thereby definitely prejudice the defendant. An identity by means of S^46 from the witness which could then be compared to the other exhibits by the jury would definitely establish an essential element of the State's case, to-wit: the identity, without the possibility of any prejudicial effect to the defendant."
Assignments of Error Nos. 10, 12, and 14 are without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 11
Here, defendant alleges that he was restricted in his cross-examination of Detective Dillman. The assigned error recites that: "the court sustained the state's objection to defense counsel asking the witness, Dillman, a line of questions designed to show the officer's experience as a witness, his knowledge of the rules of evidence relative to hearsay testimony, and the ultimate fact that the officer had deliberately interjected hearsay testimony knowing same to be improper and that the false inference created by the officer's testimony was designed to prejudice the defendant."
The record reveals that defense counsel had already questioned Dillman on the rules of evidence, especially hearsay. The court sustained the State's objection only after the cross-examination became repetitious and argumentative. The trial judge was of the view that cross-examination of the witness was adequate and that defendant was not unduly prejudiced by his ruling. We agree.
Assignment of Error No. 11 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 15
This assignment of error arose as a result of the trial court's overruling defendant's objection to an answer given by a State's witness, David Louis Merrick, II. Merrick, an insurance salesman, had testified that the defendant and Claudius Giesick had questioned him in detail about buying an insurance policy. Merrick was asked what type of questions Giesick and Corey had asked. He first replied, "Well, I guess — I thought that they were lawyers or something." At this point, defendant objected, stating: "Your Honor, I object to this. If the witness remembers what the questions were, I would have no objection, but to let him characterize the questions as a certain type . . ." The Court then stated: "I'll sustain the objection. Just tell us what type of questions they were asking you." The witness responded: "They were legally based questions." Defendant again objected to the answer, but was overruled.
We find no error in the trial court's ruling. It is well settled that a non-expert witness may draw natural inferences from facts personally observed by him. State v. Lewis, La., 288 So.2d 324 (1974). Due to the fact that Giesick and defendant asked the witness a variety of questions about insurance coverage which demonstrated technical knowledge of the law, this witness could infer that these questions were "legally based." For example, Merrick related how defendant and Giesick questioned him about hit-and-run clauses, about accidents on public thoroughfares and about specific conditions under which payment would be received on the policy. It is obvious that the witness had a factual basis upon which to classify the questions.
Assuming, however, that the testimony was improper, the defendant has exhibited no prejudice to himself, and we are able to find none; therefore, if error was committed, the error was harmless. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 921.
Assignment of Error No. 15 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 16
Defendant here assigns error to a question asked by the district attorney during the cross-examination of William Miller, one of defendant's attorneys. The circumstances are reflected in the trial judge's Per Curiam, as follows:
"This assignment of error was taken when the court overruled defendant's objection to a question of Mr. William Miller by the State on its cross-examination, to-wit: 'Mr. Miller, isn't it a fact that at one time the district attorney's office in San Antonio planned to indict you for perjury?'
"In order to understand the court's ruling on this objection, the following should be pointed out. On the morning of April 25, 1975, and prior to the commencing of the trial for that day, Mr. Dymond and Mr. William Miller, co-counsel for the defendant Sam Corey, approached this court in chambers with the request that I allow Mr. Miller, since he was an attorney, to take the witness stand in order to refute certain derogatory remarks made by Claudius Giesick about Mr. Miller during Claudius Giesick's testimony. In essence, Giesick had testified that when William Miller represented him that he had suggested he go to a psychiatrist in order to establish some type of insanity defense. Giesick further testified that Miller had suggested to Giesick that he lead the psychiatrist astray so that the psychiatrist would give a diagnosis favorable to Giesick. It was Mr. Miller's desire that he be allowed to take the stand so that he could refute the statements of Giesick since they implied that Mr. Miller was acting'in an unethical manner. Although it was this court's desire that Mr. Miller not take the witness stand, nor was it this court's opinion that it was necessary, Mr. Miller and Mr. Dymond were adamant. Therefore, the court allowed Mr. Miller to testify. On direct examination Mr. Miller testified that he had at no time suborned perjury by instructing or advising Giesick to go to a psychiatrist and, by stating untruths, build up a defense to a criminal case. (See p. 47 April 25th trans.) By so testifying, it was this court's opinion that Mr. Miller was placing his own character in evidence and that the question of the district attorney with regard to an indictment for perjury was proper. However, it should further be noted that Mr. Miller desired and did answer the question to the fullest.
"It should again be noted that Mr. Miller adamantly insisted upon taking the witness stand over this court's advice that he should not." Vol. I, Tr. pp. 29-30.
The State alleges that the question was permissible under State v. Luekett, La., 327 So.2d 365 (1976) and LSA-R.S. 15:490 which provides:
"The credibility of a witness may be attacked generally, by showing that his general reputation for truth or for moral character is bad, or it may be attacked only in so far as his credibility in the case on trial is concerned."
We disagree. LSA-R.S. 15:495 prohibits cross-examination as to indictments. Since cross-examination as to indictments is prohibited, certainly cross-examination concerning an indictment which was never filed is prohibited. Though the question was impermissible cross-examination, we do not find that it was reversible error for several reasons: reversal cannot be predicated on such error due to the witness's insistence on answering the question; counsel's failure to object to subsequent questioning along the same line; and the lack of showing of prejudice to the defend; ant caused by the question. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 921; State v. Dimopoullas, 260 La. 874, 257 So.2d 644 (1972).
Further, it is well established that the control of the examination of witnesses is in the sound discretion of the trial judge and that his rulings will not be disturbed in the absence of abuse of this discretion. State v. Singleton, La., 321 So.2d 509 (1975). The court did admonish the jury to disregard the question. We find that this was sufficient to cure the defect and that there was no abuse of the discretion vested in the trial court.
Assignment of Error No. 16 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 17
This assignment of error arose as a result of the trial court's overruling defense counsel's objection to a question asked by the State during defendant's cross-examination relating to statements the defendant made to a newspaper reporter. Defense counsel alleges that a proper foundation had not been laid for the question. Defendant was first asked:
"Q. Do you know a gentleman by the name of Pete Franklin, Mr. Corey?
"A. Yes Sir.
"Q. Who is Pete Franklin?
"A. He's a reporter.
"Q. From San Antonio?
"A. Yes, sir.
"Q. Didn't you tell Pete Franklin that you admitted to having been with Giesick at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport many times, but that you had 'absolutely nothing to do with any insurance'? Did you tell him that?
"A. I don't recall.
"Q. You don't recall?
BY MR. DYMOND: Your Honor, I don't think a proper foundation has been laid for any conversations that are purported to .
BY THE COURT: Overruled.
BY MR. DYMOND: Note an objection, please.
"EXAMINATION BY MR. WHALEN:
"Q. Did you say that you were never with him at any time when he purchased insurance for himself or for his bride, nor were you with Giesick when he inquired about insurance? Did you tell Pete Franklin that?
"A. I don't know. I don't know if he even asked me that.
BY MR. DYMOND: Your Honor, this is a series of newspaper articles that would take me fifteen or twenty minutes to read."
After objection was made and overruled, Corey was shown a series of newspaper articles in which he made the statement attributed to him by the reporter, Franklin; Corey again stated he did not recall making such statements. Nothing further was pursued along this line of questioning and the articles (S-52) were not then introduced.
It is clear from the above testimony that the defendant did not admit making the prior statement. Hence, the foundation was sufficient to permit the introduction of the statement itself from the newspaper articles. LSA-R.S. 15:493; State v. McMellon, La., 295 So.2d 782 (1974).
Assignment of Error No. 17 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 19
This assignment of error resulted from the trial court's denial of defendant's motion for a mistrial in which defendant charged that the district attorney had made improper comments upon defendant's testimony. The State contends that if any prejudice was generated by this remark, it did not warrant the granting of a mistrial.
The State was attempting to establish the defendant's movements after committing the murder. The defendant's memory became faulty when he was asked where he was when he found out that the victim was dead. He could not recall. The assistant district attorney replied: "Somehow I didn't expect you would."
This statement does not fall under Article 770 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure dealing with a mandatory mistrial, since it is not based on any of the grounds for mistrial enumerated in that article. See, State v. Batiste, La., 318 So.2d 27 (1975).
Article 771 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure might be applicable in this situation, this article states that if an improper comment is made by representative of the State, the trial court shall promptly admonish the jury to disregard such comment. A mistrial need not be granted if the trial court believes that any prejudice was cured by the admonition. In any event, it is incumbent on the party moving for the mistrial to request the admonition. State v. Richardson, 258 La. 62, 245 So.2d 357 (1971). In this case, the trial court admonished the jury sua sponte.
Assignment of Error No. 19 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 21
Defendant assigns as error the trial court's permitting a state's witness, Joe Schumacher, to testify on rebuttal over defense objection. This witness was the manager of the motel where Claudius and Patricia Giesick stayed in New Orleans. On April 24, 1975, he had testified that he had received a call from Methodist Hospital through one of his clerks notifying him of the death of Patricia.- He identified Corey as the man with Giesick on January 16, 1974, when the call was received. The testimony to which the defendant objected was taken on April 26, 1975, two days after this witness's initial testimony. The questions asked by the district attorney merely re-established Schumacher's occupation and the circumstances under which he came in contact with the defendant.
In the two-day period between Schumacher's initial testimony and this incident, many other witnesses had given extensive testimony. The State, therefore, undertook to refresh the minds of the jurors as to Schumacher's identity. Further, this testimony was proper rebuttal because the defendant had in the meantime stated that he wasn't really sure where he was when he was informed that Patricia Alber-noski Giesick was dead. In effect, he had contradicted Schumacher's prior testimony and made a factual statement. Hence, the testimony was proper rebuttal. State v. Washington, La., 272 So.2d 355 (1973); State v. Diggs, 261 La. 76, 259 So.2d 18 (1972).
Assignment of Error No. 21 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 22
Defendant assigns as error the trial court's denying defendant's Requested Special Charges Nos. 1, 4, and 13.
Special Charge No. 1 dealt with accomplices and was essentially covered in defendant's charges Nos. 2 and 3 which were granted.
Special Charge No. 4 was directed at the testimony of police officers: that such testimony was not to be given any greater weight than that of any other witnesses. In instructing the jury regarding how to deal with evidence adduced from experts and non-experts, the Court covered the subject matter of the requested special charge; therefore, its denial was not error.
Special Charge No. 13 dealt with reasonable doubt which was covered in the general charge; hence the denial of the special charge was not error.
Defendant also complains that he was not given adequate time in which to examine the' trial court's intended jury charge. Specifically, defendant urges this Court to require the trial court to give the defendant "sufficient time" prior to the giving of the instructions in which to peruse the charges and make specific objections. The trial court followed the provisions of Article 801 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. The same contention has previously been rejected in State v. Tarrance, 252 La. 396, 211 So.2d 304, cert. denied 393 U.S. 1038, 89 S.Ct. 662, 21 L.Ed.2d 586 (1968).
Assignment of Error No. 22 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 23
Defendant alleges that the trial court erred when it denied defendant's motion for a new trial in which defendant alleged that the State utilized a procedure designed to secure jurors who were prone to convict as demonstrated by their record of performance in the course of their duty as members of the petit jury venire from which the trial jury in this case was selected.
A challenge to the general venire or petit jury venire is properly raised by a Motion to Quash. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 532; State v. Speed, La., 335 So.2d 28 (1976).
In the present case, the defense neither used the proper procedural vehicle for raising its objection nor offered specific evidence of improprieties in the jury selection procedure.
Assignment of Error No. 23 is without merit.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 24
Defendant here assigns error to the trial court's refusal to grant a new trial, contending, in effect, that the evidence it presented at the hearing on the Motion for New Trial showed that Mrs. Kathy Giesick, a witness for the State, committed perjury in testifying that she had not been granted immunity for her testimony against Sam Corey.
Since the assignment arises in the context of a Motion for New Trial based on newly discovered evidence, it is governed by the general rule that the trial judge's ruling should not be disturbed in the absence of a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Barton, 181 La. 262, 159 So. 383 (1935). An examination of the record reveals no such abuse of discretion.
Appellant concedes in brief that his evidence was entirely circumstantial. The parties who could give direct evidence on the existence of a "deal" — the prosecuting attorney, and Mrs. Giesick — emphatically and unconditionally denied any such arrangement.
In rebuttal of this clear and convincing evidence, appellant presented the testimony of one Thomas Phillips, who claimed he had overheard Claudius Giesick say "They lied" on learning of his wife's arrest.
When Giesick was called to explain what he meant, he stated that he was referring to his attorney when he said "they." If anything is clear from Giesick's testimony it is that his anger was due entirely to the representations of his attorney and not to anything the District Attorney or any officer of the District Attorney's staff said or did.
Assignment of Error No. 24 is without merit.
On July 2, 1976, the United States Supreme Court invalidated the mandatory death penalty provision of our first degree murder statute, LSA-R.S. 14:30, as viola-tive of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, Roberts v. State of Louisiana,U.S. -, 96 S.Ct. 3001, 49 L.Ed.2d 974 (1976). Complying with this decision, this Court has concluded:
" . . . that the appropriate sentence to be imposed upon a valid conviction for first degree murder is the most severe penalty established by the legislature for criminal homicide at the time of the offense, La.R.S. 14:29 et seq., which we may presume to constitutional in the wake of Roberts v. Louisiana, supra. This penalty is imprisonment at hard labor for life without eligibility for parole, probation or suspension of sentence for a period of twenty years. See La.R.S. 14:30.1, as added by Acts 1973, No. 111, § 1."
State v. Jenkins, La., 340 So.2d 157 (1976); State v. Davenport, La., 340 So.2d 251 (1976). See also State v. Sledge, La., 340 So.2d 205 (1976); State v. Morris, La., 340 So.2d 195 (1976); State v. Lee, La., 340 So.2d 180 (1976); State v. Craig, La., 340 So.2d 191 (1976).
Since the United States Supreme Court struck down our provisions relative to capital punishment, the defendant must be resentenced. Roberts v. State of Louisiana, supra. The appropriate sentence to be imposed on a defendant properly convicted of first degree murder is the most severe penalty set forth for criminal homicide at the time of the offense. Therefore, the defendant must be resentenced to imprisonment at hard labor for life without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for a period of twenty years.
For the reasons assigned, the conviction is affirmed, but the death sentence imposed is annulled and set aside, and the case is remanded to the district court, with instructions to the trial judge to sentence the defendant to imprisonment at hard labor for life without eligibility for parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for a period of twenty years.
DIXON, J., dissents with reasons.
CALOGERO, J., concurs.
. The author of this opinion dissented from the sentence reduction in these judgments. See his dissent in State v. Davenport, La., 340 So.2d 251 (1976).