Title: State v. Holsinger
Citation: 115 Ariz. 89, 563 P.2d 888
Docket Number: 3402
State: Arizona
Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court
Date: April 14, 1977

115 Ariz. 89 (1977) 563 P.2d 888 The STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Wilmar Goodwin HOLSINGER, Appellant. No. 3402. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. April 14, 1977. *91 Bruce E. Babbitt, Atty. Gen. by William J. Schafer, III, and Thomas G. Bakker, Asst. Attys. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Flynn, Kimerer, Thinnes &amp; Derrick by Thomas A. Thinnes and Thomas V. Rawles, Phoenix, for appellant. CAMERON, Chief Justice. This is an appeal from a jury verdict and judgment of guilt to the crimes of first degree murder, A.R.S. §§ 13-451, -452, -453, with a sentence of death, A.R.S. § 13-453(A); conspiracy, first degree, A.R.S. §§ 13-331(A), with a sentence of 14 to 15 years; burglary, first degree, A.R.S. § 13-301, with a sentence of 14 to 15 years; and conspiracy, second degree, A.R.S. § 13-331(B), with a sentence of 3 to 4 years. We must answer five questions on appeal: The facts necessary for a determination of this matter on appeal are as follows. Dr. Harry Schornick, a semi-retired physician, and Golda Horton, defendant Wilmar Goodwin Holsinger's mother-in-law, held a certificate of deposit in the amount of $24,700 in joint tenancy with the right of survivorship. It is the State's theory of the case that this certificate of deposit provided the grounds for a motive in that if Dr. Schornick should die, Golda Horton would then have the money free and clear and conceivably it would then become available to defendant and his wife, Golda Horton's daughter. In the spring of 1975, the defendant and his wife contacted Gary Cagnina concerning the murder of Dr. Schornick. Cagnina in turn solicited a variety of people including Tim Anderson who, when told of the plans, refused to go along, and William St. Myers who later accompanied Cagnina one evening in an unsuccessful attempt to break into Dr. Schornick's house. Finally, Wade Arnold agreed to accompany Cagnina to the house of Dr. Schornick. Cagnina had a gun provided by the defendant. After spending several hours trying to enter the house, Cagnina and Arnold finally gained entry in the early morning hours of 1 June 1975. Mrs. Theresa Bortz, Dr. Schornick's housekeeper, was shot and killed and Dr. Schornick was wounded. Early the same morning, Cagnina and Arnold contacted the defendant who paid Cagnina $750 to leave town. Later Cagnina was given defendant's car and some more money. It was defendant's position that this was money for the purchase of drugs for himself and his wife. Cagnina testified that this was payment for the killing. Cagnina, Anderson, St. Myers, and a Sue Simmons were granted immunity and testified against Holsinger at the trial. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and the trial court, after a hearing in compliance with A.R.S. § 13-454, by special verdict, found the existence of three of the aggravating circumstances outlined in A.R.S. § 13-454(E) and none of the mitigating circumstances as outlined in A.R.S. § 13-454(F), *92 and sentenced the defendant to death. From the verdicts and judgments of guilt and the sentence of death defendant appeals. ANDERSON'S FALSE TESTIMONY At the time of the preliminary hearing, Tim Anderson was represented by counsel. His attorney obtained immunity for him in exchange for his testimony, as well as an agreement with the County Attorney that he would receive probation for an unrelated charge of possession of heroin. At the trial, Mr. Anderson testified for and on behalf of the State and on cross-examination the following transpired: Although the attorney who represented the State at the preliminary hearing was assisting the State at the time, the Deputy County Attorney trying the case asked the following questions: Since the witness Anderson had been given immunity pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-1804, and since a plea agreement had been entered into whereby the witness Anderson was to be given probation on a heroin charge in return for his testimony, the answers on cross-examination and the questions and answers on redirect were misleading. It is the contention of the defendant that the actions of the County Attorney in standing by and letting a false impression go to the jury constituted misconduct on the part of the County Attorney and was prejudicial. To test the motives of a witness for testifying by asking questions concerning any benefit he is to receive in return for his testimony is proper on cross-examination. For the State to knowingly conceal this information from the defendant or the trier of fact would be error. We are not pleased with the actions of the State in allowing this false impression to remain with the jury. Any prejudice that might have occurred, however, was certainly corrected during the defendant's case when Anderson's attorney was called and questioned as follows by defendant's attorney: when the answer was known to be false by the prosecutor, the United States Supreme Court stated: Our case differs from Napue and Giglio, supra, in that the jury knew that there had been an agreement between Anderson and the State in return for Anderson's testimony. The jury was then in a position to judge Anderson's credibility in the light of this information. We find no prejudice to the defendant. COMMENT ON DEFENDANT'S POST-ARREST SILENCE After the arrest and after the defendant had been informed of his rights, he was asked "Will you voluntarily answer my questions?" Defendant replied "Certainly. I don't have anything to hide." Defendant was shown a photograph of Wade Arnold and Cagnina and denied knowing them. The defendant also denied that he had given his automobile to Cagnina. The defendant was asked on cross-examination: No objection was made to this line of questioning. During closing argument by the State, the following comment was made: It is defendant's position that these questions violated defendant's right to remain silent, contrary to State and federal cases. State v. Anderson, 110 Ariz. 238, 517 P.2d 508 (1973); State v. Rhodes, 110 Ariz. 237, 517 P.2d 507 (1973). We agree with the statement of the Tenth Circuit: We do not agree, however, that the instant matter is controlled by these cases. Had the defendant, after being given his Miranda warnings, indicated that he didn't wish to talk, it would have been error to comment on that, and if, at anytime during the conversation had the defendant decided to stop talking and so informed the officers, it would have been improper to comment upon his decision not to, at that point, answer further. Here, however, the defendant had voluntarily made express falsehoods to the police. The County Attorney properly brought this information to the jury and by questioning and argument commented on the fact that the defendant told one story to the police officers and another on the witness stand. As to the closing argument we have stated: *95 The prosecution merely suggested that he could have told the truth rather than lying. Holsinger having lied, than later admitting he lied, the prosecutor could properly ask why he didn't tell the truth in the first place. We find no error. FAILURE TO RULE AT THE CLOSE OF THE STATE'S CASE At the end of the State's case, the defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal. Rule 20 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure (1973) reads as follows: The court did not rule promptly, but, in effect, reserved the motion until the conclusion of the case. This action by the court was contrary to Rule 20(a), Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure (1973). For the purpose of this appeal, we will consider the motion as having been denied and look to see if there was error in not having granted the motion when made by the defendant at the end of the State's case. Defendant contends that the only evidence connecting him with the crime came from testimony of accomplices. The statute in effect at the time, A.R.S. § 13-136, read: In the instant case, the testimony of the accomplices, Cagnina and St. Myers, tied defendant to the crime and other testimony showed only that a crime had been committed. If this were all the testimony, we would have to agree with the defendant. We believe that there was sufficient corroborating testimony to satisfy the statute. Corroborating evidence is sufficient if it tends to implicate the defendant to only a slight degree. State v. Beard, 107 Ariz. 388, 489 P.2d 25 (1971). It need not directly connect the defendant with the crime, it need only tend to do so. State v. Canada, 107 Ariz. 66, 481 P.2d 859, cert. denied 404 U.S. 848, 92 S. Ct. 154, 30 L. Ed. 2d 87 (1971). The facts in each case must control. State v. Crawford, 106 Ariz. 322, 475 P.2d 936 (1970). Tim Anderson testified that he and Cagnina went to defendant's residence and that after talking about chemistry: And: Tim Anderson was not an accomplice. He had been asked to participate and he had refused to do so. Tim Anderson provided the corroborating evidence needed to allow the matter to go to the jury. We find no error. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT Defendant contends that the trial court was prejudiced by several instances of prosecutorial misconduct which so affected the jury and the trial process that a fair trial was impossible. Defendant first complains of the prosecutor's attack of his own witness in closing argument: And: Cagnina was the State's main witness; Cagnina was neither the best of witnesses nor the most appealing. In a criminal trial, both the State and the defendant are frequently faced with the necessity of using key witnesses whose character and credibility leave much to be desired. Because a witness is called by a party means only that the witness has certain testimony that the calling party believes to be true and will aid the trier of fact in reaching a decision. The person calling the witness does not vouch as to the witness's good moral character or even that all of his testimony, particularly on cross-examination, will be true. Under the circumstances, we believe that the remarks of the prosecutor were fair comment upon Cagnina's testimony. Defendant next contends the State erred in not informing the defendant that Sue Simmons, a State's witness, was granted immunity in return for her testimony. Defendant contends that this is Brady material and we agree that the fact that a State's witness has been given immunity is information useful to the defendant in cross-examining that witness. We do not, however, have to consider that contention as the County Attorney's file, which was made available to the defendant prior to trial, contained a letter stating that the police would bring no charges against Miss Simmons. There was no attempt to hide this information from the defendant and the fact of the grant of immunity was available to the defendant with only slight diligence. We find no error. *97 Our decision in the instant matter can be distinguished from the companion case of Jeannie Louise Holsinger filed this day in which we reversed and remanded for new trial based upon the failure of the prosecutor to inform the defendant of the grant of immunity to Sue Simmons in Jeannie Louise Holsinger's separate trial. In Jeannie Louise Holsinger's trial, Sue Simmons' testimony was vital. In this case, Sue Simmons' testimony was not vital. There is, as defendant admits, a "logical inconsistency" in the brief in that here the defendant must show that Sue Simmons' testimony was material and previously in the brief, when considering the failure to rule on defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal, the defendant characterized Sue Simmons' testimony as "totally innocent in nature." We agree that the testimony (covering only 10 pages of the transcript) was not material as to the defendant Wilmar Holsinger. Denial of a Brady right is not prejudicial unless material: Defendant further questions the tactics of the prosecution in suggesting that Anderson's probation on the heroin charge was routine and not something out of the ordinary. On cross-examination of Anderson's attorney by the State, the prosecutor asked the following questions: We would hope that 33 balloons of heroin does not normally result in probation. We feel, however, that the matter has been correctly and completely presented to the jury. We find no prejudice. IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY The Arizona death penalty statute has been previously upheld by this court. State v. Jordan, 114 Ariz. 452, 561 P.2d 1224, filed December 30, 1976; State v. Knapp, 114 Ariz. 531, 562 P.2d 704, filed March 9, 1977; State v. Richmond, 114 Ariz. 186, 560 P.2d 41 (1976); State v. Blazak, 114 Ariz. 199, 560 P.2d 54 (1977). Our statute requires that after a verdict of murder in the first degree, the trial court must hold a "separate sentencing hearing" to determine whether to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment, and the trial court is required to return a special verdict with findings pursuant to statute. The trial court is given specific guidance in what he must find in the way of aggravating and mitigating circumstances and less in the way of judicial discretion. The statute complies with the requirements of the United State Supreme Court in Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 96 S. Ct. 2909, 49 L. Ed. 2d 859 (1976); Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 96 S. Ct. 2960, 49 L. Ed. 2d 913 (1976). Section D of A.R.S. § 13-454 reads as follows: The trial judge found the following aggravating circumstances pursuant to subsection E of A.R.S. § 13-454: The record supports the trial court's finding of these three aggravating factors. The mitigating circumstances contained in subsection F read as follows: The trial court found none of these mitigating circumstances and upon review of the record we find none. The defendant contends, however, because the codefendant, Jeannie Louise Holsinger, the wife of the defendant, received life while the defendant received death for the same crime, that he is being denied equal protection of the law. We do not agree. The appeal of the wife is before this court and our decision in that case has been handed down this day. We have taken judicial notice of the wife's file and we have considered the entire record in that file in deciding defendant's question on appeal. It is true that the wife was convicted of first degree murder of the same person as the defendant. However, the trial court found in the wife's case a mitigating circumstance not found in the defendant's case. The minute entry in the case of Jeannie Louise Holsinger reads as follows: It is noted that the same judge tried and sentenced both defendants. We have reviewed the record in both cases and we believe there are sufficient differences between the facts in defendant's case and that of his wife to justify the imposition of a sentence of death for the defendant and life for the wife. Judgment and sentence affirmed. STRUCKMEYER, V.C.J., and HAYS, HOLOHAN and GORDON, JJ., concurring.