Opinion ID: 1718692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: The Improper Use of Victim Impact Testimony at the Penalty Phase of Defendant's Trial Interjected an Arbitrary Factor Into the Jury's Deliberations.

Text: In this assignment of error, defendant claims that his death sentence is excessive, arbitrary, and capricious in violation of his federal and state constitutional rights. In the present case, the state filed pretrial notice of its intent to introduce victim-impact evidence pursuant to State v. Bernard, 608 So.2d 966 (La.1992). Shortly thereafter, the state amended its notice to name witnesses, Ann Brinson Joslin, daughter of the victim; and Jerry Smith, co-worker of the victim. Attached to that notice, Joslin prepared a two-page summary of her sentiments on the loss of her mother. Here, appellate counsel complains that the testimony of Jerry Smith exceeded the bounds of admissible victim-impact testimony. As an initial matter, defense counsel failed to object to any portion of Jerry Smith's testimony. Thus, technically, the issue was not properly preserved for appellate review. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 841; State v. Wessinger, 98-1234, p. 20 (La.5/28/99), 736 So.2d 162, 181 (scope of review in capital cases is limited to alleged errors that are contemporaneously objected to; revived the contemporaneous objection rule for the penalty phase as well as guilt phase of a capital trial). In any event, a review of Smith's testimony reveals no improper victim-impact testimony. In Bernard, this Court held that the state may introduce a limited amount of general evidence providing identity to the victim and a limited amount of general evidence demonstrating harm to the victim's survivors. Bernard, 608 So.2d at 972. In providing guidance for the proper introduction of victim impact evidence, the Court instructed that the state may present evidence reasonably showing that the defendant knew or should have known that the victim, like himself, was a unique person and that the victim had or probably had survivors.... Id. In addition, LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 905.2 provides that [t]he sentencing hearing shall focus on the circumstances of the offense, the character and propensities of the offender, and the victim, and the impact that the crime has had on the victim, family members, friends, and associates. The testimony of Jerry Smith, including cross-examination, spanned approximately four pages of the penalty phase transcript. Smith testified that he had worked with the victim, Nita Brinson, for about 10 years in the start-up phases of a museum dedicated to veterans at Selman Field. He described their special relationship in that she was responsible for raising funds and he focused on the repair and renovation of the building. [I]t was her dream to build this museum at the airport.... So she got about trying to save the building [where] we are housing memorabilia from Selman Field, from General Chenault and the Flying Tigers and also Delta Airlines.... I was quite impressed with her, I believed in the vision and that's what we were about. Smith went on to recall that after the horrifying news of Nita's death, the $10,000 needed to finish the museum project came forth in the form of memorials to her from all over the United States, enabling the slated opening of November 11, 2000 to be maintained. Smith noted that: Nita had a deep love for the veterans. She said our school kids don't know anything about what happened back then. And it was her dream that we could bring the kids in.... You know, America almost lost our freedom when World War II started. People don't realize that. When we bring school kids through [the museum], they don't really know what happened, the rationing, the sacrifices that people at home had to make. And the thousands of men who died and women. And it was her desire and mine too and everybody else in this group to carry on this history and to tell our people how grateful we should be to all of our veterans. At the heart of appellate counsel's complaint in this part is the state's juxtaposition of the worth of the life of the victim, a lover of veterans, a patriot, a pillar of the community, versus the life of defendant a career criminal. Indeed, the state opened its penalty phase case-in-chief with the testimony of the Deputy Clerk of Court for Ouachita Parish who detailed defendant's criminal record for the jury. The next witness the state called was Jerry Smith, whose brief remarks are the subject of this portion of assignment of error, and finally, the state closed its case-in-chief with the testimony from the victim's daughter. The juxtaposition argument was the inevitable offshoot after the legislature amended LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 905.2 to provide that a capital sentencing hearing shall focus the character and propensities not only of the defendant but also of the victim. See 1999 La. Acts, No. 783, § 3, effective January 1, 2000. Consequently, the focus of the last 10-year period of the 85-year-old victim's life was centered not on raising a family or managing a thriving real estate career, both of which Nita Brinson had accomplished years earlier. Rather, the focus of her last decade of life was dedicated to starting a museum to educate the children of Ouachita Parish about the patriotism and heroism of its veterans, and to open their young eyes to the costs of war. That focus was what made this victim a unique person that Smith sought to portray in his victim-impact testimony. Nothing in the testimony of Jerry Smith exceeded the permissible scope of LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 905.2 or Bernard, nor did it interject an arbitrary factor into the jury's sentencing determination. No relief is due here.