Opinion ID: 702108
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Videotaped Re-Enactment of the Crime

Text: 13 Irons was arrested on Friday. On Monday, Irons agreed to accompany an officer to the scene and to re-enact the crime on videotape. On the tape, Irons describes and demonstrates how he shot the victim and disposed of the gun and body. He was arraigned the next day. The California Court of Appeal found that the government unnecessarily delayed Irons' arraignment in violation of the California statute, but determined Irons was not prejudiced by the delay. 14 To the extent that Irons contends that the delay between his arrest and his arraignment violated the California statute and the federal statute, these claims are not cognizable on habeas. See Ahlswede v. Wolff, 720 F.2d 1108, 1110 (9th Cir. 1983) (per curiam) (claim not cognizable on habeas because state law controls application of state statute on arraignment and federal rule does not apply to state trials), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 873 (1984); Hernandez v. Schneckloth, 425 F.2d 89, 91 (9th Cir. 1970) (per curiam) (although state court found unnecessary delay before arraignment, absent a showing of prejudice, an illegal detention is not grounds for habeas relief). 15 To the extent that Irons contends that the police intentionally delayed his arraignment in order to elicit incriminating statements, he has alleged a due process claim that is cognizable on habeas. See Norman v. Ducharme, 871 F.2d 1483, 1487-88 (9th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1031, 1061 (1990). We agree with the district court's conclusion that the admission of the videotape was not prejudicial because Irons had described in chilling detail in his tape recorded confession how he shot and stabbed the victim and then disposed of the evidence, and physical evidence tied Irons to the murder. See id.; cf. Hernandez, 425 F.2d at 91 (petitioner failed to show the delayed arraignment deprived him of a fair trial when the police had not taken a statement). 16 AFFIRMED.