Opinion ID: 1706805
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: findings of fact from the trial

Text: The court makes the following findings of fact from the evidentiary portions of the trial proceedings. STATE'S CASE: The thrust of the state's case against defendant Bankhead was bottomed on Bankhead's inculpatory statement, the testimony of Jimmy Davenport and defendant's ex-wife, Blanche Bankhead. BANKHEAD'S STATEMENT: The court admitted into evidence, over objections, defendant's July 15, 1986 inculpatory statement. The statement as a whole may be summarized thusly. Defendant states that he knowingly accompanied his companions to the deceased's home for the avowed purpose of burglarizing the home. Defendant goes [on] to state that he personally removed certain items from the deceased's home, that he observed co-defendant Brown subdue the deceased outside the trailer home, that he (Bankhead) assisted in pulling the deceased back into the trailer, that he observed Brown repeatedly stab the deceased, [and] that he continued to transport items out of the trailer after the deceased had been stabbed. Quoting from defendant's statement at pages 5 through 8: A: And uh, I don't remember who it was, one of them pointed at the t.v. so I just grabbed the wires and snatched on them, and I picked up the t.v. and started out the door and James was over getting a microwave thing and this man walked out of the bedroom door and when he did Gary jumped on him, and uh we went out the door and started loading up and when we come back in, that guy tried to get out the door or something. Gary pulled him back in and then uh they told me to get some beer or something out of the refrigerator and uh he got a stereo or something, James got another stereo and was carrying that out and I got a t.v., I didn't get no ... the beer. I got another t.v. set and was carrying that out and we loaded it up in the car and then in a few minutes Gary come out and we got in the car and we left. Q: Okay, now when y'all went in and started getting these items and Mr. McGraw came out, you said Gary jumped him ... how did this take place? A: Just shoved him down. Q: Was this inside the trailer or outside? A: It was right at the door. Q: Did he fall inside the trailer or outside? A: He fell towards the outside of the trailer. Q: All right, did he fall on out on the ground out there? A: Yes, right past the steps. That's when Gary grabbed him by the legs like that and pulled him back in. Q: All right, so when Gary first jumped Mr. McGraw you said he fell outside the trailer down on the ground there next to the steps, is that right? Q: And what did Gary do at that time? A: Uh, he just had a hold to him, you know. Q: Where was he holding him at? A: Well at first he had him around the waist and then he had him around the neck area right around in here and then uh who was it, I had a t.v. in my hands, uh the next thing I remember was Gary grabbing me [him?] by the legs like this and pulling him up back into the trailer. Q: How was Mr. McGraw killed? A: With a knife. Q: Whose knife was it? A: It was a pocket knife of mine. Q: All right, how did Gary get your pocket knife? A: Fishing that day. Q: Where is that knife now? A: I don't know. I don't have any idea, things ... when I seen all that stuff go crazy like that, uh I don't know what happened to the knife. Q: Okay, so Gary had your knife and what happened with the knife and Mr. McGraw? A: What happened with it? Q: Yeah, when did the cutting start? A: When he pulled him back inside the trailer. Q: Inside the trailer or outside? A: I don't remember him doing any outside, I remember it inside. Q: Okay, what did he do when he got back inside the trailer? A: Oh, just crazy. Q: Your indication he's stabbing him. A: Yeah. Q: How was Mr. McGraw laying? A: Face down. Q: Where at in the trailer? A: Right there in the living room. Q: Can you tell me what part of the living room? A: He was facing the door right as he drug him in. Q: Okay, so he was laying face down in the living room his head facing the door, close to the door then and was Gary standing up or kneeling down or what? A: Sitting over the back of him. Q: He was straddling him? A: Yes, sir. Q: Okay, where was he striking him at with the knife? A: In the back. Q: Do you recall how many times he struck him? A: God no, I didn't want to watch all that crap. I was trying to get [the] hell out of there then. I didn't know he was gonna do anything crazy like that. Hell no, I didn't... when that started happening I wanted out of there completely. Q: All right, so Gary got straddle his back and was striking him in the back with the knife. Did you notice any other cutting going on? A: There was so much blood and stuff all over him and all over Gary too that ... it just ... I'm telling you, if you've ever seen anything ... I've never seen nothing like that before and it just ... it makes you go ... I just ... even to this two months later here, I still have nightmares about it and stuff but as far as where all the hands and stuff were going ... I don't.... Q: Did you see him cut his throat? A: No, I don't remember seeing him cut his throat. I remember the stabbing and just slinging and I don't.... Q: You see him slinging the knife or what ... hacking at him or what...? A: I remember his arms (inaudible) some but I remember him stabbing too and.... Q: The main thing you remember is him sitting on his back stabbing. A: Yeah, God. Q: All right, did anyone else have a knife in there? A: No, not that I know of. Q: Was there any other knives involved in the murder? A: Not that I know of. I didn't see any other knives. Q: Okay, was there any other thing used, was Mr. McGraw hit with anything that you know of? A: Not that I know of. Q: What about a cast iron skillet? Do you recall a cast iron skillet being used? A: Uhn-uhn (no). Q: Maybe a kitchen knife too. A: Uhn-uhn (no). Q: The only thing you remember is Gary sitting on his back stabbing him with the pocket knife he had got from you from fishing that day? A: Yeah. At page 9, defendant states: Q: All right, when Mr. McGraw was down on the ground outside, did you see anybody cut him out there? A: Uhn-uhn. Q: Did you see any blows passed? A: Blows passed. No, not .... you know, they wrestled around a minute when I was trying to get that thing in the car. Q: Okay, did you and James help Gary get Mr. McGraw back inside, drag him back inside? A: Yes, Gary asked us to help pull him back inside the door, which we did and James and I was carrying stuff out to the car. Q: Okay, was Mr. McGraw conscious or unconscious at that time when y'all drug him back in that trailer? A: He was conscious. Q: Was he saying anything? A: Uh, no he was ... yeah, he was ... God I don't remember. I honestly don't remember if he was saying anything but I know he was conscious cause he was uh tussling around. Q: Okay, you don't recall what he was saying? A: No, golly no. Q: How long.... A: I told them, that's when we need to get [the] hell out of there. Defendant goes on to state that he and his companions, Brown, Bynum and Davenport stashed some of their loot at a friend's house and then went to defendant's home where they burned their bloody clothing and boiled the defendant's knife (the murder weapon). Defendant further stated that he sold some of the stolen items and decided to flee the Jefferson County areathat he went to Mobile, traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; and Panama City, Florida, before being captured at the bus station in Mobile. Davenport: Jimmy Davenport, the driver, testified that he drove the defendant and two other companions, Brown (convicted and sentenced to death for his role in these events) and Bynum (convicted of felony murder arising out of these facts and sentenced to life) over to the victim's mobile home; that en route there were discussions about killing a queer, that defendant Bankhead inquired of Bynum if he could hit hard, that he wanted Bynum to take the old guy out with one punch and that if he couldn't then he (Bankhead) could. Davenport testified that after arriving at the trailer he stayed in the car but could see what happened outside the trailerthat he saw Bankhead grab the old man and throw him to the ground and that Brown and Bynum began to punch the man. That then Bankhead, Bynum and Brown picked up the prostrate body of the victim and carried him into the trailer. That he next observed defendant, Bankhead, coming out of the trailer with some object that he put in the car, that Bankhead had blood all over his arms, hands and face, that Bankhead stated shut up or you'll get the same as the old man; Davenport describes the defendant's companions as carrying items out of the trailer and also as being smeared with blood. That ultimately when the car was so loaded with the victim's property that Brown had to ride in the trunk, that they proceeded to defendant Bankhead's home where the goods were divided, clothes burned and the murder weapon boiled in water. Davenport leaves with Bynum by car and only talks with Bankhead one time subsequent to the murder relative to Brown being picked up by the police. Blanche Bankhead: Divorced from defendant Bankhead subsequent to the murder, testified that she was putting her children to bed when she saw the blood smeared defendants enter her home, defendant Bankhead carrying a t.v. in his arms, that the defendant says `get out of here, don't ask me nothing, just get out of the room' that she retired to her bedroom but sees the men bring in stereo equipment, a VCR, a microwave, etc. Mrs. Bankhead described her husband talking to Brown and asking are you sure he's dead, we've got to make sure he was dead. That Bynum stated when Archie (Bankhead) handed me that knife, he told me to cutyou have to cut his throat. Further, that defendant, Bankhead, stated to Bynum you weren't doing it rightI had to take the knife and slice his jugular vein. The witness described how the defendants divided the money and appliances and how they ultimately separated. Mrs. Bankhead described how her husband left town a few days later, described making a statement to law enforcement officers re what she had witnessed and heard the night of the murder. Mrs. Bankhead did not see her husband again until he appeared in court. DEFENDANT'S CASE: Deputy Hatter testified that previous to the night of the murder the deceased had requested a neighbor to call the Sheriff's office for help, the deceased complained that someone had tried to kill him. Upon arriving at the McGraw residence, Deputy Hatter and her partner were advised by Mr. McGraw that everything was under control, that the offending party had left. Additional evidence re previous burglaries at the McGraw residence were admitted into evidence by way of stipulation. Robert Honeycutt testified that he had previously observed co-defendant Gary Brown at the McGraw trailer; that Brown appeared to be living at McGraw's trailer at one time. Mrs. Yarbrough testified that she introduced Brown to Bankhead in connection with some roofing work. Defendant Bankhead testified generally about his background, the events of the day leading up to the fateful ride to Mr. McGraw's trailer. Defendant states that he did not stab or hit the deceased and denies that he was blood-spattered and denies burning his clothes. Defendant admitted fleeing from the Birmingham area and described the different geographical areas where he lived until being captured at the bus station in Mobile. On cross-examination, defendant Bankhead states that he had previously been an instructor in four different karate schools, that he had traveled extensively, that on the night of the murder he and his companions were drunk and generally denied again being directly involved in the killing of the deceased. Upon conviction for the capital offense, the case proceeded to the punishment phase before the jury wherein Dr. Robert Brissie was recalled for testimony relative to the wounds received by the deceased. No other testimony was adduced before the punishment phase jury. At the final sentencing phase, a GED teacher in the county jail testified, stating that the defendant scored well on the GED exam, that defendant was cooperative and helpful in the work with other inmates. Mrs. Yarbrough testified that the defendant was a good father, that he kept his children in church and that at one time the defendant was a good member of society. Defendant Bankhead stated at the final sentencing that he was unhappy with his lawyers in that he felt that they had not spent enough time with him or handled his trial appropriately. In conclusion, at the punishment phase of the trial before the jury and at the final sentencing hearing, the State was allowed to show aggravating circumstances and the defendant to show mitigating circumstances. Relative to aggravating circumstances the court finds that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt: § 13A-5-49(A) The capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged ... in the commission of a robbery. The court finds this aggravating circumstance to exist. § 13A-5-49(8) The capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel compared to other capital offenses. In addition to the factual findings above, the undersigned notes that the deceased was 59 years of age at his death, lived alone, was unarmed and unsuspecting of his assailants' foul purposes. Dr. Robert Brissie, coroner/medical examiner, testified that the deceased received 16 incised wounds to the neck, 59 stab wounds in the back deep enough to allow probing, the deepest of which approximated 2.0 inches, three stab wounds to the face and an incised wound to the scalp ... as well as extensive areas of abrasion and contusion consistent with the attack outside the mobile home. The most extensive injuries observed by Dr. Brissie were to the neck, the carotid artery and jugular vein being severed. Dr. Brissie opined that the deceased was, in all probability, alive throughout the course of the homicidal actsall wounds depicted were ante mortem or prior to decedent's death. The undersigned concludes that, based on evidence and the applicable case law, this capital offense is in fact especially heinous, atrocious and cruel compared to other capital cases. The court finds no other aggravating circumstances to exist. Mitigating Circumstances At the punishment phase before the jury, the jury was afforded the opportunity to independently assess the existence of each statutory mitigating circumstance referenced at § 13A-5-51(2) through (7), plus the opportunity to find mitigation by way of § 13A-5-52. At the final sentencing hearing before the undersigned, a presentence report was submitted by probation services and admitted into evidence. The court makes the following findings relative to mitigation: § 13A-5-51. Mitigating circumstances Generally. (1) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity; Does not apply. Defendant admitted on the stand to six (6) prior felony convictions, the probation report in record of arrests also depicts numerous other incidents of illegal conduct. (2) The capital offense was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance; Does not apply. There is absolutely no evidence supportive of this circumstance. Defendant has never been treated for mental or emotional disturbances. The court is not unmindful that at final sentencing defendant stated that he was under emotional duress at the time of the murderout of work, alcoholic wife in trouble with the law, four kids at home, no electricity. (3) The victim was a participant in the defendant's conduct or consented to it; Does not apply. (4) The defendant was an accomplice in the capital offense committed by another person and his participation was relatively minor; Does not apply. Defendant Bankhead was the oldest of the three defendants, Bankhead's home was utilized after the murder for the division of spoils, burning of clothes and general covering of tracks; according to state witnesses Davenport and Blanche Bankhead, defendant Bankhead played a major role in the killing and the events subsequent to the killing, culminating in Bankhead's flight. (5) The defendant acted under duress or under the substantial domination of another person; Does not apply. No persuasive evidence whatsoever was adduced to suggest that this circumstance exists. (6) The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired; Does not apply. The undisputed evidence adduced at trial was that Bankhead had ingested beer and alcohol over the course of the day preceding this killing, yet the court does not deem that said ingestion diminished the defendant's capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. (7) The age of the defendant at the time of the crime; Does not apply. Defendant was 35 at the time of the offense, date of birth, September 6, 1950. § 13A-5-52. SameInclusion of defendant's character, record, etc. Does not apply. In conclusion, I hold that the aggravating circumstances discussed earlier, weighed against the absence of mitigating circumstances, compel the court to uphold the jury's advisory verdict affixing punishment at death. DONE AND ORDERED this 19th day of November, 1987. /s/ James H. Hard James H. Hard, Circuit Judge