Opinion ID: 1823280
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Competency/ defendant's assignment of error number 4

Text: In this assignment of error, defendant contends the trial court erred by finding him competent to proceed and denying his request for a sanity commission. The record reveals defendant argued that he was so preoccupied with his medical condition as to be incompetent to stand trial. As noted supra, in the discussion of defendant's assignment of error number 3, the trial judge held a hearing on this issue on September 26, 1997, contemporaneous with the hearing on the motion to continue. In addition to Nurse Robin and Dr. Redmann, the court also heard testimony from Thomas Frederick, defendant's attorney, Dr. Friedberg, defendant's psychologist and expert witness, and Deputy Calvin Moore. Nurse Robin testified that she had taken the defendant's blood pressure and blood sugar the day before the hearing and had spoken with him while doing so. She testified that he had spoken about his lawyer and said he was in pain. Defendant was also coherent and alert during this time. He appeared oriented and could carry on a conversation about his family. He knew that he was incarcerated, and he also knew that he was from Montgomery. Dr. Redmann testified that the defendant had always seemed coherent and was always able to communicate effectively with the doctor about his medical problems. Dr. Friedberg testified that he had interviewed the defendant in August of 1997 and again in September of 1997. Dr. Friedberg felt that the defendant was capable of assisting in his defense at the time of the August interview, but that his condition had deteriorated as of the September interview. During the latter interview, defendant seemed preoccupied with his health and would not talk about the case against him, but only about his medical problems. However, Friedberg also testified that the defendant was coherent, aware that he was incarcerated for capital murder, and seemed aware of his legal rights during the latter interview. The defendant also seemed aware that the trial, which was then set for October 1, was quickly approaching, and appeared to be aware of the consequences of a guilty verdict. Friedberg was unable to reach a definite opinion regarding whether the defendant was able to assist in his defense, and suggested that a different professional examine the defendant to determine whether he could provide assistance to his attorneys. Friedberg was, however, able to state definitively that the defendant was aware of the proceedings against him. Thomas Frederick, defendant's attorney, testified that the defendant's ability to assist with his defense had deteriorated since August. Frederick stated that during his most recent interview with the defendant, which was on September 12, 1997, the defendant constantly steered the conversation back to his health problems and would not respond to questions that needed to be discussed for purposes of his defense. Frederick also testified that the defendant had not recently been able to discuss the facts of the case and that the defendant would not go over other witnesses' statements, preferring instead to talk about his medical complaints. However, Frederick also testified on cross-examination that the defendant was alert and coherent during the interview and seemed as aware of his legal rights as any of Frederick's other clients. Frederick also testified that the defendant seemed to understand that he was facing capital murder charges and could receive the death penalty if found guilty. Deputy Calvin Moore, a Deputy Sheriff with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department, also testified at the hearing. Moore had talked to the defendant on the day prior to the hearing, when he took pictures of the defendant pursuant to a request by the defense attorneys. Moore testified that he retrieved defendant from his cell on the third floor, and that they then walked to the booking area on the first floor. The defendant walked normally during this time, was alert and coherent, and did not complain about pain or appear to be in pain. When Moore and the defendant were in the booking area, they discussed an event that had occurred a month earlier, and the defendant's account of the event was the same as the one that he had given Moore the previous month, when he first spoke with Moore about the event. Moore rebooked the defendant after the picture was taken, and the information that the defendant provided at the rebooking was the same as the information that he had originally given at the first booking. Finally, the State introduced into evidence the report of its expert psychiatrist, Dr. Seiden. The defense objected to the report as hearsay, but the court properly overruled the objection in accordance with La.C.E. art. 1101(B)(8). [3] After careful consideration of the evidence, the trial court found that the defendant possessed the requisite mental capacity to proceed and denied his motion for appointment of a sanity commission. Mental incapacity to proceed exists, when as a result of a mental disease or defect, a defendant presently lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his defense. La.C.Cr.P. art 641. The trial court has great discretion in ruling on a determination of competency, and his decision will not be overturned on appeal absent abuse of this vast discretion. State v. Comeaux, 514 So.2d 84 (La.1987); State v. Lowenfield, 495 So.2d 1245 (La.1985); State v. Rogers, 419 So.2d 840 (La.1982). Further, the appointment of a sanity commission is not a perfunctory matter or a ministerial duty of the trial court and is not guaranteed to every accused in every case. State v. Sepulvado, 672 So.2d 158 (La. 1996); State v. Nix, 327 So.2d 301, 323 (La.1975). Finally, although the trial court may consider expert medical testimony on the issue of competency to stand trial, the ultimate decision on the issue of competency shall be made by the court alone. State v. Perry, 502 So.2d 543 (La. 1986); State v. Lowenfield, 495 So.2d 1245 (La.1985); State v. Rogers, 419 So.2d 840 (La.1982). In State v. Bennett, 345 So.2d 1129 (La.1977), we enunciated a number of factors that should be considered in deciding whether an accused is competent to stand trial: Appropriate considerations in determining whether the accused is fully aware of the nature of the proceedings include: whether he understands the nature of the charge and can appreciate his seriousness; whether he understands what defenses are available; whether he can distinguish a guilty plea from a not guilty plea and understand the consequences of each; whether he has an awareness of his legal rights; and whether he understands the range of possible verdicts and the consequences of conviction. Facts to consider in determining an accused's ability to assist in his defense include: whether he is able to recall and relate facts pertaining to his actions and whereabouts at certain times; whether he is able to assist counsel in locating and examining relevant witnesses; whether he is able to maintain a consistent defense; whether he is able to listen to the testimony of witnesses and inform his lawyer of any distortions or misstatements; whether he has the ability to make simple decisions in response to well-explained alternatives; whether, if necessary to defense strategy, he is capable of testifying in his own defense; and to what extent, if any, his mental condition is apt to deteriorate under the stress of trial. State v. Perry, 502 So.2d 543 (La.1986) citing State v. Bennett, 345 So.2d 1129, 1138 (La.1977). An examination of these factors shows that the trial court did not abuse its vast discretion in finding defendant competent to stand trial and denying the motion for appointment of a sanity commission. Several witnesses testified that defendant was alert, coherent, and cognizant of his surroundings, his legal predicament, and his legal rights. As noted by the trial court, the fact that defendant made the decision to have surgery indicates that he was fully capable of making important decisions, and defendant did in fact testify in his own defense at trial. Notably, only the defense witnesses suggested that defendant was unfit to stand trial, and Friedberg could not even definitively opine that defendant was incompetent, choosing instead to request that someone else examine him to reach an opinion on that issue. While Frederick suggested that defendant might not be able to assist in his defense, Frederick also admitted that defendant seemed aware of his legal problems. The impartial witnesses, however, uniformly portrayed defendant as a man who was well aware of his troubles and could assist his attorneys. Because the Bennett factors show that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in finding the defendant competent and denying his motion for appointment of a sanity commission, this assignment of error lacks merit.