Opinion ID: 2607856
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: additional points raised by defendant

Text: We hold that no error exists in the remaining points raised by defendant on appeal. We address them, however, in order to clarify the issues for the trial court on remand.
Defendant claims her conviction should be reversed because the State failed to preserve a tissue that was used to pick up the gun found lying next to the victim. We have previously adopted a three-part test to determine whether the deprivation of evidence constitutes reversible error: 1) The State either breached some duty or intentionally deprived the defendant of evidence; 2) The improperly `suppressed' evidence must have been material; and 3) The suppression of this evidence prejudiced the defendant. State v. Chouinard, 96 N.M. 658, 661, 634 P.2d 680, 683 (1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 930, 102 S.Ct. 1980, 72 L.Ed.2d 447 (1982). See also State v. Johnson, 99 N.M. 682, 662 P.2d 1349 (1983). The record in this case contains no evidence that defendant was intentionally deprived of the tissue. There is no indication in the record as to what happened to the tissue. However, testimony was given which indicated that the police were not concerned with the tissue because they believed that it did not have any evidentiary value. Upon review of the record, we find this belief to have been reasonable. State v. Johnson ; State v. Stephens, 93 N.M. 368, 600 P.2d 820 (1979). The tissue was not material, and its unavailability did not prejudice the defendant. As the United States Supreme Court has said, The mere possibility that an item of undisclosed information might have helped the defense, or might have affected the outcome of the trial, does not establish `materiality' in the constitutional sense. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 110-111, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 2400-2401, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). The failure of the State to preserve the tissue used by officers to pick up the gun found next to the victim was not reversible error, and was not error of such a nature that it added substantially to the aggregate of errors which took place at trial.
During voir dire the judge told veniremen that the State would not be seeking the death penalty. Defendant alleges that she was not properly notified that this explanation would be given. Defendant further argues that NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 50.06 (Repl.Pamp. 1982), prohibits the jury from considering the consequences of its verdict. The State contends that defendant did not object when the explanation was made, and that it is proper to give this information on voir dire, notwithstanding any objection, citing the Use Note to UJI Crim. 50.06. The Use Note states, in pertinent part: In a capital case it is proper for the state or court in the voir dire or in the court's opening or closing remarks to tell the jury that the state will not seek the death penalty. Id. This language was added to the Use Note in 1982. We hold that since this was a capital case it was proper for the judge to give this information to prospective jurors during voir dire. To the extent which State v. Gallegos, 96 N.M. 54, 627 P.2d 1253 (Ct.App. 1981), conflicts with this holding, it is expressly overruled.
Defendant's expert psychological witness, Dr. Samuel Roll, was not allowed to testify as to his opinion that defendant was telling the truth when she described the events leading up to the killing. Defendant argues that this was improper because the testimony would have helped the jury in its decision, and opinion testimony as to an ultimate issue is allowed under NMSA 1978, Evid.Rule 704 (Repl.Pamp. 1983). Dr. Roll was qualified as an expert witness in clinical psychology. He was allowed to testify that he had conducted and reviewed various personality tests on defendant and that he had interviewed her about her relationship with decedent on several occasions. Dr. Roll outlined the general characteristics of a sexual sadist and said that defendant's description of decedent fit very closely with the classical picture of a sexual sadist. Defense counsel then introduced evidence to try to establish that Dr. Roll had special expertise in detecting deception in persons undergoing psychological testing. Thereafter, defense counsel attempted to ask Dr. Roll whether he had formed a conclusion, based on tests, interviews and other corroborative information, as to whether there was any fabrication or deception in defendant's account of events preceding the killing. At this point the prosecution objected, the jury was excused and the witness was voir dired. The trial court ultimately ruled in favor of the State. The State had two objections to the proposed question. The first was that the credibility of a witness is for the jury to determine. The State bases this claim on a general argument that no expert, with the possible exception of polygraphers, can determine witness credibility any better than jurors can. This argument runs counter to the policy which underlies the admissibility of expert testimony. Expert testimony is admissible even if it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact. NMSA 1978, Evid.R. 704 (Repl.Pamp. 1983); see State v. Ellis, 89 N.M. 194, 548 P.2d 1212 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 89 N.M. 206, 549 P.2d 284 (1976). This Court recognizes the dangers inherent in allowing expert testimony on the issue of a witness' credibility or a witness' character in terms of his tendencies towards truthfulness. These dangers have led to the development of certain safeguards. Expert testimony on the issue must be relevant, NMSA 1978, Evid.Rules 401, 402 (Repl.Pamp. 1983); State v. Blea, 101 N.M. 323, 681 P.2d 1100 (1984), and it must meet evidentiary requirements for the admissibility of character evidence, NMSA 1978, Evid.Rules 404, 405, 608 (Repl.Pamp. 1983); cf. State v. Lopez, 84 N.M. 805, 508 P.2d 1292 (1973). In the case of polygraph examinations, additional requirements were established to insure the reliability of the testimony. See State v. Dorsey, 88 N.M. 184, 539 P.2d 204 (1975). This Court has now formalized additional requirements in our rules of evidence, NMSA 1978, Evid.Rule 707 (Repl.Pamp. 1983). There is, however, nothing magical about a polygraph exam. It is merely a scientific technique which has been held in New Mexico to be a useful tool in appropriate situations, in assisting the jury in its ultimate goal of discerning the truth. Other techniques, under approved circumstances, are similarly admissible. See Simon Neustadt Family Center, Inc. v. Bludworth, 97 N.M. 500, 641 P.2d 531 (1982); State v. Beachum, 97 N.M. 682, 643 P.2d 246 (Ct.App. 1981), cert. denied, 98 N.M. 51, 644 P.2d 1040 (1982). The trial judge in this case applied the wrong standard to the quantum of evidence which must be presented in order to support the admissibility of this type of expert testimony. Dr. Roll testified that he could give an opinion with a reasonable degree of medical probability as to whether defendant was fabricating her recent history in this particular case, given the specific surrounding circumstances. When Dr. Roll stated that he could tell when a person is telling the truth in some, but not all, cases, the court replied: Well, I'm glad you take that position, because otherwise we would have nothing to do but envy your clairvoyance, your omnipotence, and your intelligence. Maybe only God can do some of those things. This is a misstatement of the test. The New Mexico Rules of Evidence do not require clairvoyance or omnipotence. The court must merely determine whether the scientific procedure which supports the testimony is based on a well-recognized scientific principle or discovery and whether it is capable of supporting opinions based on a reasonable probability rather than conjecture. State v. Blea, 101 N.M. 323, 681 P.2d 1100, 1103 (1984). In the instant case, it does not appear that any evidence was tendered which would support a finding that the particular technique relied upon by Dr. Roll for gauging the credibility of a witness has gained general acceptance in the field of clinical psychology. See State v. Trimble, 68 N.M. 406, 362 P.2d 788 (1961). Therefore, we cannot say that the trial judge abused his discretion by denying the testimony on this particular theory. The State's second, more specific argument, is that Dr. Roll was never properly qualified as an expert in credibility and fabrication. A trial judge has discretion to determine whether an expert is sufficiently qualified to testify in a particular case. This discretion will be interfered with only when it has been abused. State v. Garcia, 76 N.M. 171, 413 P.2d 210 (1966). We hold that the evidence which was brought to our attention on appeal does not establish that the discretion allowed the trial judge was abused in this case.
Defense counsel, during direct examination of Fay Hansen, attempted to elicit testimony to the effect that defendant had told her that decedent had threatened defendant. The prosecution objected on the basis of hearsay, and the judge sustained the objection saying, I'm not going to allow any hearsay in   . No hearsay today. In another statement the judge implied that he would allow testimony as to what defendant said but not as to what defendant said decedent said. This hearsay within hearsay was properly rejected. Later the same day, on rebuttal, the prosecution tendered testimony by Anita Campbell that six years earlier, following a sexual relationship between Campbell and decedent, decedent had told her that defendant had threatened decedent and Campbell. Defense counsel objected on the basis of hearsay. Nonetheless, the judge ruled the testimony was admissible under the statement of recent perception exception to the hearsay rule, NMSA 1978, Evid. Rule 804(b)(2) (Repl.Pamp. 1983). In order for a statement to be admissible under an exception to the hearsay rule it must be clothed with the indicia of reliability. State v. Robinson, 94 N.M. 693, 698, 616 P.2d 406, 411 (1980). Rule 804(b)(2) contains a list of considerations which, if met, support the reliability of the statement. In this case all of the indicia of reliability exist. Defense counsel argues that this statement is not recent because it was made six years ago. The important time period, however, is the time between when the event occurred and when the statement was made. See State v. Maestas, 92 N.M. 135, 584 P.2d 182 (Ct. App. 1978). In this case that appears to have been a matter of hours, while declarant's recollection of the event was still clear. Although the hearsay rule was applied unequally by the trial court, the court did not err in admitting this evidence.
Defendant raises three additional errors which she claims added to the cumulative error which occurred at this trial: (1) denial of a change of venue; (2) repetitive and cumulative instructions on the charge of murder; and (3) failure to give a self-defense instruction alerting the jury to subjective factors, such as physical characteristics of defendant, which she claims made her actions more reasonable. Defendant failed to direct this Court to any authority and failed to otherwise make an argument in support of her contention that the court erred in denying a change of venue. Defendant's brief does not suffice to present the question for our review. State v. Rhodes, 77 N.M. 536, 425 P.2d 47 (1967). The trial court possesses broad discretion in dealing with motions for change of venue, and its decisions on the issue will not be disturbed on appeal absent a showing of an abuse of that discretion. State v. Montano, 93 N.M. 436, 601 P.2d 69 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 93 N.M. 683, 604 P.2d 821 (1979). Jury instructions 11 and 20 given by the trial court repeated the order of deliberations which the jury was to follow in this case. These two instructions were based on NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 2.40 and 50.12 (Repl.Pamp. 1982). The Use Note for the current version of NMSA 1978, UJI Crim. 50.12 (Supp. 1983), explains that the instruction should not be given for homicide charges. We note that a court should refrain from giving repetitive jury instructions. See White Auto Stores v. Reyes, 223 F.2d 298 (10th Cir.1955). The repetition in this case was, however, not prejudicial. State ex rel. State Highway Commission v. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Co., 76 N.M. 587, 417 P.2d 68 (1966). Defendant failed to tender any self-defense instruction similar to the one she now contends should have been given. We will not review instructions on appeal where defendant neither objected at trial to the instruction given nor tendered her desired instruction. State v. Blea, 101 N.M. 323, 681 P.2d 1100 (1984).