Opinion ID: 501759
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The June 14th Hearing

Text: 80 By its decision in Coleman I, the Montana supreme court affirmed Coleman's convictions on all counts. His sentence to serve one hundred years on Count I for deliberate homicide was affirmed. His death sentence for aggravated kidnapping and his sentence to serve forty years for sexual intercourse without consent, inflicting bodily injury, were vacated. The case was remanded to the trial court for resentencing. The remand was received by the trial court on June 2, 1978. On that day the judge who had previously sentenced Coleman to death notified counsel of record that Coleman's sentencing hearing would be held on June 14, 1978, and that the hearing would be conducted in accordance with section 95-2206.06 through 95-2206.11, RCM, as amended. 81 At the beginning of the June 14th hearing, the court stated that it had set down for hearing today the matter of mitigation of punishment, intending to reserve for a subsequent date the sentencing. Defense counsel had filed a motion that day challenging the constitutionality of applying the newly amended 1977 death penalty statutes to Coleman's case. The State had not responded to this motion. The court stated: Of course the first question that arises in the Court's mind, is should the Court [proceed] with the hearing at this time on the matter of mitigation, and of course on one count the Court feels that it may as well proceed, but I'd like to hear from you [defense counsel]. Coleman's counsel suggested that the State might want an opportunity to respond to his motion, and stated: 82 I would suggest that the Court continue, and I'm not making this in the form of a formal motion, but I am suggesting that the Court continue this matter in regard to sentencing.... In addition, Your Honor, and as another point which has some bearing upon the Court's determination as to how to proceed, is that we have to present here at this time, no mitigating factors at all. It would be a matter of simply argument. There is a pre-sentence investigation report. I take the view that the situation is primarily one of law, to be resolved as to how the Court should proceed, and then I take the view that unless [the State] wishes to present witnesses, that at the time of sentencing is just simply a statement by [the State's attorney] pointing out what he thinks relevant and a statement pointing out what I think is relevant, and the Court decides if that's the way we are to proceed. The court stated: 83 Well, the Court has two matters to sentence on, and there is always a possibility that after the Court has considered [defense counsel's] brief, it might rule favorably on [defense counsel's] motion, and in that event there would be no necessity for the Court to make any finding [of aggravating or mitigating circumstances] or anything else under the--under the existing statute.... So I think we are just going to proceed particularly with the announcement that you don't intend to present any mitigating circumstances, and particularly because there is another count upon which this Court was called upon to reimpose sentence. I'll call then--or ask for responding briefs to the brief that has now been submitted by the defendant. The Court has received--I called for and have received a pre-sentence report, which I now cause to be filed in accordance with the law. The reporting officer, Mr. Thomas Lofland, is present in court. The defendant has received a copy of this pre-sentence investigation. The significant part of it relative to mitigating circumstances is that the defendant has never been convicted of any felony prior to this charge. Now if there are any matters which either the State or the defense wish to clarify with reference to this report, Mr. Lofland is present and you may call him to the stand and you may make any inquiries that you feel are pertinent. 84 Neither side elected to call the reporting officer, Mr. Lofland, as a witness. The court then stated: 85 Now with the announcement that the defense does not intend to produce any--call any witnesses to establish any mitigating circumstances, the Court of course has before it all matters during the course of the trial, heard the testimony relating to the aggravating circumstances and also some to mitigating circumstances. 7 Does counsel for the State now wish to make any statement relative to aggravating circumstances? 86 In response, the State attempted to call Coleman as a witness, but he declined to testify. The court then stated that it would render its findings of fact and will go up on the record that is present in the absence of any mitigating circumstances presented by the defendant at this hearing. It was agreed that the State would file a brief in which it would point out the places in the trial transcript which it believed contained references to aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and the defense would have an opportunity to respond to that brief. The court asked the State if it wanted to make proposed findings of fact, and the State responded that it would do so. The court also invited the defense to prepare proposed findings. The hearing was then adjourned.