Opinion ID: 1520139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: May 30, 1978-June 2, 1978)

Text: Next, the appellant argues that the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence appellant's admission. The appellant voluntarily appeared at the Lexington police station in the early evening of October 18, 1977. He was advised of his Miranda rights and was questioned by Detective Jerry Wright. Following the interrogation, the appellant voluntarily submitted to a polygraph examination and, thereafter, was advised by Officer Wright that he had failed the test. The appellant was then placed under arrest and again advised of his Miranda rights. The appellant made the following statement as to his relationship to the case, what if I was close to it, I wasn't in the place but I heard what two dudes was planning. He argues that since he was informed that he had failed the polygraph examination his confession was involuntary. We see no improper influence which would constitute a coercive effect by being advised that he had failed the polygraph test. The polygraph examination was properly administered; the appellant had the mental capacity to voluntarily submit to the test; he did so and failed it. There is no evidence which would justify the appellant's contention that his statement was not voluntarily made. The appellant charges that the trial court erred by refusing to give an instruction on second-degree manslaughter and reckless homicide. The evidence is not supportive of any inference that the homicide in this case was anything but intentional. Consequently, the appellant was not entitled to an instruction on manslaughter or reckless homicide. See Wiseman v. Commonwealth, Ky., 587 S.W.2d 235 (rendered June 12, 1979). Prior to the trial of being a persistent felony offender (June 2, 1978), appellant's trial counsel unsuccessfully sought to have the charge dismissed on the grounds that even though the appellant had previously been convicted of a Class D felony (perjury), the sentence of one year which had been imposed on the conviction had been modified to a sentence of ten months in the county jail, a misdemeanor not a felony. The judgment and sentence on the perjury conviction was entered by the trial judge on May 14, 1976. Purporting to act under the authority of KRS 532.070, the trial judge on June 21, 1976, entered an order modifying the perjury sentence. KRS 532.070 does not define the time within which the judgment complained of may be set aside or modified. Where the Criminal Rules do not provide a time, the Civil Rules shall apply. RCr 1.10. CR 59.05 provides that a judgment may be altered, amended or vacated within ten days after the entry of the final judgment. The order of June 21, 1976, was entered 38 days subsequent to the May 14, 1976, judgment. The court had lost jurisdiction of the case and the entry of the order modifying the sentence is void. The trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to dismiss. The judgment is affirmed. All concur.