Opinion ID: 2615843
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: right to confrontation and due process

Text: Catlett's second issue on appeal concerns the destruction of certain photographs by an airport security officer. There was considerable testimony at trial regarding the number, kind and direction of footprints in the snow in the area around the scene of the crime. Officers Sheffield and Coleman testified that immediately after Catlett's arrest two or three photographs were taken of the location where Catlett abandoned the skis. The pictures were taken from a northerly location and supposedly depicted the skis near the side of the road where they had been abandoned. The pictures, according to Chief Investigating Officer Sheffield came out blank and were therefore destroyed by Sheffield. It was Officer Coleman's testimony that the pictures turned out a little fuzzy and that after he submitted them with his report to the shift supervisor he never saw them again. It is defendant's contention that had these pictures not been destroyed (assuming they were not blank) they would have provided evidence corroborating his story, i.e., the pictures would have shown two distinct sets of footprints in the snow (those of defendant and the real thief). Catlett contends that the destruction of those pictures violated his constitutional rights to confrontation and cross examination. Although the rights to confrontation and cross examination [4] traditionally arise in response to witness testimony, California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149, 90 S.Ct. 1930, 26 L.Ed.2d 489 (1970), they also apply to other evidence. In Lauderdale v. State, 548 P.2d 376, 381 (Alaska 1976), the defendant invoked his right to confront the ampul from a breathalyzer test which the prosecution sought to introduce against him. We found that defendant's quest was closely analagous, if not equivalent, to the case where defense counsel, by cross examination, tests the credibility of a witness who testifies against an accused. There are distinguishable differences between Lauderdale and the case at bar. In Lauderdale, the prosecution sought to introduce the results of the breathalyzer test against the defendant. Moreover, under AS 28.35.033(3), a finding of .10% or greater blood alcohol creates a presumption that the person tested was under the influence of alcohol. In the case at bar, the pictures were not introduced into evidence nor were they utilized at trial nor did officers Sheffield or Coleman prepare their testimony from these pictures. Thus, the foundation for the confrontation and cross examination rights, i.e., the utilization or introduction of evidence or the taking of testimony based on that evidence, was not present. Hence, Catlett's confrontation argument is without merit. Catlett alternatively argues that due process was violated by the destruction of the photographs. In Torres v. State, 519 P.2d 788, 795 (Alaska 1974), we quoted with approval the standard of review enunciated in United States v. Bryant, 142 U.S.App. D.C. 132, 439 F.2d 642 (1971), of claims of due process infringement when the court is unable to discern whether the disputed evidence would have been favorable to the accused. [T]he due process requirement applies to all evidence which might have led the jury to entertain a reasonable doubt about [defendant's] guilt and ... this test is to be applied generously to the accused where there is substantial room for doubt as to what effect disclosure might have had. Id., 142 U.S.App.D.C. at 138, 439 F.2d at 648 (footnotes omitted). In reviewing the testimony at trial, we have assumed the destroyed photographs were developed as clearly as possible under the conditions in which they were taken. Our independent examination of the record reveals that the preservation and introduction of clear Polaroid photographs of the scene of abandonment would not have led the jury to entertain a reasonable doubt about Catlett's guilt. Catlett's contention is that the pictures would have shown two distinct patterns of footprints in the snow. Officer Sheffield testified that there seemed to be a lot of footprints at the point where the skis were abandoned and that it was his initial impression that there might have been two people involved in the theft. His explicit testimony and speculation apparently did not raise a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. We are not persuaded that pictures of the scene depicting many footprints would have added to Sheffield's testimony. The uncontradicted testimony regarding the footprints in the snow and the evidence found on Catlett would have prevented a reasonable juror from entertaining a reasonable doubt as to his involvement in this crime even if pictures of the scene had been introduced. Officer Sheffield testified that he drove the route from the International terminal which Catlett claimed he walked and observed no footprints in the snow along this path until he reached the vicinity of the aircraft. Sheffield testified that after he was alerted to the fact that someone was in the Lake Hood compound, he retraced the single set of footprints from the aircraft to their origin  the north gate. From there he followed the footprints onto the compound, south to the aircraft, then north to the point where the skis were dragged and abandoned and then further north and east to where he located Catlett up against the compound's cyclone fence. After Catlett was in custody, Sheffield matched Catlett's boot with an imprint that was made underneath the airplane. The original impression and writing on the sole of the bootprint underneath the plan were not disturbed when Sheffield placed the boot back into the print for comparison. The bootprint at the point where the skis were abandoned also conformed to Catlett's boot. Officer Coleman testified that although there were numerous footprints beneath the airplane, there was only one pattern. When Catlett was arrested, a search of his pockets revealed a set of pliers with specks of Sacramento green paint embedded into its jaws, matching paint from bolts on the plane's landing gear which one would have to loosen to remove the skis. The owner of the plane testified that Sacramento green paint was unique to aircraft and was only sold by aircraft paint dealers. A further search of Catlett revealed a nut and two washers in his left front pants pocket which also had paint specks on them matching the Sacramento green color of the plane. The nut and washers had to be removed to disconnect the bungee cord attached to the skis. [5]