Opinion ID: 1229856
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony of Deborah Riker

Text: Riker first met Burke in the spring of 1987 at her sister's house. At the time, she thought that Burke was involved with a marijuana growing organization and that he was emotionally involved with her sister. Riker's testimony was vague as to the threats employed by Burke. She testified that once, Burke forced her sister to give Riker some rings in exchange for $20 to buy cocaine. Riker also testified that, according to her sister, Burke had pushed [Rohrer] against the wall once ... and then verbally he [Burke] was abusing her. Report of Proceedings (RP), at 591. Riker stated that Burke threatened that Rohrer would more or less ... suffer[] the consequences if Riker did not obtain cocaine for him. RP, at 591. Riker contends that she participated in the first cocaine sale only because Burke threatened to harm her sister unless she got cocaine. Riker stated that, although she has never used or dealt drugs, she was able to obtain an eighth of an ounce of cocaine on credit quickly from her exhusband's former prison cellmate, Bill Smith. Riker testified that Burke later called her to demand more cocaine. She said that she tried to resist, but that he told her, Well, you will know the consequences. RP, at 599. She believed that the consequences would be physical harm to her or her sister. However, she also testified that she had never seen any bruises on her sister, that Burke had never hit Riker, and that Burke had never made his threat more specific. Riker also testified that Burke coerced her into selling larger amounts of cocaine with the statement, You will know the consequences. RP, at 607. Riker denied that she had sold pounds before but admitted making arrangements for the pound deal. She claimed that she was only at the mall on July 16 to go shopping. Finally, Riker testified regarding her history of abusive relationships to support her duress defense. The trial court ruled that she could present this testimony, but not in undue detail. Riker claimed that she had been physically and sexually abused in numerous relationships since she was young, most recently a little over a year before she met Burke. She stated that her abusive relationships played a part in her fear of Burke, and that she believed that Burke would hurt her or her sister if she did not comply with his requests.