Opinion ID: 878571
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mike Darby

Text: Mike Darby was Linda Weitz's boyfriend. His testimony was generally identical to that of Linda. Appellant's principal objections to Darby's testimony are that he (1) assisted in planting the bomb by acting as Gillham's lookout man and helping Gillham find a lost wire necessary for completing the bomb; and (2) that he concealed certain evidence, thus making him a knowing accomplice. There is some evidence in the trial transcript to suggest that even the State may have viewed Darby as an accomplice. During the rebuttal phase of closing arguments, the county attorney did nothing to dispel defense counsel's unequivocal assertion that Darby was an accomplice in light of the law. Although the available evidence of Darby's actions could lead one to the conclusion that he was not an accomplice, we will not make this factual determination. We will presume that the jury, having been instructed on the law of complicity and having listened to the remarks of counsel, treated Darby as an accomplice. Nevertheless, making this presumption does not compel reversal of Carolyn Nordahl's conviction. Mike Darby's testimony is substantially corroborated by the remarks and observations of witnesses not deemed accomplices. His recital of the events prior to Gillham's return to the Nordahl garage is supported by Linda Weitz's testimony. There is no question that a bomb was planted on Jean Nordahl's truck. An explosives expert confirmed that a wire Darby took with him from the garage matched the wire wrapped around the bomb. That the wires were of the same type was also supported in testimony by an expert from the State Crime Laboratory. This testimony sufficiently corroborates that of Mike Darby.