Opinion ID: 2508188
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading:  Juror Dasher

Text: Davis assigns error to the trial court's findings that: (1) Dasher did not observe [Davis] in leg restraints, [77] ; (2) Dasher's prior inconsistent statements derive in large part from her first contact with [Davis's] private investigator, [78] ; and (3) Dasher learned nothing about restraints from any other juror. [79] At the reference hearing Dasher testified that she did not recall seeing Davis in restraints. [80] Dasher did, however, acknowledge that she had previously signed a declaration prepared by defense investigator Penny Cole stating she had seen Davis in leg shackles at his trial. [81] According to Dasher, Cole brought her the declaration to sign at the school where she worked during a very busy time of the day. Dasher made clear that contrary to her declaration she did not see Davis in shackles, and that her reason for saying she did could have been the power of suggestion. [82] Dasher's claim that Cole could have suggested Davis was shackled during his trial is corroborated by Cole's admission that she asked Dasher suggestive questions. [83] Although Dasher testified that she never saw Davis in leg restraints, she did recall hearing another juror mention restraints on one occasion during Davis's trial. [84] On direct examination Dasher testified: Q: While you were a juror, did you hear any comments by other jurors concerning restraints? A: As I said earlier, I did hear a comment in the jury room. I don't know if it was one of the male or females at this point. I heard somebody say, did he have special buckles on his shoes, or was that something  or was that a restraint. That is as far as any of the conversation got, and there was no  it was such a blip on the screen, it was not any great big deal at all. [[[[ [85] ] Dasher later acknowledged that she briefly mentioned her previous experience with restraints in her dealings with behaviorally disabled children to that juror. [86] According to Dasher this conversation took place in the jury room with other jurors around. [87] Dasher's testimony provides substantial evidence to support the trial court's finding that she did not see Davis in leg restraints. The trial court's finding that Dasher's prior inconsistent statements derived in large part from her first contact with Cole is also supported by substantial evidence in the record. On the other hand, the trial court's finding that Dasher learned nothing about restraints from any other juror is clearly erroneous. By Dasher's own testimony she had a short conversation with another juror in the jury room during Davis's trial about restraints. [88] We hold that the trial court erred in finding that juror Buchanan did not see Davis in shackles. Juror Buchanan saw Davis in shackles on two occasions during the guilt phase for very brief glimpses. We hold that the trial court's findings of fact on what juror Nelson and juror Dasher saw are supported by substantial evidence.