Opinion ID: 1453298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: failure to excise or suppress portions of a tape recording

Text: When Officer Carrillo entered Chamberlain's house, he turned on a tape recorder attached to his belt and recorded his conversations with appellant and the other officer, the sound of gun shots, and sounds made by Carrillo after he had been shot. This tape was played to the jury.
Appellant argues that the probative value of this evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice and the court erred in admitting that portion of the tape containing Carrillo's moans made prior to his death. See State v. Baca, 89 N.M. 204, 549 P.2d 282 (1976); SCRA 1986, 11-403. The trial court is vested with great discretion in applying Rule 403, and it will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion. Mac Tyres, Inc. v. Vigil, 92 N.M. 446, 589 P.2d 1037 (1979). Evidence should be excluded if it is calculated to arouse the prejudices and passions of the jury and [is] not reasonably relevant to the issues of the case. State v. Boeglin, 105 N.M. 247, 253, 731 P.2d 943, 949 (1987). Appellant presented a theory of self defense. The tape tended to disprove that theory and was relevant, therefore, to the state's case. The recording showed that Carrillo was talking on his radio prior to being shot. Evidence was presented that police procedure forbids talking on the radio while holding a weapon. The tape also showed the officer was alive after being shot. The tape thus was probative of whether Carrillo drew his weapon prior to being shot and supported the possibility he drew it subsequently. The evidence was also probative of appellant's intent to kill  the tape showed that Chamberlain shot Carrillo a second time after hearing his moans. See Boeglin, 105 N.M. at 253, 731 P.2d at 949 (danger of unfair prejudice from admission of gruesome photographs of victim did not substantially outweigh its value as probative of intent). Thus, we hold that although the tape may have been prejudicial, it had probative value, and the district court properly and within its discretion balanced the probative value of the tape against its potential for unfair prejudice. The court did not abuse its discretion in admitting that portion of the tape recording containing the moans of Officer Carrillo.
Appellant argues that although the initial search of his house was proper, he withdrew his consent prior to the shooting and, thus, those portions of the recording made after consent was withdrawn should have been suppressed as product of an illegal search. See U.S. Const. amend IV; see, e.g., United States v. Torres, 663 F.2d 1019 (10th Cir.1981) (waiver of fourth amendment rights may be withdrawn); Mason v. Pulliam, 557 F.2d 426 (5th Cir.1977) (consent to search limited by right to reinvoke fourth amendment protections). Appellant also contends that he was in police custody and should have been given Miranda warnings. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). [1] He asserts he requested an attorney, the request was not honored, the police continued to question him, and those questions and his answers are on the tape. See Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981). Accordingly, appellant concludes admission of the tape violated his rights as guaranteed by the fifth and sixth amendments to the United States Constitution. Initially, we consider a question regarding appellate procedure. In State v. Chamberlain, 109 N.M. 173, 783 P.2d 483 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 109 N.M. 154, 782 P.2d 1351 (1989), the court of appeals considered this issue as raised in Chamberlain's appeal of lesser convictions at his first trial. Appellant suggests that the doctrine of law of the case should not apply  the court of appeals decided the issue wrongly, and in the interest of justice, we should exercise our discretion to review the issue. See Reese v. State, 106 N.M. 505, 745 P.2d 1153 (1987). In Reese, we reasserted our respect for and continuing adherence to the doctrine of the law of the case. Justice Ransom, specially concurring, emphasized our duty to pursue a consistent course when the law of the case is not `clearly erroneous.' Id. at 507, 745 P.2d at 1155 (quoting Sanchez v. Torres, 38 N.M. 556, 567, 37 P.2d 805, 812 (1934)). We held: Were we to adhere immutably to the law of the case, the defendant ... would be denied a fair trial, and we granted a new trial because `the doctrine should not be utilized to accomplish an obvious misjustice, or applied where the former appellate decision was clearly, palpably or manifestly erroneous or unjust.' Id. (quoting 5 Am.Jur.2d Appeal and Error § 750, at 194 (1962)). The court of appeals decision in Chamberlain is not clearly erroneous or manifestly unjust, [2] and we will not deviate from the law of the case doctrine under these circumstances. As determined by the court of appeals, assuming arguendo the illegality of the search, the evidence may have been excluded in a trial on charges regarding the beating of the prostitute, but not in the trial for murder of the police officer. See 109 N.M. at 175, 783 P.2d at 485; see generally 4 W.LaFave, Search and Seizure § 11.4(j), at 460-61 (2d ed. 1987) (in such circumstances, no exploitation of the prior illegality is involved and ... the rationale of the exclusionary rule does not justify its extension). Similarly, the court of appeals' disposition of the fifth and sixth amendment issues was not manifestly unjust. See 109 N.M. at 176, 783 P.2d at 486. Chamberlain was not in police custody for fifth or sixth amendment purposes when the tape was made. Miranda warnings are required before statements made during custodial interrogation can be admitted against a defendant. 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S.Ct. at 1612. Miranda applies to questioning that occurs in a suspect's home after he has been arrested and is no longer free to go as he pleases. Orozco v. Texas, 394 U.S. 324, 89 S.Ct. 1095, 22 L.Ed.2d 311 (1969). Warnings are not required, however, every time the police interview a suspect, even though there may be coercive aspects to the questioning; a coercive environment requiring warnings occurs only where there has been such a restriction on a person's freedom as to render him `in custody.' Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495, 97 S.Ct. 711, 714, 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977); see California v. Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1125, 103 S.Ct. 3517, 3520, 77 L.Ed.2d 1275 (1983) (questioning at police station of suspect not require warnings where no formal arrest or restraint on freedom; Miranda applies when suspect's freedom of action is curtailed to degree associated with a formal arrest). The relevant inquiry to determine whether an individual is in police custody is how a reasonable man in the suspect's position would have understood his situation. Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 442, 104 S.Ct. 3138, 3151, 82 L.Ed.2d 317 (1984). Chamberlain was not subject to arrest while the officers conducted their search, nor was he subject to the functional equivalent of formal arrest. Id.