Opinion ID: 2622136
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the Trial Court Err when it Denied Athan's Other Evidentiary Motions?

Text: ś 43 In addition to his DNA claims, Athan raised four evidentiary issues on appeal. He claims the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence; admitting statements he made at the time of his arrest; admitting hearsay statements made by the decedent about Athan; and admitting statements made by Athan's brother, James, to police during the original investigation.
ś 44 Athan argues the State failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [5] Athan maintains the evidence establishes only that he had a sexual encounter with the victim, Kristen Sumstad, at some point during the 24 hours preceding her death. However, according to Athan, the fact of sexual intercourse is insufficient to show Athan killed Sumstad. Athan argues there was no testimony that the intercourse occurred concurrently with the death, no testimony placing Athan at the scene of the crime on the morning the body was found, and no testimony placing Athan with the victim in the days immediately preceding her death. Athan also notes there was no DNA evidence found on the ligature used to strangle Sumstad nor was any found under her fingernails. Finally, Athan contends the evidence showed he was a pleasant, hard-working boy who was dating the victim's older sister. ś 45 The State argues the evidence was not only sufficient as to Athan's guilt, it was overwhelming. The State notes that for a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, a reviewing court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State. Only if the court finds no rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt will the conviction be overturned for insufficiency of the evidence. State v. Ward, 148 Wash.2d 803, 815, 64 P.3d 640 (2003). The State argues the evidence showed sexual intercourse between Athan and Sumstad near the time of the murder and the body was found near Athan's residence in a place he was known to frequent. In addition, Sumstad's body showed evidence of a sexual assault and the semen found on the body conclusively matched Athan's DNA where Athan repeatedly denied having a sexual relationship with the victim both during the initial investigation and 20 years later when questioned in New Jersey. ś 46 We find that, when viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence was sufficient such that a reasonable jury could have found Athan guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court properly denied each of Athan's motions to dismiss based on the sufficiency of the evidence.
ś 47 Athan argues statements made prior to his arrest in New Jersey should have been suppressed. He contends his Sixth Amendment right to counsel had attached because, although he was not aware of it, he had been formally charged with first degree murder and he was indisputably in police custody. Although the police read Athan his Miranda rights, Athan refused to sign a waiver of those rights. He relies primarily on United States v. Heldt, 745 F.2d 1275 (9th Cir.1984), for the proposition that refusal to sign a waiver form is an indication that a person wishes to remain silent. He argues he did not waive his rights, thus, any statements made to the police were admitted at trial in violation of the Sixth Amendment. ś 48 The State argues Athan made a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights when he voluntarily answered police questions and, after being asked for a DNA sample, unequivocally invoked his Miranda rights. The State maintains that refusal to sign a waiver is not dispositive of the waiver issue and courts also look to evidence of coercion or threats on the part of the police. See, e.g., State v. Rupe, 101 Wash.2d 664, 678, 683 P.2d 571 (1984). In addition, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later distinguished Heldt on the grounds that there were a number of other circumstances indicating the statements were not voluntarily made. United States v. Andaverde, 64 F.3d 1305, 1313-14 (1995). Here, the State contends, there was no evidence or allegation of police coercion and Athan later invoked his rights, suggesting he was aware that he had not previously invoked them. ś 49 The State bears the burden of showing a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of Miranda rights by a preponderance of the evidence. Refusal to sign a waiver may cast doubt on the State's assertion of waiver; however, it is not dispositive of the issue because the trial court must review the totality of the circumstances. State v. Parra, 96 Wash.App. 95, 99-100, 977 P.2d 1272 (1999). We will not disturb a trial court's conclusion that a waiver was voluntarily made if the trial court found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the statements were voluntary and substantial evidence in the record supports the finding. See State v. Broadaway, 133 Wash.2d 118, 129, 942 P.2d 363 (1997). There is no evidence that the detectives coerced Athan into answering their questions and Athan's subsequent invocation of his Miranda rights supports a finding that he knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to remain silent prior to that point.
ś 50 During trial, Athan objected to the testimony of state witnesses Terri Droll Presnell and Kimberly Alguard, who both testified to statements made by the victim, Sumstad, about Athan. Presnell testified that when she teased Sumstad about Athan's romantic interest in Sumstad, Sumstad replied no way, that she (the decedent) would not go out with him, and it was a joke. VRP (Jan. 14, 2004) at 27. Alguard testified that three or four days before Sumstad's body was discovered, Sumstad told Alguard, in reference to Athan, this guy gives me the creeps. VRP (Jan. 15, 2004) at 84. The trial court overruled the objections and allowed the statements into evidence under the state of mind exception to the hearsay rule. Athan argues it was error to allow the statements because the state of mind exception to the rule does not apply and because the statements violate his Sixth Amendment confrontation rights.
ś 51 Athan argues the state of mind exception to the hearsay rule, ER 803(a)(3), applies only when the declarant's state of mind is at issue. In homicide cases, this requires a defense of either accident or self-defense. State v. Parr, 93 Wash.2d 95, 103, 606 P.2d 263 (1980). Athan concludes that, because he did not use a defense of accident or self-defense, Sumstad's state of mind was not at issue and the exception could not apply. Athan also contends that even if the statements were relevant, they were improper because there was no limiting instruction accompanying them. Athan maintains the admission of the statements constitutes an error that is not harmless. ś 52 The State argues Athan put Sumstad's state of mind into issue by suggesting the evidence could only prove he had sex with the victim but it could not show assault, rape, or murder. [6] According to the State, Athan's strategy was to argue he and Sumstad had consensual sex at some point before her murder, but that he did not murder her. Additionally, the statements were relevant to Athan's motive. Under the State's theory of the case, Athan sexually assaulted Sumstad and then murdered her for several possible reasons: to prevent her from reporting the assault, because she was struggling during the assault, or because she was making too much noise. Although motive is not an element of murder, it is often necessary when only circumstantial evidence is available. State v. Powell, 126 Wash.2d 244, 260, 893 P.2d 615 (1995). The State contends Athan may not object to the lack of a limiting instruction because he failed to request one during trial. State v. Myers, 133 Wash.2d 26, 36, 941 P.2d 1102 (1997). Finally, the State maintains any error from admitting the statements is harmless. According to the State, substantial evidence existed to suggest the murder occurred during a sexual assault: the victim's body displayed injuries near her vagina and anus; the body was found nude from the waist down; and the victim still had her purse and jewelry, suggesting robbery was not a motive. ś 53 Out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted are generally inadmissible as hearsay unless they fall under a recognized exception to the hearsay rule. ER 801, 802. The trial court's decision to admit the evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion and will not be overturned unless its discretion is manifestly unreasonable or based upon untenable grounds. Powell, 126 Wash.2d at 258, 893 P.2d 615. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the statements under the state of mind exception to the hearsay rule because Athan himself put the victim's state of mind into issue. Athan's trial strategy was to suggest a relationship between himself and the victim and to try to distance the sexual encounter he had with the victim with her subsequent murder. By suggesting a relationship between himself and Sumstad, Athan made Sumstad's statements concerning her feelings toward Athan relevant. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing this hearsay evidence because the defendant made the victim's feelings toward him a relevant issue. Although a limiting instruction on such evidence is generally required, the failure of a court to give a limiting instruction is not error when no instruction was requested. Myers, 133 Wash.2d at 36, 941 P.2d 1102. Because Athan failed to request a limiting instruction during the trial, he is precluded from arguing it was harmful error here.
ś 54 Athan argues his Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the nontestimonial statements of the victim were admitted because they did not bear adequate indicia of reliability. Athan's argument hinges on our finding above because reliability of a hearsay statement is presumed if it falls within a recognized exception to the hearsay rule. State v. Whelchel, 115 Wash.2d 708, 715, 801 P.2d 948 (1990). Because we find the statements were properly admitted under the state of mind exception to the hearsay rule, Athan's claim fails. We note Crawford is not implicated here because the statements were nontestimonial. See Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004) (Where nontestimonial hearsay is at issue, it is wholly consistent with the Framers' design to afford the States flexibility in their development of hearsay lawâ as does Roberts, and as would an approach that exempted such statements from Confrontation Clause scrutiny altogether (emphasis added)).
ś 55 Sometime shortly after the victim's body was discovered, Athan's brother, James Athan (James), told Officer McGee, a Seattle Police Officer, that he saw Athan the evening before the body was discovered in the area pushing a cart with a large box on it. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 126. In a 2003 interview, James clarified his statement by saying he saw Athan several nights before the body was discovered, not the night before. CP at 108. Neither James nor Officer McGee testified at Athan's trial. However, James' statement to Officer McGee was referenced in the testimony of two witnesses. First, Detective Mixsell, in describing the questioning of Athan before he was arrested in New Jersey, testified to asking Athan about James' statement and Athan's response. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 126. Second, Detective Wallock testified that he was asked to interview Athan the day after the body was discovered based on information received from James. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 148-49. Detective Wallock did not testify to the content of the information received from James though he did testify that Athan, during this interview, admitted he had been in the neighborhood on the evening prior to the body being discovered with a cart for the purpose of collecting firewood. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 149. No one directly testified to seeing Athan the night before the body was found pushing a cart with a large box on it.
ś 56 Athan argues testimonial hearsay statements against a defendant are not admissible unless the witness is no longer available and the defendant had a prior opportunity to examine the witness. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 59, 124 S.Ct. 1354. Athan contends James' statement was testimonial for several reasons. First, it was reasonable for an objective witness to believe the statement would be available for use at a later trial. Second, it was a pretrial statement that the declarant could reasonably believe would be used prosecutorially. Finally, it was a statement made to a police officer in the course of an investigation. See Crawford, 541 U.S. at 51-52, 124 S.Ct. 1354 (explaining what kind of statements should qualify as `testimonial'). Athan concludes that because the statement was testimonial and James was available at trial, the evidence was not admissible. Under Crawford, Athan argues, his Sixth Amendment right to confront any witness against him was violated. ś 57 The State first argues the statements were not testimonial because they were not made pursuant to a formal interrogation. Rather, James happened to encounter Officer McGee at around 4:00 a.m. and was still emotional from hearing the news of Kristen's death. CP at 268, 270. Second, the State argues that even testimonial evidence may be admitted if it is not being used to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 60 n. 9, 124 S.Ct. 1354. The State contends Detective Wollack did not testify as to the contents of James' statements and was merely explaining why he questioned Athan at that time. Testimony that does not disclose the contents of the hearsay and is used to provide background does not violate the Sixth Amendment. See United States v. Cromer, 389 F.3d 662, 675-76 (6th Cir.2004). The State contends Detective Mixsell's testimony also did not violate the Sixth Amendment because, although he disclosed the contents of James' statement, he did so to provide context to Athan's answer to the question. Athan's answer would be admissible under ER 801(d)(2) and without the context of James' statements, Athan's response would not make sense. Statements not used to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but instead used to provide context to a defendant's otherwise admissible statement do not violate the Sixth Amendment. See State v. Smith, 162 Ohio App.3d 208, 832 N.E.2d 1286, 1291 (2005). ś 58 Because our analysis here does not turn on whether the statement is testimonial, we assume without deciding that it is. Detective Wollack testified he was asked to question Athan the day after the body was discovered based on information the police had received from James. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 148. Wollack also confirmed he asked Athan if he had been in the area of the television store the night before the body was discovered. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 149. Wollack testified Athan said he had been in the area collecting firewood. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 149. We find no violation of Athan's Sixth Amendment rights during this exchange. The content of James' statement was not revealed to the jury during this exchange so arguably, the testimony does not even qualify as hearsay. The reference to James' statement was made in passing as an explanation of why Detective Wollack was questioning Athan. See Cromer, 389 F.3d at 675-76. We agree with the Cromer court's holding that testimony which does not disclose the content of hearsay and is referenced only to provide context or background to the testimony is not a Crawford violation. ś 59 Unlike Detective Wollack, Detective Mixsell was revealing the content of James' statement to the jury. In a narrative answer, Mixsell testified to the following: I told him thatâ I'm sorry, I told John Athan his brother saw him with a large box on a grocery cart, that his brother had told detectives he saw him with the cart and box the night before. John Athan said: That's ridiculous, and no way, never. VRP (Jan. 13, 2004) at 126. In this context, the statement comes closer to being used to prove the truth of the matter asserted and, therefore, improper. The State gives two alternative reasons for the statement: to give context to the defendant's response and to show how the defendant's story changed from 1982 to this interview in 2003. The fact that the statement may serve more than one purpose does not negate its use to prove the truth of the matter asserted. However, at most, the effect of the statement is to place Athan in the area where the body was found, with a cart and a box, something Athan admitted to. Athan's initial statements to the police in 1982 are entirely consistent with this testimony. The testimony, in context, does not go to prove any material fact in dispute. Under these circumstances, Crawford is not implicated.