Opinion ID: 2600675
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Trial court's denial of a commission to examine Mexican officials concerning defendant's confession

Text: Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his applications for a commission to examine witnesses in Mexico who assertedly were material with respect to the circumstances of both defendant's release and transfer to American law enforcement officials, and defendant's interrogation. Defendant asserts the interrogation may have been a joint venture between Mexican and American officials, requiring that adequate Miranda warnings and other American legal protections be provided. Defendant claims the trial court's error violated his rights to due process of law and a fair trial under the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. At the time defendant initially moved in December 1989 to bar the prosecution from seeking the death penalty, based upon asserted treaty violations (see ante, at pp. 119-122), defendant filed a related motion for discovery regarding his apprehension in Mexico and transfer to the custody of American law enforcement officials. The trial court denied the discovery motion on the ground that as an individual, defendant lacked standing to assert a violation of the Treaty or rely upon it as a third party beneficiary. The court granted several continuances to pursue further discovery. On May 30, 1990, defendant applied for the issuance of a commission to examine 13 nonresident witnesses, including Assistant Attorney General Coelho Trejo, Department of Foreign Relations Director of Legal Affairs Dr. Alberto Szekley, and Mazatlan Police Comandante Antonio Romero, all officials of the Republic of Mexico, as well as DEA Agents Joe Heath (actually, Edward Heath), James Reagan, Joseph Martinez, Ricky Sanchez, and Eddy Sanchez, and five members of defendant's family. Defendant urged these witnesses were necessary to provide evidence concerning asserted due process violations resulting from official circumvention of the Treaty. The trial court denied the request on the basis that the court lacked jurisdiction to compel testimony in a foreign nation, noting as it had earlier that a commission was not available as a discovery tool. The court denied a motion for an additional continuance. At the hearing held August 13, 1990, in connection with defendant's renewed motion to prohibit the prosecution from seeking the death penalty on the basis of due process violations occurring during defendant's transfer to American officials, DEA Supervisor Heath testified as described above regarding the circumstances of defendant's arrest, transportation to Mexico City, and ultimate release to United States officials. Defendant filed a renewed application for a commission on August 20, 1990, based on that testimony, naming only Coelho Trejo and Dr. Szekley. The trial court denied the motion on the grounds that a commission was an inappropriate means of discovery, and that it had not been demonstrated these prospective witnesses could provide testimony that would be material at trial, or material, admissible, or relevant in the proceedings on the defense motion to bar the death penalty. (7) Sections 1349 through 1362 set forth procedures under which a defendant may have a material witness residing outside the state or the country examined on an issue of fact arising in a pending criminal action. The defendant must apply for an order to examine the witness upon a commission (§§ 1349, 1350), based upon an affidavit stating the testimony of the witness is material to defense of the action. (§ 1352; see People v. Cavanaugh (1968) 69 Cal.2d 262, 266 [70 Cal.Rptr. 438, 444 P.2d 110] [holding a witness may not be deemed material on the basis that he or she possibly could provide pertinent testimony in trial; the defense must demonstrate materiality at the hearing].) If the court is satisfied of the truth of the facts stated, and that the examination of the witness is necessary to the attainment of justice, it must order issuance of a commission to take the witness's testimony. (§ 1354; People v. Stewart (1924) 68 Cal.App. 621, 624 [230 P. 221].) The commission itself is a process issued under seal of the court, authorizing a designated individual to take the deposition of the named foreign witness and return it to the court. (§ 1351; Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Superior Court (1973) 33 Cal.App.3d 503, 506-507 [109 Cal.Rptr. 219].) Depositions taken under the commission may be read into evidence by either party at trial on a finding the witness is unavailable under Evidence Code section 240. (§ 1362.) The procedure does not afford any means by which such testimony may be compelled; obtaining the testimony is subject to the consent of the person whose testimony is sought. The trial court's ruling on the application is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. ( People v. Oakley (1967) 251 Cal.App.2d 520, 525 [59 Cal.Rptr. 478] [trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defense motion for two-week continuance of trial to permit taking depositions of certain witnesses when record was silent as to substance of intended testimony]; People v. Markos (1956) 146 Cal.App.2d 82, 85 [303 P.2d 363] [trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing an additional postponement when the defendant had the benefit of several continuances and several months to obtain the deposition of witness]; People v. Stewart, supra, 68 Cal.App. 621, 624 [trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying order for commission when affidavit accompanying application merely stated the person's testimony was material without describing the proposed testimony or any showing of its materiality].) In the present case, defendant was permitted a number of continuances in order to investigate the circumstances of his surrender, arrest, and treatment during the time he was in the custody of law enforcement officials in Mexico. Defense counsel made several trips to that country as part of the defense investigation and, in reporting to the trial court on his progress, complained he was being stonewalled by officials there. When the trial court denied the renewed motion on the ground, among others, that the court was not authorized to compel the testimony of the foreign witnesses, it was aware those witnesses had not willingly provided information to defense counsel. In addition, by that time, several other witnesses had provided details of defendant's release to the custody of United States officials. As the court observed, Dr. Szekley could not have testified concerning what the Mexican officials would have done had it been clearly established that defendant was a Mexican national. The trial court properly determined under section 1354 that the examination of the additional witnesses [was not] necessary to the attainment of justice. Its ruling did not violate defendant's constitutional rights.