Court Opinion

ID: 9715096
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:54:08.286372+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:31.427156
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE GEORGE J. MORAN, dissenting: The majority correctly holds that the State had the burden of proving the defendant was sane beyond a reasonable doubt. When this principle is applied in this case, I cannot see how the State sustained that burden. At the close of the defense’s case, an instruction conference was held in the judge’s chambers during which the trial judge made the following comment on the evidence of defendant’s insanity: “I think not only does the evidence in this case show a reasonable doubt about his insanity * * ®. Of course, I have not heard the State’s rebuttal evidence at this point, but I think it borders on almost a directed verdict on the issue of insanity.” The State presented two witnesses in rebuttal of defendant’s evidence of insanity. Dr. James Hart, who treated defendant for the gunshot wound in his leg, testified that Spears had no problem following directions and that there did not appear to be anything unusual about his behavior. Dr. Hart had no expertise in psychiatry or mental disorders and on cross-examination stated that he had no opinion as to the defendant’s mental condition on the day of the robbery and shooting. Dr. Hart also stated on cross-examination that his observation of defendant’s behavior on the day of the incident would not contradict the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia made by Dr. Goldsborough and the staff at the Federal Medical Center. The State’s second rebuttal witness, F.B.I. agent Cecil Bond, questioned defendant at the East Alton police station and accompanied him on the ride to the Federal magistrate’s office in Alton. Agent Bond testified that the defendant was completely silent at the police station and refused to respond to any questions except to point to a statement on the interrogation form which stated that he had a right to remain silent. Bond also testified that during the automobile ride to the magistrate’s office Spears expressed surprise when he was informed that he could post bond for armed robbery. After the State completed its case in rebuttal, defendant moved for a directed verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. In denying defendant’s motion the trial judge made the following comment: “In view of the expert evidence that we have, there is a very serious question as to whether or not any conclusion can be reached other than that he is insane, at this time, or at the time he was in the Springfield mental hospital, however, there may be some question as to his exact condition at the time of the alleged incident and that is what the real issue is. * * ° I think it is up to the jury to pass on the thing. If I were on the jury I would find the man was insane and not recovered, but I’m not on the jury and that is where there is a very fine line and a very difficult line for a trial judge to draw between what is material for a directed verdict and when he starts substituting his own opinion for what should be an opinion for the jury.” The evidence offered by the State in its case-in-chief and on rebuttal focused on defendant’s behavior on the day of the offense. The State presented the testimony of five lay witnesses in an attempt to show that defendant acted in a normal manner during and after the bank robbery. The testimony of the bank teller robbed by defendant indicated that defendant was aware of what he was doing and was able to respond to a changing situation. The bank guard who wounded and subdued the defendant testified that he was able to follow instructions. The arresting officer testified that there appeared to be nothing unusual about the defendant other than the fact that he was completely silent and “just stared at me.” A medical doctor with no training in psychiatry who treated defendant for the gunshot wound in his leg testified that he did not notice anything unusual about defendant. The F.B.I. agent who accompanied defendant on the automobile ride from the East Alton police station to the United States Magistrate’s office testified that Spears would not respond to any questions except to point to a part of the interrogation form which advised that he had a right to remain silent. I do not believe that this testimony provided sufficient evidence from which the jury could find defendant sane beyond a reasonable doubt in view of the expert medical testimony presented by defendant which the trial court viewed as raising a serious doubt as to defendant’s sanity on the day of the offense. The lay testimony presented by the State in this case was at best equivocal on the issue of insanity and wholly insufficient to satisfy the State’s burden of proving defendant’s sanity beyond a reasonable doubt. No opinions of defendant’s mental capacity were offered by the State’s witnesses in this case. The physician who treated the defendant’s gunshot wound stated that he had no opinion as to defendant’s mental condition and that his observation of defendant’s behavior would not be inconsistent with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Other witnesses testified that they did not notice anything unusual about defendant’s behavior, but also stated that defendant was unusually silent and for the most part refused to respond to their questions and inquiries. The State’s obligation to prove defendant’s sanity beyond a reasonable doubt is a heavy burden which cannot be satisfied by such equivocal and inconclusive evidence as is offered in this case. After reviewing the record, I believe that a serious doubt remains as to defendant’s sanity at the time of the offense. In People v. Dawson, 22 Ill. 2d 260, 174 N.E.2d 817, our supreme court said: “The finding of the trial judge as to the credibility of the witnesses is entitled to great weight. However, we cannot, in every case, accept the trial judge’s finding as conclusive, for the rule is that it is the duty of this court to examine the evidence in a criminal case and if it is so unsatisfactory and unreasonable as to raise a serious doubt of defendant’s guilt, the conviction must be reversed. (People v. Williams, 414 Ill. 414; People v. Buchholz, 363 Ill. 270.) The burden is always upon the State to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and a judgment of conviction can be sustained only on credible evidence which removes all reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt. Where the State’s evidence is improbable, unconvincing and contrary to human experience, we have not hesitated to reverse the judgments of conviction.” 22 Ill. 2d 260, 264-65. I would reverse defendant’s conviction.