Court Opinion

ID: 9852412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:30:07.242902+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:27.604742
License: Public Domain

HENRIOD, Chief Justice
(dissenting) :
I hesitate in sharing the jury’s verdict that the evidence pointed to the result it reached beyond any reasonable doubt, and this hesitation is impelled by the quantum and quality of some of the evidence adduced, a lot of which seemed to have been of an unsavory complexion. Because of this hesitancy I feel constrained to think that in resolving doubts in favor of an accused, as we -must, this case merits another hearing, hence I dissent. In so doing, I would point out only a portion of the voluminous testimony adduced, as illustrative of the quality of the evidence, or lack of it, of such unusual atmosphere as to have created in my mind the hesitation of which I speak.
I am of the opinion that without the testimony of the State’s “star” witness, there would have been insufficient evidence to justify a conviction beyond all reasonable doubt. If this witness’ testimony were expunged, I think this court could not affirm the verdict, and so far as I am concerned, the fantasy indulged by the witness leads me to believe his entire testimony should have been the subject of disbelief, except that which attested to his name, rank and 'serial number, — the last' of which was *171his number as an exconvict. The witness had been an auto companion of the accused more than once, the purpose of which seems to have been accentuated by silence concerning it. He clearly was an accessory before, after and between the fact. His novel narrative on the witness stand spun at best a story pointing to the possibility of his own complicity or principalship.
He told of the defendant offering him money to adjust the victim’s status in the community to number him among those less fortunate than we. Significantly he declined the ignoble suggestion, thus reflecting lack of unlawful intentions. Thereafter, he testified, the accused asked him to buy her a shotgun, which he unlawfully did by the use of an alias,' — apparently in Beelzi-bubian retreat from his erstwhile honorable intentions. Further, he said, the accused asked him to saw the lethal weapon in two, which he obligingly did. His explanation was that if he did this and told the defendant it would be unlawful for her to have it in her possession, this sage admonition would deter her from committing an intended mayhem. He allegedly said this but he also sawed as requested.
His previous felonious brush with the blue uniform, his unlawful purchase of the gun, his willing delivery of it to the accused, who, he hoped, would mothball it after his counsel given her, and his later friendly disposal not only of the weapon, but his beard, to this writer connotes a fantasy about as unbelievable and weird as a commentary by Alice, in Wonderland, in appraising the Wizard of Oz.
Shaving off the beard did not dismay the witness, when, once the bloodhounds picked up the scent, he obligingly and cleanshavenly led the peace officers to a grave in a nearby canyon, where apparently he thought the gun permanently had been interred, with appropriate rites, — overlooking the possibility of exhumation.
Someone asked him why he shaved off his beard. The convenient reply was that being under suspicion as a lively suspect himself, the hair would expose him to detection. Its removal, he conceded, was to provide a sartorial disguise and an insurance policy against apprehension, — a novel departure from the characteristics of the reasonable, prudent man and the ordinary cinema version of the cloak and dagger routine.
The above is a sample of some of the testimony and evidence, that is matched by other evidence of similar quality, all of which, in the aggregate, adds to my hesitancy in believing that the rule in this and other cases that one must be convicted beyond all reasonable doubt, was properly applied here, since I am convinced that without the testimony of the “star” witness mentioned above, the jury hardly could! have arrived at the verdict.
*172So, the flag of fantasy unfurled by this witness, without which the shotgun may never have been found, its origin explained, or the accused convicted, I simply wonder whether or not a new hearing should be afforded, and resolve such doubt in favor of an accused person. It must have been that the jury gave credence to such tissue paper evidence, in my opinion, else, in my opinion also, there could not have been any raiment woven to produce any strong, spotless, untorn cloth of conviction, all of which, as I stated, makes me wonder, — thus this dissent.