Court Opinion

ID: 9630966
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:25:57.160746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:29.224932
License: Public Domain

Utter, J.
(dissenting)—While I agree that the majority correctly states the corpus delicti rule, I cannot agree that the State provided sufficient evidence, independent of Smith's confession, to establish the corpus delicti of attempted murder.
*791Smith was charged with first degree attempted murder. In order to convict him of this crime, the State must prove that he (1) actually intended to take a life, and (2) took a substantial step toward the commission of the act. RCW 9A.28.020(1); RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a). The Court of Appeals correctly held that the corpus delicti of attempted murder is the substantial step taken to criminally end someone's life. State v. Smith, 54 Wn. App. 467, 472, 774 P.2d 519 (1989) (citing Bremerton v. Corbett, 106 Wn.2d 569, 723 P.2d 1135 (1986)). The question of what constitutes a substantial step depends on the facts of the case. Mere preparation alone is not sufficient. State v. Workman, 90 Wn.2d 443, 449-50, 584 P.2d 382 (1978). The evidence presented in this case is not sufficient to establish the corpus delicti of attempted murder.
The State must present sufficient evidence to support a logical and reasonable deduction that a substantial step had been taken to criminally end Daniels' life. Corbett, 106 Wn.2d at 578-79. The majority relies on State v. Workman, supra, in establishing possession of the weapons as sufficient evidence of Smith's having taken a substantial step. Workman is not on point for two reasons: the weapons were possessed illegally, and the illegal possession of weapons was an element of the crime charged. Workman, at 447-48. In the present case, the weapons were legally possessed, and the possession of a weapon is not a requisite element of the crime of attempted murder.
The facts in this case may create a suspicion that preparations were made in anticipation of criminal activity, but they do not indicate that a substantial step was taken. In Corbett, this court required proof of someone's criminal act as an element of corpus delicti.4 There is no underlying criminal act in this case. The legal possession of weapons is not a criminal act and does not constitute the substantial step element of attempted murder.
*792The State's evidence of the substantial step element consisted of the following: $1,500 found in Smith's pocket; a hunting knife strapped to Smith's leg; a loaded handgun under the front seat; two knives and some ammunition in the passenger compartment; and miscellaneous weapons, ammunition, a shovel and some lime found in the trunk compartment. The State also offered the testimony of the police officers concerning their observations of the scene: a vehicle illegally parked at 1 a.m., the absence of an apparent driver, and the nervous agitation and lack of cooperation of Daniels.
Assuming the truth of the State's evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom, Corbett, 106 Wn.2d at 571, this evidence, standing alone, does not reveal an underlying criminal act which would establish that a substantial step had been taken to criminally end Daniels' life. The Court of Appeals found that nothing in the record indicated that the $1,500 was intended to be compensation for an illegal act. Smith, at 473. Daniels, the supposed victim, was belligerent and agitated. This establishes nothing and is not necessarily the conduct one would expect from the intended victim of a murder attempt. All the weapons were possessed legally. Smith, at 469, 473. The State's evidence established only that three men were sitting in a car, in a park, late at night, and that at least one of the men was drinking beer. Only a violation of a local city ordinance is established. There is no identifiable underlying act found in the record which shows that Smith took a substantial step toward criminally ending Daniels' life. A logical and reasonable deduction that Smith attempted to murder Daniels cannot be reached based on the facts presented.
The majority states that it is not adopting the federal corroboration rule at this time. The rule requires "strong corroboration of essential facts and circumstances embraced in the defendant's confession." State v. Parker, 315 N.C. 222, 236, 337 S.E.2d 487 (1985). In finding that Smith's conduct—possession of $1,500 and of various weapons—is corroborative of his criminal purpose, *793attempted murder, the majority is in fact relying on the rule in its analysis. The majority finds that the State's evidence corroborates Smith's confession. Such a finding is not sufficient under the corpus delicti rule. Corpus delicti requires independent, not corroborative, evidence. Corbett, 106 Wn.2d at 574.
In his confession, Smith stated that he, Brown and Daniels were standing outside the car, and that he was about to stab Daniels with a knife when he noticed a police officer approaching. This confession is contradicted by the testimony of that very police officer. The officer testified that the men were inside the car, and that it was a beer can, not a knife which Smith was attempting to conceal. Smith's confession was not confirmed by either Brown or Daniels. Nor can it be independently established by the evidence presented. The confession, standing alone, is not sufficient to convict Smith of the crime of attempted murder.
In Freeman v. State, 630 S.W.2d 868 (Tex. Ct. App. 1982), a case which involved similar issues, the Texas court addressed the question of the corpus delicti of attempted murder. The case involved a shooting. The independent evidence offered at trial included testimony by the police officers who observed the wounded victim and investigated the incident. The court held that the corpus delicti of attempted murder is the performance of an act with intent to cause the death of some person. Freeman, at 870. Unlike Freeman, there has been no shooting or stabbing, no injury, no substantial step taken toward attempted murder. The State has failed to show, by independent evidence, that Smith performed an act with intent to criminally end Daniels' life.
I would affirm the Court of Appeals based on the corpus delicti issue. I concur as to the remaining issues.
Dore and Smith, JJ., concur with Utter, J.

I agree with the majority that proof of injury or loss is not a required element of corpus delicti in crimes such as attempt.