ANTROBUS v. State

254 N.E.2d 873, 253 Ind. 420, 1970 Ind. LEXIS 612
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 3, 1970
Docket169S6
StatusPublished
Cited by95 cases

This text of 254 N.E.2d 873 (ANTROBUS v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
ANTROBUS v. State, 254 N.E.2d 873, 253 Ind. 420, 1970 Ind. LEXIS 612 (Ind. 1970).

Opinions

DeBruler, J.

This is an appeal from the conviction of both appellants for First Degree Burglary in a trial without jury in the Marion County Criminal Court 1.

Appellants and one Ronald Schoolcraft were charged with breaking into the home.of Marjorie Trivett and removing-a [423]*423safe containing $5,000.00. Marjorie Trivett testified concerning the breaking, entering and theft of the safe but was not a witness to the offense so she could not identify any of the burglars. The only witness at the trial offering evidence that in any way tied appellants to the crime was the accomplice Ronald Schoolcraft. Appellants were indicted for the offense along with Schoolcraft but upon their motion were granted a separate trial.

Appellants first allege that the trial court erred in denying the appellants’ attempted discovery in two respects: (I) The trial court denied appellants’ motion requesting appellee to produce certain pre-trial statements concerning this case made by the witness Schoolcraft to the grand jury and to the police, for the purpose of cross examination and impeachment of the witness. (II) The trial court denied appellants’ pre-trial petition for a psychiatric examination of the prosecution witness Schoolcraft in order to determine his competency as a witness.

I. CURRENT DISCOVERY PROCEDURES

The rules of discovery applicable in civil proceedings in Indiana courts are not applicable as such in criminal proceedings. However, the techniques of discovery embodied in those rules will often be applicable in criminal proceedings and the trial court has the inherent power to implement such discovery techniques as are necessary to provide the defendant a full and fair hearing. Bernard v. State (1967), 248 Ind. 688, 230 N. E. 2d 536; Johns v. State (1968), 251 Ind. 172, 240 N. E. 2d 60.

The guiding principle to be followed by trial courts in dealing with the area of criminal discovery was set down in Bernard v. State, supra. That case involved a request by a criminal defendant for a list of the names of witnesses to be used against him. In holding that it was error to deny such a motion this Court said:

[424]*424[423]*423“It is self-evident that a list of witnesses would have been beneficial in the preparation of appellant’s case. We do not [424]*424require that the State lay bare its case in advance of trial nor that the criminal defendant be allowed a fishing expedition, however these objections do not arise when a list of witnesses is requested and the State fails to show a paramount interest in non-disclosure.” (Emphasis added.) 248 Ind. at 692.

This principle was followed in Johns v. State, supra, the Court saying:

“Under the doctrine outlined in Bernard v. State it is clear that the trial court, when requested by the defendant in a criminal proceeding has the duty to order the state to furnish the defendant with the names and addresses of those witnesses upon whom the state intends to rely in the prosecution of the case, unless the state is able to show a paramount interest in non disclosure. . . . The purpose of the Bernard doctrine is to insure justice and fairness in criminal proceedings and it is axiomatic that an accused is not justly and fairly tried when his counsel is compelled to maneuver in a factual vacuum. Nor is fairness and justice enhanced when convictions are gained through surprise, or by the prosecution misleading the defense.” (Emphasis added.) 240 N. E. 2d 60.

In Amaro v. State (1968), 251 Ind. 88, 239 N. E. 2d 394, the principle was used to support the defendant’s right to take pretrial depositions of prosecuting witnesses the court saying “. . . the denial was not within the discretion of the trial court in that the State failed to show a paramount interest nor did the trial court on its own motion make such a finding.” See also Nuckles v. State (1968), 250 Ind. 399, 236 N. E. 2d 818.

We believe that the principle relied on in the above cases provides the basis for the review of the appellants’ allegations of error.

II. DISCOVERY OF PRE-TRIAL STATEMENTS

The first issue is whether the trial court erred in denying appellants’ motion requesting appellee to produce pre-trial statements concerning this case made to the police and the [425]*425grand jury by the witness Schoolcraft, for the purpose of cross examination and impeachment of the witness. We will first discuss the question concerning statements made to the police.

A. STATEMENTS MADE TO POLICE

After cross examining the witness at some length, appellants made a motion to require the State to produce “any and all written statements of the witness ... to aid the defense in cross examining the witness.” The trial court denied this motion saying it was not up to trial judges to change the law in this area.

On re-cross examination the following exchange took place between the witness and appellants’ attorney:

“Q. Mr. Schoolcraft, when you talked to some detectives about this case, did you sign a statement for them ?
A. Sir, I talked to the F.B.I. before I ever did talk to any investigators, before I ever did clear myself up, my past.
Q. Well, my question to you, Mr. Schoolcraft, is have you made a written statement about this case involving Codalata and Antrobus . . .
A. That’s correct sir.
Q. ... and Marge Trivett. Who has the written statement?
A. I made a written statement.
Q. Who has the written statement? Who took the written Statements ?
A. Mr. Stout did, sir.
Q. Mr. Stout. Was there one or more than one?
A. Atwell was there too, sir, was present.
Q. All right, was there one statement or more than one statement taken from you?
A. Sir, I don’t know.
Q. How many did you sign?
A. I signed statements on everything that I had did, sir.
Q. Did you read them before you signed them?
A. Yes, sir, I was advised of my constitutional rights.
[426]*426MR. ORR: All right, at this time the defendants Codalata and Antrobus for the record, Your Honor, renew their motions for copies of the written statements the witness has said has been given to Detectives Stout and Atwell.”

There was no response by the State to the appellants’ motion to produce and the trial court denied the motion.

The sole evidence connecting appellants with the crime charged was this testimony of the accomplice, Schoolcraft. The appellants were not arrested until after the police had received information concerning the crime from Schoolcraft.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
254 N.E.2d 873, 253 Ind. 420, 1970 Ind. LEXIS 612, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/antrobus-v-state-ind-1970.