Chapman v. State

638 P.2d 1280, 1982 Wyo. LEXIS 284
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1982
Docket5505
StatusPublished
Cited by96 cases

This text of 638 P.2d 1280 (Chapman v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chapman v. State, 638 P.2d 1280, 1982 Wyo. LEXIS 284 (Wyo. 1982).

Opinions

ROONEY, Justice.

Appellant-defendant appeals from a judgment and sentence rendered on a jury verdict which found him guilty of burglary in violation of § 6-7-201, W.S.1977. He words the issues on appeal as follows:

1. Did the trial court err in allowing the victim to testify because his memory was refreshed during two hypnotic sessions?
2. Was defendant denied effective assistance of counsel because of the failure to adequately record the hypnotic sessions?
3. Was it reversible error for the prosecution to withhold the testimony of Max Gehring from their case in chief and to present this witness during rebuttal?

We affirm.

The victim (hereinafter referred to as witness) found an intruder in his house when he returned home from work. In the ensuing struggle, the intruder struck the witness on the hand and above the right eye with a hammer. The intruder then fled.

The witness gave a general description of the intruder after the incident. Later, the witness was hypnotized by a Thermopolis city police officer on two occasions. The witness added some details to the previously given description after each session. The reason given for the second session was that the authorities had more than one suspect that matched the description given by the witness during the first session. These sessions were videotaped; however, the tapes, for the most part, were inaudible.

Appellant, on the day of trial prior to any testimony being given, objected to the identification testimony of the witness since it was enhanced by the use of hypnosis. Appellant further asserted that the failure of the videotapes prevented effective assistance of counsel by denying effective cross-examination and by prohibiting appellant’s expert to view the procedures used by the State’s hypnotist. The court ruled that the State would not mention hypnosis during opening statements and would not present any evidence on hypnosis unless the “defendant opens the gate” on the subject of hypnosis. The State was to be restricted to witness’ identification of appellant based on what the “State contends was by reason of the episode that took place where he was assaulted.”

In its case in chief, the State presented testimony from the witness and from the investigating officer. The witness testified to the occurrences at the time of the discovery of the intruder, and he identified appellant in court as the burglar. He had previously identified him from a photographic lineup, and the investigating officer so testified.

However, in cross-examination of the witness, the appellant did “open the gate” by inquiring at length into the hypnotic sessions, and in its case in chief, appellant called the hypnotist and examined him extensively concerning such sessions. Appellant also presented evidence relative to hypnotism from his own expert witness on hypnotism. Finally, appellant presented four alibi witnesses, including himself.

In rebuttal, the State presented testimony from one who was incarcerated at the time appellant was incarcerated to the effect that appellant had made statements in the form of a confession. Appellant objected to the testimony on the ground that it should have been presented in the State’s [1282]*1282case in chief. The objection was overruled. Appellant then presented a surrebuttal witness who testified that he was present at the time the alleged statements in the form of a confession were made and that they were not, in fact, made.

TESTIMONY BY PREVIOUSLY HYPNOTIZED WITNESS1

The issue relative to the admissibility of testimony of witnesses who were previously hypnotized is whether the product of the hypnosis was to refresh or develop the witness’ own recollection or to teach the witness and add additional facts to the recollection beyond that which has been mentally stored in the memory, consciously or unconsciously. The issue is properly one for the fact finder — as are all issues relative to the credibility of the witness.

Appellant had ample opportunity to test the credibility of the previously hypnotized witness — to determine whether or not his recollection as to the identity of appellant had been enhanced by the hypnotic sessions and, if so, whether such enhancement was only to the extent of a recall of his own memory or whether it included suggested items which were not a part of his own memory. In all of this, appellant did not elicit any indication that the witness’ testimony was other than from his own recollection or that impermissible suggestions were made during the hypnotic sessions which added to that actually within the memory of the witness.

The witness had given a description of the burglar immediately after the burglary. Later, the witness was subjected to the hypnotic sessions. The witness testified that his recollection was refreshed in part thereby. Thereafter, the witness identified appellant as the burglar from a photographic lineup. He subsequently identified appellant in court as the burglar.

The jury had before it the circumstances of the identification, including the part played therein by the hypnotic sessions. Appellant’s attack on the credibility of the witness was before the jury. The success of such attack was for determination by the jury.

The majority of the states are in accord. Such testimony is allowed, leaving it to the fact finder to gauge the credibility of it on the basis of that presented to the fact finder concerning the effect of hypnotism generally and in the specific case. See Annot.: Admissibility of Hypnotic Evidence at Criminal Trial, 92 A.L.R.3d 442, § 8; Harding v. State, 5 Md.App. 230, 246 A.2d 302 (1968), cert. denied 395 U.S. 949, 89 S.Ct. 2030, 23 L.Ed.2d 468 (1969); United States v. Awkard, 597 F.2d 667 (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied 444 U.S. 885, 100 S.Ct. 179, 62 L.Ed.2d 116 (1979); United States v. Narciso, 446 F.Supp. 252 (D.C.Mich.1977); Clark v. State, Fla.App., 379 So.2d 372 (1979); Creamer v. State, 232 Ga. 136, 205 S.E.2d 240 (1974); People v. Smrekar, 68 Ill.App.3d 379, 24 Ill.Dec. 707, 385 N.E.2d 848 (1979); People v. Hughes, 99 Misc.2d 863, 417 N.Y.S.2d 643 (1979); State v. McQueen, 295 N.C. 96, 244 S.E.2d 414 (1978); State v. Jorgensen, 8 Or.App. 1, 492 P.2d 312 (1971).

A few states have rejected testimony of a previously hypnotized witness as incompetent. They held such testimony as inadmissible per se in a criminal trial. State v. Mena, 128 Ariz. 226, 624 P.2d 1274 (1981); State v. Mack, Minn., 292 N.W.2d 764 (1980); Commonwealth v. Nazarovitch, - Pa. -, 436 A.2d 170 (1981). Although there may be considerable merit to such holding, appellant does not request that we go so far. But he does urge us to treat the issue on the basis of competency rather than credibility. He urges us to adopt the following procedural requirements set out in State v. Hurd, 86 N.J.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Feeney v. State
2009 WY 67 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 2009)
State v. Williams
2004 WY 53 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 2004)
Engberg v. Meyer
820 P.2d 70 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1991)
Johnson v. State
806 P.2d 1282 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1991)
Van Horn v. State
802 P.2d 883 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1990)
Gale v. State
792 P.2d 570 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1990)
People v. Lee
450 N.W.2d 883 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1990)
State v. Tuttle
780 P.2d 1203 (Utah Supreme Court, 1989)
State v. Woodfin
539 So. 2d 645 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1989)
Prime v. State
767 P.2d 149 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1989)
State v. Johnston
529 N.E.2d 898 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1988)
Zani v. State
758 S.W.2d 233 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1988)
People v. Romero
745 P.2d 1003 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 1987)
State v. Pollitt
530 A.2d 155 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1987)
Leatrice Little v. Bill Armontrout
819 F.2d 1425 (Eighth Circuit, 1987)
People v. Zayas
510 N.E.2d 1125 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1987)
Rock v. Arkansas
483 U.S. 44 (Supreme Court, 1987)
United States v. Brett C. Kimberlin
805 F.2d 210 (Seventh Circuit, 1987)
Haselhuhn v. State
727 P.2d 280 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1986)
Vester v. State
713 S.W.2d 920 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
638 P.2d 1280, 1982 Wyo. LEXIS 284, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chapman-v-state-wyo-1982.