Hill v. State

168 S.E.2d 327, 119 Ga. App. 612, 1969 Ga. App. LEXIS 1185
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedApril 10, 1969
Docket44116-44122
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 168 S.E.2d 327 (Hill v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hill v. State, 168 S.E.2d 327, 119 Ga. App. 612, 1969 Ga. App. LEXIS 1185 (Ga. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

Whitman, Judge.

True bills were returned against the appellant for burglary (one count), possession of burglary tools (one count), shooting at another (five counts), carrying a pistol without a license (one count), and carrying a concealed weapon (one count). A trial was had determining all the cases simultaneously and adversely to defendant. Separate verdicts were returned and separate judgments of conviction and sentence were entered. Cases 44116 through 44120 constitute the defendant’s appeals therefrom.

The enumeration of errors in each of these cases (44116-44120) is identical and is as follows: “1. The court erred in denying trial by impartial jury. 2. The court erred in not protecting defendant from cruel and unusual punishment. 3. The court erred in denying to defendant witnesses in his behalf. 4. The court erred in denying the right to privacy with defendant’s attorney. 5. The court erred in denying defendant trial by an impartial judge. 6. The court erred in denying defendant’s petition for change of venue. 7. The court erred by imposing illegal sentences. 8. Evidence did not support verdict.”

*613 The appeal and enumeration of errors in cases 44121 and 44122 raise the same questions presented by enumerations 5 and 6, respectively, in cases 44116—44120 (see above.) Held:

1. The motion to dismiss the appeals is without merit.

2. With regard to enumerations 1 and 6, it is contended that there was massive adverse and untrue publicity which purposely emanated from the office of the solicitor general and other officials; that such publicity was widely disseminated by newspapers, television and radio throughout the entire Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit prior to the trial to the extent that public opinion was swayed against defendant making the selection of an impartial jury impossible. Consequently, it is argued, it was error to deny defendant’s petition for change of venue and the jury that resulted was not impartial.

With regard to enumeration 5, it is contended that the trial judge should have disqualified himself because of his having prosecuted cases against defendant in his previous capacity as solicitor general.

All of these enumerations relate to matters about which rulings were invoked after hearings at which evidence was presented. However, there is no transcript of such evidence, nor an agreed brief of such evidence in any of the records before us. We cannot pass upon questions requiring a review of evidence which we do not have before us. Crown v. State, 223 Ga. 540 (2) (156 SE2d 454); Smith v. Smith, 223 Ga. 795 (2) (158 SE2d 679); Davis v. State, 117 Ga. App. 359 (160 SE2d 670). We must therefore assume that the determination of the trial court was authorized by the evidence. Graham v. Haley, 224 Ga. 498, 500 (162 SE2d 346).

3. In respect of the second enumeration, that the trial court erred by not protecting defendant from cruel and unusual punishment, it is argued: “Buck Daniel Hill was confined in jail cell without a bath for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, although he was exposed to tear gas for four (4) hours. When he attempted to wet clothing, they were taken from him. He was then paraded around police headquarters in his underwear. He was still clothed only in his underwear when questioned by officials and when attorney arrived to discuss being retained for counsel.

“He was fired at by what was later identified as a police officer without warning of any kind although he was neither run *614 ning nor attacking officer knowing that police are not allowed to fire warning shots. I charge that an unjustifiable attempt was made upon my life.

“Buck Daniel Hill was denied medical examination and or treatment although he was in severe pain and demanded to see a doctor during his entire stay in the Columbus city jail.

“That at time of arrest, Buck Daniel Hill was under care of doctor and had at home prescription medicine, Milltown tranquilizers, which was denied to him in city jail even though he was suffering as well as physical pain a very extreme mental anguish and severe anxiety as well as tear gas burns.”

Defendant is here contending that he was maltreated or abused and, therefore, that he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the State and Federal constitutional provisions prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. If the alleged maltreatment occurred, it took place prior to the time of the trial and constituted no part of the sentences imposed as the result of the trial. It did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the constitutional provisions. These provisions have relation to punishment imposed by sentences on conviction for criminal offenses. See Loeb v. Jennings, 133 Ga. 796 (67 SE 101, 18 AC 376), affirmed 219 U. S. 582. See generally Words & Phrases, Permanent Edition, Volume 10-A, Title Cruel and Unusual Punishment. See also Moss v. Jones (Ky.) 352 SW2d 557, certiorari denied 369 U. S. 808 (7 LE2d 611); Skinner v. State, 189 Okl. 235 (115 P2d 123).

It has not been contended that any confession or other evidence was extracted because of the alleged treatment. 22 CJS 192, Criminal Law, § 53. The defendant’s remedy in such a case is a civil action against those directly responsible. Assuming that the alleged maltreatment took place, it is no defense to the crimes with which defendant was charged.

4. In connection with defendant’s contention that the trial court erred in denying him witnesses in his behalf, it is argued that defendant requested psychiatric consultation and examination, and that all such requests were denied, thereby denying the defendant the benefit of witnesses in his behalf.

“There is no statute of force in this State which requires the judge on application therefor to have one accused of crime mentally examined.” Roach v. State, 221 Ga. 783 (1) (147 SE2d 299), certiorari denied 385 U. S. 935. Cf. Roach v. *615 State, 111 Ga. App. 114 (140 SE2d 919); Moore v. State, 113 Ga. App. 738 (149 SE2d 492). Furthermore, as in the Roach case, the transcript of proceedings does not show that defendant raised any question respecting his mental condition at the trial.

5. It is contended that the court erred in denying the right to privacy with defendant’s attorney; that defendant was forced to confer with his attorney in a conference room containing a two-way speaker-intercom system.

An accused has the right to private consultation with his attorney. Fowler v. Grimes, 198 Ga. 84 (31 SE2d 174). But defendant makes only an inference that this right was violated. The record shows no requests made of the trial court in this regard and no denials. As far as appears from the record, the matter is being raised for the first time on this appeal and cannot be considered. Velkey v. Grimes, 214 Ga. 420 (105 SE2d 224).

6. The seventh enumeration of error is that the court erred by imposing illegal sentences.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
168 S.E.2d 327, 119 Ga. App. 612, 1969 Ga. App. LEXIS 1185, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hill-v-state-gactapp-1969.