Hill v. State

371 N.E.2d 1303, 267 Ind. 480, 1978 Ind. LEXIS 585

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: January 19, 1978
• Docket: 976S292
• Status: Published

Opinions

Hunter, J.

Richard Hill, the defendant, was convicted for commission of a felony while armed, to-wit: robbery. This is an appeal from denial of his motion to correct errors. He raises seven issues:

1. Whether the trial court erred in giving to the jury the court’s instruction number 30 over the defendant’s objection;

2. Whether the trial court erred in allowing the police officers to testify regarding the defendant’s statements to the police;

3. Whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict as to the element of defendant’s age;

4. Whether the trial court erred in overruling defendant’s motion to suppress and motion in limine regarding the state’s exhibits numbers 2, 3, 4 and 6;

5. Whether the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the state’s exhibit number 6;

6. Whether the trial court erred in allowing a state’s witness to describe certain items of clothing as “men’s clothing”; and

7. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to permit defense counsel on cross-examination to ask a state’s witness about the conviction of defendant’s former co-defendant.

The facts and evidence advanced at trial indicate the following. Two men entered the Duck Inn Tavern about 8:30 p.m. on November 18, 1974. Both men pulled guns. They took jewelry as well as cash. Three customers and the owner, John Poole, were present during the robbery. About two hours after the robbery police stopped the defendant on the street. The defendant denied participation in the robbery and told the police to talk to his girl friend. At this time, the owner of the tavern identified the defendant as being one of the robbers. Defendant’s girl friend consented to a search of her apartment and the police found a watch and ring in a coat belonging to the defendant. They also found a jar of change rolled up in a rug on a porch. The girl friend said she had never seen this before and didn’t know where it came from.

The defendant was subsequently charged by Information on November 21, 1974, and trial by jury was held on April 5, 1976. Defendant was adjudged guilty and sentenced to twelve years’ imprisonment.

I.

The defendant’s first allegation of error is that the trial court erred in giving court’s instruction number 30, which was given to the jury over defendant’s objection. This was the court’s standard failure to testify instruction and reads as follows:

“A defendant may or may not testify in his own behalf, as he please and is not required to prove his innocence.

“In this case the defendant has not testified in his own behalf. It is your duty under our law not to comment upon, refer to, or in any manner consider this fact in making of any verdict you may return in this cause.”

The defendant obj ected to this on the basis of Gross v. State, (1974) 261 Ind. 489, 306 N.E.2d 371. In that case, this Court held concerning an identical instruction:

“[I]f the judge states his intention to submit the instruction and the defense does object, the giving of the instruction constitutes an invasion of Fifth Amendment rights and judicial error.” 261 Ind. 489, 491-492, 306 N.E.2d 371, 372.

As the state points out, there have been federal court cases which have held that it was not reversible error to give a similar instruction over a defendant’s objection, United States v. Bailey, (7th Cir. 1975) 526 F.2d 139. However, a district court has also stated:

“Although such a refusal to honor the wishes of defendant has not been held to be reversible error, we believe, as several courts have suggested, . . . that the better practice in cases where there are no conflicting wishes of co-defendants, is for the trial judge to respect the tactical decisions of defense counsel.” United States v. Williams, (D.C. Cir. 1975) 521 F.2d 950, 955.

Since there is no controlling United States Supreme Court case on this point, this Court may establish a stricter standard than that of the federal district courts to protect an individual’s rights against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution, Art. 1, § 14. This Court has said in Gross, supra:

“The decision to remain silent is an often used trial tactic. For one reason or another, the accused and his counsel decide that the accused’s interests will best be served by exercising Fifth Amendment prerogatives. In order for the privilege to be fully realized, it is essential that no aspersions whatsoever be cast upon the accused for his failure to testify.” 261 Ind. 489, 491, 306 N.E.2d 371, 372.

Choice of trial tactics is within the province of the defendant and his counsel. The instruction pointedly calls to the attention of the jurors the fact that although the defendant had the right to testify, he had some personal reason for not doing so. It invites the jury to speculate on the reason. As we have held in Gross, supra, when the defendant does not choose to testify at his trial, it is reversible error for the court, over the defendant’s objection, to instruct the jury on the failure to testify.

II.

Each of the six remaining issues raised by the defendant concerns admission of evidence. Defendant first contends that the trial court erred in allowing the police officers to testify regarding the defendant’s statement to the police. The record reveals four instances when the defendant spoke to the police. The first two occurred at 2200 North Talbot Street where the defendant was apprehended on the night of the robbery. The defendant spoke to two officers and told them he did not commit the robbery. Both officers had advised him of his constitutional rights before the defendant made his spontaneous replies. At trial, defendant objected to this testimony on the grounds that there was no proof of a knowing and intelligent waiver of his rights, but his objection was overruled. There was no error in admitting this testimony. The requirements of warning and waiver imposed by Miranda v. Arizona, (1966) 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, apply only to custodial interrogation. Cooper v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 107, 284 N.E.2d 799; New v. State, (1970) 254 Ind. 307, 259 N.E.2d 696. These statements were freely and voluntarily given after defendant had been advised of his constitutional rights. There was no attempt to interrogate the defendant at this point.

The other two statements were made to officers while he was being held in custody at the police station, and he was advised of his rights both times. The first time he refused to sign the standard waiver of rights form, but voluntarily answered the question concerning his name and age. The second time, defendant himself asked to talk to the police. There is no evidence in the record of any lengthy interrogation by the police or any unusual compelling influences. Defendant cannot contend that his constitutional rights were violated simply because he refused to sign a waiver form. Defendant was properly informed of his rights by the police officers, and there was no error in admitting his voluntary statements or the voluntary answer to the question concerning his name and age. Cooper, supra, and New, supra.

III.

Defendant next contends that there is not sufficient evidence to support the element of age. Age is a necessary element to be alleged and proved to sustain a conviction for armed robbery. The only testimony of defendant’s age was Detective Grant’s testimony of what defendant had told him at the police station. As was discussed in the previous section, Grant’s testimony was admissible and, therefore, there is sufficient evidence to support the requisite element of age. Watson v. State, (1957) 236 Ind. 329, 140 N.E.2d 109; McGowan v. State, (1977) 267 Ind. 16, 366 N.E.2d 1164.

IV.

Defendant next contends that the trial court erred in overruling his motion in limine as to state’s exhibits numbers 2, 3, 4 and 8. Exhibits numbers 2, 3, and 4 were a ring and two watches which had allegedly been taken during the robbery. State’s exhibit number 6 was a jar of change which was found on the defendant’s girl friend’s porch the night of the robbery. Defendant did make a timely objection to the admission of exhibits numbers 2, 3, 4 and 6, as shown by the record.

Two police officers identified all these items as ones they found in the defendant’s girl friend’s apartment. The owner of the tavern identified the ring and watches as belonging to him. He also stated that the amount of change in the glass jar was about the amount of change that he kept in the cash register. The defendant’s girl friend had never seen the jar of change before and did not know to whom it belonged. All these exhibits were sufficiently identified. Any fact which legitimately tends to connect the defendant with a crime is admissible even if only a reasonable inference may be deduced from such evidence. Hamp v. State, (1973) 157 Ind. App. 567, 301 N.E.2d 412.

The defendant also objected to the admission of these exhibits on the basis that the defendant had never consented to a search of the apartment and there was no search warrant. However, the record shows that the defendant’s girl friend did consent to the search of her apartment. The consent to search is a valid exception to the search warrant requirement under Indiana law. Muegel v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 146, 272 N.E.2d 617.

V.

Defendant contends that state’s exhibit number 6 was erroneously admitted because no relevancy to the crime was shown. However, the test of relevancy is whether the evidence offered renders the desired inference more probable than it would be without the evidence. Pirtle v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 16, 323 N.E.2d 634.

The defendant identified Miss Hyde as his girl friend. Miss Hyde identified the coat in which exhibits 2 and 3 were found as belonging to the defendant. She also testified that she had never seen the jar of change, state’s exhibit 6, before. The amount of change in the jar was approximately the same as the amount of change taken during the robbery. These facts suggest a connection between state’s exhibit 6 and the alleged offense as well as between the exhibit and the defendant. All evidence is relevant which tends to throw any light on the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Kramer v. State, (1974) 161 Ind. App. 619, 317 N.E.2d 203. There was no error in admitting state’s exhibit number 6.

VI.

Defendant has also objected to the police officer’s testimony that there was “men’s” clothing in the closet of Miss Hyde’s apartment. This Court has held that any witness may testify as to the appearance of an object observed. Baker v. State, (1973) 260 Ind. 618, 298 N.E.2d 445. The fact that the police officer is not an expert in clothing goes to the weight and not the admissibility of his testimony. Baker, supra.

VII.

Defendant finally alleges that the trial court erred in refusing to permit his cross-examination of a state’s witness about his co-defendant. He was allowed to ask questions on cross-examination about a victim’s identification of the co-defendant. But the trial court correctly refused to allow further questions about the co-defendant’s arrest and conviction. These facts would not be relevant as they would not throw any light on defendant’s guilt or innocence. Kramer v. State, supra. The scope of cross-examination is within the sound discretion of the trial judge. Robertson v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 562, 319 N.E.2d 833. The record does not show any abuse of this discretion.

We have answered the additional specifications of error because the same issues of evidence may arise at a new trial. For all the foregoing reasons stated in Issue I, the judgment of the trial court is reversed on that issue, affirmed on Issues II through VII, and the cause hereby remanded for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

DeBruler and Prentice, JJ., concur; Pivarnik, J., dissents with opinion in which Givan, C.J., concurs.