Holloway v. State

213 S.W.3d 633, 363 Ark. 254
Supreme Court of Arkansas·Decided September 22, 2005·No. CR 04-555·Published·Cited by 16 cases

Opinion

Jim Hannah, Chief Justice.

Appellant Joel Holloway appeals from his conviction of capital murder for the shooting death of his cousin’s wife Tracy Holloway, for which the appellant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The appellant raises five points on appeal. He argues that the circuit court erred in: (1) failing to suppress involuntary statements given to the police; (2) denying his motion for new trial after receiving evidence that the verdict was the result of undue influence and juror misconduct; (3) allowing expert testimony by the medical examiner on the effects of methamphetamine; (4) permitting the cross-examination of an expert beyond the scope of direct examination; and (5) permitting the introduction of a videotape and photographs that were inflammatory and prejudicial. We find no error and, accordingly, we affirm. Our jurisdiction is pursuant to Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 1-2(a) (2).

Facts

On October 13, 2002, Officers Wes Baxter and Matt Cossey, deputies with the Craighead County Sheriffs Office, responded to a 911 call regarding a shooting at the residence of Tracy and Tim Holloway, located at 12 County Road 465, in Jonesboro. When the officers arrived at the scene, they observed the appellant lying in the driveway holding his right leg and Tim standing near the house with a gun in his hand. Tim then placed the gun on the driveway, backed away, and put his hands up. Officer Baxter stated that he asked Tim what happened, and that Tim pointed to the appellant and said, “[H]e killed my wife.” Officer Baxter entered the house through a door that was partially open. Upon entering the house, he discovered a woman lying in a pool of blood.

Officer Baxter walked back outside and advised Tim and the appellant of their rights, and he again asked Tim what had happened. Tim said that he shot the appellant in the leg because the appellant was coming after him. Officer Baxter then asked the appellant what had happened. In response, the appellant said that Tracy blasphemed God, so he shot her seven times.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the appellant to the emergency room. Within a few minutes of the ambulance’s departure, Officer Cossey left for the hospital. He testified that at the hospital, a nurse administered “some kind of pain shot and put something in the IV for pain.” When the nurse left, Officer Cossey began taking the appellant’s statement. In his statement to Officer Cossey, the appellant admitted he had recently smoked marijuana and used crystal methamphetamine.

The State charged the appellant with capital murder. The case proceeded to trial and, on October 10, 2003, the jury found the appellant guilty of capital murder. On October 27, 2003, the circuit court heard the appellant’s motion for a new trial, wherein the appellant argued that the verdict was the result of undue influence and juror misconduct. The circuit court denied the motion. The appellant now brings this appeal.

Motion to Suppress

The appellant argues that the circuit court erred in failing to suppress statements he alleges were involuntary. Two statements are at issue: (1) the appellant’s statement given to Officer Baxter at the crime scene, and (2) the appellant’s statement given to Officer Cossey at the hospital.

In reviewing a circuit court’s refusal to suppress a confession, we make an independent determination based upon the totality of the circumstances. Grillot v. State, 353 Ark. 294, 107 S.W.3d 136 (2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 967 (2003); Cox v. State, 345 Ark. 391, 47 S.W.3d 244 (2001). A statement made while in custody is presumptively involuntary, and the burden is on the State to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a custodial statement was given voluntarily and was knowingly and intelligently made. Jones v. State, 344 Ark. 682, 42 S.W.3d 536 (2001). In order to determine whether a waiver of Miranda rights is voluntary, this court looks to see if the confession was the product of free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception. Id. This court has consistently held that relevant factors in determining whether a confession was involuntary are age, education, and the intelligence of the accused as well as the lack of advice as to his constitutional rights, the length of detention, the repeated and prolonged nature of questioning, and the use of mental or physical punishment. See, e.g., Pilcher v State, 355 Ark. 369, 136 S.W.3d 766 (2003); Sanford v. State, 331 Ark. 334, 962 S.W.2d 335 (1998). Other relevant factors in considering the totality of the circumstances include the statements made by the interrogating officer and the vulnerability of the defendant. Pilcher, supra; Hood v. State, 329 Ark. 21, 947 S.W.2d 328 (1997).

When an appellant claims that his confession was rendered involuntary because of drug or alcohol consumption, the level of his comprehension is a factual matter to be resolved by the circuit court. Grillot, supra; Jones, supra. In testing the voluntariness of one who claims intoxication at the time of waiving his rights and making a statement, this court determines whether the individual was of sufficient mental capacity to know what he was saying — capable of realizing the meaning of his statement — and that he was not suffering from any hallucinations or delusions. Grillot, supra; Jones, supra. See also U.S. v. Harden, 480 F.2d 649 (8th Cir. 1973) (stating that a confession made by a person under the influence of drugs is not per se involuntary).

We turn first to the appellant’s argument regarding the statement given to Officer Baxter at the crime scene. The appellant argues that the circuit court erred in refusing to suppress this statement because he was screaming in pain from a gunshot wound to his leg when he spoke to Officer Baxter. Additionally, the appellant contends that at the time of the statement, “he might have been under the influence of narcotics.” The appellant contends that his responses to Officer Baxter’s questions would alert even an untrained observer that he was incapable of understanding what was happening to him, and that he was unable to comprehend the significance of the rights he was purporting to waive. A transcript of the recorded conversation between Officer Baxter and the appellant at the crime scene reveals the following:

Q: . . . Sir, what’s your name?
A: Joel Holloway.
Q: OK. Joel, listen to me, okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. OK. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned and if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning, i[f] you wish.

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Holloway v. State, 213 S.W.3d 633, 363 Ark. 254 (Ark. 2005).

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