Kelley v. State

817 S.W.2d 168, 1991 WL 200831

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 29, 1992
• Docket: 3-88-114-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

ONION, Justice (Retired).

Appellant appeals his conviction for the murder of his wife, Helen W. Kelley. See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 19.02(a)(1) (1989). After finding the appellant guilty, the jury assessed his punishment at life imprisonment.

Appellant advances three points of error. Initially, appellant contends that the trial court erred in exempting Texas Ranger Ray Coffman from the “Rule” and allowing him to remain in the courtroom during the “testimony of fact witnesses.” See Tex.R.Crim.Evid.Ann. 613(3) (Pamph.1991). Secondly, appellant urges that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence oral statements made by him to Larry Conner, a neighbor, which were the result of custodial interrogation. Lastly, appellant argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence his extra-judicial confession.

The sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction is not challenged. Both the sheriffs dispatcher and the appellant testified that on June 20, 1987, he called the sheriff’s office to report that his wife had been shot and to ask for an ambulance. Department of Public Safety Trooper Les Dawson was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene. Appellant told Dawson “I shot my wife.” Mrs. Kelley’s body was found in the trailer house. She had been shot. A deer rifle was found nearby. Larry Conner and his wife arrived shortly after Trooper Dawson. Appellant told Conner, inter alia, that he and the deceased had an argument and that he “blew her away.” The next day the appellant gave a written extra-judicial confession to Ranger Coffman at the sheriff’s office. Testifying in his own behalf, appellant admitted he had an argument with his wife, remembered the “roar of the gun” or the “blast,” but he did not remember shooting her. He acknowledged that the rifle was his, and that only he and his wife were present at the time. A firearms expert testified that the rifle was a functioning “.3006 caliber Winchester” which was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. The medical examiner testified that the one shot had been fired at close range; and that the rifle bullet entered the lower portion of the face of the deceased, resulting in a four-inch exit hole in back of her neck.

In his first point of error, appellant complains that the trial court erred in excluding Texas Ranger Coffman from the witness sequestration rule. The appellant filed a pretrial motion to invoke the “Rule” and to exclude all witnesses including Coff-man, the “chief fact witness” for the State. The motion alleged that Coffman’s presence in the courtroom was not essential to the presentation of the State’s case, and that his testimony had already conflicted with that of another officer at an earlier hearing.

At an evidentiary hearing the prosecutor testified under oath that Ranger Coffman had been involved in the preparation of the State’s case since the date of the alleged offense; that he was the lead investigator and had assisted her in the preparation of the case; that while Coffman would be a witness, there would be approximately thirty items of evidence to be introduced and the testimony of four expert witnesses to be offered; that she needed Coffman’s expertise in presenting this evidence as to ballistics, fingerprints “and how to handle bodies;” that Coffman’s help had been essential in trial preparation and it would be essential for him to be present with her during trial.

The prosecutor was not cross-examined nor was her testimony challenged in any way. The parties then stipulated that, if called, Coffman’s testimony would be essentially the same as that of the prosecutor. Appellant then agreed that Coffman could remain in the courtroom during the presentation of expert testimony or physical evidence. Appellant requested, however, that Coffman be excluded when fact witnesses, who might offer a different version than Coffman, testified. The trial court invoked the “Rule,” exempted Coff-man therefrom under Rule 613(3), and denied appellant’s specific request.

Appellant calls our attention to six places in the record where he contends that Ranger Coffman’s testimony conflicts with that of Deputy Sheriff Leslie Don Stewart. Two of these conflicts occurred at the pretrial evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness and admissibility of appellant’s written confession. These conflicts occurred before the “Rule” was invoked at the trial on the merits and are not pertinent to the point of error as stated. The trial record shows that Coffman’s testimony did conflict with Stewart’s earlier testimony for the State as to whether Coffman wiped down the rifle with gauze in one or two places, and worked the bolt action on the rifle and ejected the spent cartridge and three live rounds at the scene or later at his Brady office, and whether Justice of the Peace Reeves arrived at the jail or sheriff's office prior to the signing of the confession. Ranger Coffman was interrogated before the jury about the conflicts. He was unable to explain why Stewart had so testified. Appellant contends that the conflicts demonstrate the trial court abused its discretion.

The “Rule” serves two purposes. Initially, it prevents witnesses from tailoring, consciously or unconsciously, their testimony to fit that of other witnesses. Secondly, in the cases of witnesses testifying for the same side, it enhances the jury’s ability to detect falsehood by exposing inconsistencies in their testimony. See generally Ex parte Robertson, 731 S.W.2d 564, 566 (Tex. Crim.App.1987); Allen v. State, 536 S.W.2d 364, 367 (Tex.Crim.App.1976); Carlile v. State, 451 S.W.2d 511, 512 (Tex.Crim.App.1970).

The “Rule” is now found in Rule 613 of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence. See also Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. arts. 36.05 & 36.06 (1981). Rule 613 (Exclusion of Witnesses) provides:

At the request of a party the court shall order witnesses excluded so they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order on its own motion. This rule does not authorize exclusion of (1) a party who is not a natural person, or (2) an officer or employee of a defendant which is not a natural person designated as its representative by its attorney, or (3) a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of his cause, or (4) the victim, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim’s testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the trial.

Tex.R.Crim.Evid.Ann. 613 (Pamph.1991) (amended June 26, 1990, eff. September 1, 1990).

Prior to the adoption of the Rules of Criminal Evidence the decision to invoke the “Rule” was discretionary with the trial court. Brown v. State, 523 S.W.2d 238, 241 (Tex.Crim.App.1975); Corbett v. State, 493 S.W.2d 940, 948 (Tex.Crim.App.1973), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1131, 94 S.Ct. 871, 38 L.Ed.2d 756 (1974). Trial courts are now required to exclude witnesses under Rule 613 upon the request of either party unless one of the expressed exceptions or exemptions apply.

In the instant case, the prosecutor sought to exempt Coffman from the “Rule” invoked by the appellant under the third exception of Rule 613. The third exception requires the exercise of sound judicial discretion. Any person whose presence is essential to the presentation of a party’s case cannot be excluded. A party claiming the exemption bears the burden of establishing that a witness’s presence in court is in fact “essential.”

The statement, “[Ujnder the Rules, Judge, we are entitled to have a case worker” did not constitute a “showing” by the State that a witness was essential. Barnhill v. State, 779 S.W.2d 890, 892-93 (Tex.App.1989, no pet.). Likewise, a prosecutor’s conclusory statement to the court that it would be “necessary and essential” for him to confer with a deputy sheriff-witness in the courtroom during the trial was not sufficient to sustain the State’s burden. Hernandez v. State, 791 S.W.2d 301, 306 (Tex.App.1990, pet. ref’d).

In the instant case, the prosecutor, under oath, established the witness’s connection with the case as the lead investigator, his expertise in certain fields, the number of evidentiary items to be offered and the expert witnesses to be called, and her need for the witness’s assistance during trial. While some of the prosecutor’s statements were conclusory, the showing here was a far cry from those in Barnhill and Hernandez. It was stipulated that the witness’s testimony would be essentially the same as that of the prosecutor. The appellant agreed that the witness might be excused from the “Rule” during the presentation of expert witnesses and physical evidence. We hold that, under the particular circumstances of this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in exempting Ranger Coffman from the “Rule” under the third exception of Rule 613.

Even if it can be argued that the trial court abused its discretion in exempting Ranger Coffman from the “Rule,” the question then becomes whether the error is reversible. Tex.R.App.P.Ann. 81(b)((2) (Pamph.1991). Hernandez, 791 S.W.2d at 306; Barnhill, 779 S.W.2d at 893; Hendley v. State, 783 S.W.2d 750, 752 (Tex.App. 1990, no pet.). We find any error harmless for several reasons. Appellant agreed that Coffman could be excused from the “Rule” when the testimony of expert witnesses was offered as well as during the presentation of physical evidence. Deputy Stewart’s testimony was necessary to establish the chain of custody and the proper predicate for the introduction of the rifle, bullet, empty shell, live rounds, and other physical evidence. Appellant thus waived any error now complained of in connection with the presentation of physical evidence. Moreover, Coffman and Stewart were both State’s witnesses. In the complained of instances, Coffman contradicted Stewart’s earlier testimony which he had heard, and the conflicts were clearly developed by interrogation in the presence of the jury and mentioned in jury argument by the appellant. The evidence as to whether Coffman worked the bolt action on the rifle and wiped the rifle down with gauze at the scene or at Coffman’s office in Brady contains nothing to incriminate appellant or impair any defense he might have had. If the trial court abused its discretion without requiring the State to sufficiently meet the criteria imposed by Rule 613(3), we find the appellant was not harmed by any such error of the trial court. See Tex.R.App. P.Ann. 81(b)(2) (Pamph.1991). The first point of error is overruled.

In his second point of error, appellant complains of the admission into evidence of certain incriminating oral statements made by him to Larry Conner, and of the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury to disregard those statements if made as the result of custodial interrogation or if made under such stress and shock as to render him incapable of knowing what he was doing. By combining more than one contention in a single point of error, an appellant risks rejection on the ground that nothing is preserved for review. Sterling v. State, 800 S.W.2d 513, 521 (Tex.Crim.App.1990). The multifarious point of error here presents nothing for review. Adkins v. State, 764 S.W.2d 782, 785 (Tex.Crim.App.1988). We shall, however, address the contentions. East v. State, 702 S.W.2d 606, 613 (Tex.Crim.App.1985).

Larry Conner, a minister and part-time pharmacist, lived approximately three hundred yards north of the appellant’s resi dence. He was not acquainted with the appellant, but knew him by sight. On the afternoon of June 20, 1987, Conner’s wife, Eobin, an EMS member, received a call to be a first responder to a shooting at the Kelley trailer house. Conner went with his wife and they arrived shortly after Trooper Dawson. He saw Dawson talking to the appellant, but could not hear the conversation. When Dawson and Mrs. Conner started towards the trailer house, Dawson asked Conner to stay with the appellant. They sat on a bench at a picnic table in the yard. Conner knew only that his wife had received a call about a shooting and he had no instructions from Dawson except to stay with the appellant. Conner explained that he was concerned about appellant’s health, and did not know if appellant was on medication for heart trouble or high blood pressure or for some other ailment. He asked the appellant, “How do you feel?” The appellant replied, “How do you think someone who just did what I did would feel?” Conner explained he was inquiring only about the appellant’s health, and was assured by appellant that he felt fine physically. Conner then recalled that appellant voluntarily commented “that he blew her away and that he knew the State would fry him for it and that God, too, would fry him for it.” Appellant told Conner that he and his wife had argued over his separate property where his mother lived and “that she (the deceased) wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.” Conner described the appellant as being calm, well behaved, not violent or agitated. Conner revealed that members of the family approached the picnic table and began questioning appellant. When Sheriff Williams and Constable Vogel came to the table, Conner left and went across the road to join his wife. Conner explained that he did not know whether appellant was under arrest at the time. After an evidentiary hearing outside the presence of the jury at which only Conner testified, the trial court found that there was no custodial interrogation and that the oral statements made to Conner were admissible. We agree.

“Custodial interrogation” is questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom in any significant way. Cannon v. State, 691 S.W.2d 664, 671 (Tex.Crim.App.1985), ce rt. denied, 474 U.S. 1110, 106 S.Ct. 897, 88 L.Ed.2d 931 (1986). “Only in instances when a statement stems from custodial interrogation must the State demonstrate that the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination.” Melton v. State, 790 S.W.2d 322, 326 (Tex.Crim.App.1990). The requirements of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966) and Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 38.22 (1979) apply only to statements made as the result of custodial interrogation. Holland v. State, 770 S.W.2d 56 (Tex.App. 1989), aff'd, 802 S.W.2d 696 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). A non-custodial, voluntary, oral statement is admissible at trial. Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 38.22, § 5 (1979); Sewell v. State, 797 S.W.2d 376 (Tex.App.1990, no pet.); see also Gauldin v. State, 683 S.W.2d 411, 413 (Tex.Crim.App.1984).

The evidence does not show that appellant had been arrested, taken into custody, or deprived of freedom in any significant way. Conner was only asked to stay with the appellant. He was not told that appellant was in custody nor that appellant was to be detained. Conner was not requested to interrogate the appellant. He was not shown to be an agent of the police. His only question was directed to appellant’s health. Appellant’s other statements were volunteered. Even if appellant was in custody, the statements made did not stem from custodial interrogation and were admissible. See East v. State, 702 S.W.2d 606, 614, cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1000, 106 S.Ct. 418, 88 L.Ed.2d 368 (1985); see also Chambliss v. State, 647 S.W.2d 257, 262 (Tex.Crim.App.1982). The trial court did not err in admitting appellant’s oral statements made to Conner. See Woodson v. State, 111 S.W.2d 525, 531 (Tex.App.1989, pet. ref’d); Ortiz v. State, 727 S.W.2d 37, 38 (Tex.App.1987, pet. ref’d).

In the same point of error, appellant complains that the trial court did not instruct the jury to disregard the statements made to Conner if they were the result of custodial interrogation, or if the appellant did not know what he was doing because of stress and shock. Appellant directs our attention to his special requested charges, but he does not point out the particular evidence before the jury to support the submission of such issues. Further, he cites no authorities nor does he advance any legal argument in support of his contention. The point is not properly briefed and presents nothing for review. Tex.R.App.P.Ann. 74(f) (Pamph.1991). The second point of error is overruled.

In his third point of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in admitting his extra-judicial written confession, and erred in failing to instruct the jury to disregard the confession if it found he was persuaded or influenced in giving the confession by being told he was in “protective custody” or that his mental state was such that he was incapable of understanding what he was doing. Here again the point of error is multifarious and preserves nothing for review. Adkins, 764 S.W.2d at 785. We shall, however, address the contentions. East, 702 S.W.2d at 613.

The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing on appellant’s motion to suppress the written confession. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 88.22 (1979); Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 (1964). Ranger Coffman testified that on June 21, 1987, he took a written confession from the appellant in the Sheriff’s office in San Saba; that he first informed the appellant that he was charged with murder and gave him the Miranda and statutory warnings concerning appellant’s rights; that the appellant indicated that he understood those rights and knowingly waived those rights including the right to counsel; and that appellant signed the confession in the presence of witnesses. Deputy Stewart generally corroborated Coffman’s testimony as to the taking of the confession. Appellant called Sheriff Billy Williams, Linda Humphries, a jailer, and County Judge Thomas Bowden. Appellant offered evidence to show that appellant had first been taken into “protective custody” and had been so booked at the jail; that no one knew when the word “murder” had been added to the booking slip; that Judge Bowden had been at the scene of the homicide and had not been requested to act as a magistrate in advising the appellant of his rights; and that Justice of the Peace Reeves had advised appellant of his rights shortly after the confession was taken, although he may have arrived at the jail before the confession was actually signed. The appellant did not testify.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court made findings that the appellant had been duly warned of his rights, and had knowingly and intelligently waived his rights including the right to counsel, and the confession was given freely and voluntarily and was admissible in evidence. At a suppression hearing, the trial judge is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Cannon, 691 S.W.2d at 673; Green v. State, 615 S.W.2d 700, 707 (Tex.Crim.App.1981). The trial court may believe or disbelieve all or any part of a witness’s testimony. Meek v. State, 790 S.W.2d 618, 620 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990). Its findings should not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Dancy v. State, 728 S.W.2d 772, 777 (Tex.Crim. App.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 975, 108 S.Ct. 485, 98 L.Ed.2d 484 (1987). The fact that a defendant is not taken before a magistrate before making a confession does not render the confession inadmissible, where the defendant was warned of his rights by the police officer taking the confession and there is no causal connection between the failure to take the defendant before a magistrate and the giving of the confession. Ex parte Stansbery, 702 S.W.2d 643, 647 (Tex.Crim.App.1986); Maloy v. State, 582 S.W.2d 125, 128-29 (Tex.Crim.App.1979). From the totality of the circumstances, the trial court did not err in finding the confession voluntary and admissible. McKittrick v. State, 541 S.W.2d 177, 184 (Tex.Crim.App.1976).

At the trial on the merits, the State again offered evidence as to the taking of the confession. When the instrument was offered, the appellant objected on the grounds previously urged, and on the basis that he had not been taken before a magistrate prior to giving the written statement. The objections were overruled. We find no error in the trial court’s action in admitting the confession into evidence at the trial on the merits.

In another part of the same point of error appellant urges that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jurors to disregard the written confession if they found appellant was persuaded or influenced by being told that he was in “protective custody” or that his mental state was such that he was incapable of understanding what he was doing. Appellant filed special requested charges, but the record does not support the submission of these issues to the jury. Appellant has failed to point to any evidence in the record that he was persuaded or influenced to give the confession because he had been told he was in “protective custody.” As to the other issue, appellant simply refers us to 119 pages of his testimony. He cites no authorities nor advances any argument. This portion of the point of error was not briefed in accordance with Tex.R.App. P.Ann. 74(f) (Pamph.1991). Further, appellant does not point out how the court’s charge on the issue of the voluntariness and admissibility of the written confession failed to protect his rights. The third point of error is overruled.

The judgment is affirmed.