Mc Brady v. State

459 N.E.2d 719
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 20, 1984
Docket1182 S 452
StatusPublished
Cited by53 cases

This text of 459 N.E.2d 719 (Mc Brady v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mc Brady v. State, 459 N.E.2d 719 (Ind. 1984).

Opinion

PRENTICE, Justice.

Defendant (Appellant) was convicted of Attempted Murder, a class A felony, Ind. Code §§ 35-41-5-1 and 85-42-1-1 (Burns 1979), and Attempted Robbery, a class A felony, Ind.Code §§ 35-41-5-1 and 85-42-5-1 (Burns 1979), and was found to be an Habitual Offender, Ind.Code § 85-50-2-8 (Burns Supp.1988). He was sentenced to fifty (50) years imprisonment upon the Attempted Murder conviction, fifty (50) years imprisonment upon the Attempted Robbery conviction, and thirty (80) years imprisonment upon the Habitual Offender finding, all sentences to be served concurrently. His direct appeal raises seven (7) issues for our review:

1. Whether the trial court erred in denying the Defendant the use of two remaining peremptory challenges;

2. Whether the trial court denied the Defendant an opportunity to submit proposed instructions;

8. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in limiting the interrogation of defense witnesses and in supervising the proceedings;

4. Whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain the verdicts;

5. Whether the trial court erred in admitting into evidence two (2) of the State's exhibits under the business records exception to the hearsay rule.

6. Whether the trial court erred in failing to specify the aggravating factors relied upon to enhance the presumptive sentences and in failing to specify the conviction to which the habitual offender enhancement of sentence was applicable;

7. Whether the evidence was sufficient to support the habitual offender finding.

The record disclosed that on September 16, 1981, Irvin Lewis was exiting Billy's Liquor Store in Indianapolis between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. The Defendant approached him, pointed a gun at him, and told him to move to the side of the building. Lewis refused, pushed the gun aside, and ran into the street. The Defendant followed him, put the gun to his back and demanded *722 money. Lewis said that he had no money and that the police were coming. He then fled. The Defendant ran after him and confronted Lewis once again in front of a fish market. After demanding Lewis' money, he shot him.

ISSUE I

Defendant sought to exercise two peremptory challenges as to two jurors after they had been previously passed by both himself and the State. Such challenges were impermissible under the local court rule, and the court denied them.

The general rule is that the right to challenge peremptorily is subject to reasonable regulation by the court. Marsh v. State, (1979) 272 Ind. 178, 180, 896 N.E.2d 888, 885. In Marsh, a case which is factually similar to the one at bar, this Court reasoned:

"It was perfectly reasonable for the trial court to require the defense to exercise its peremptory challenge to juror number 8 immediately after having heard the examination of him by the State and having had an opportunity to do the same."

272 Ind. at 180-181, 396 N.E.2d at 885-886.

Counsel argues that the trial court should have allowed the challenges, notwithstanding the rule and case law, inasmuch as his failure to exercise the challenges at the proper time was owing to a misunderstanding between him and Defendant. Obviously such a contention cannot prevail.

ISSUE II

Defendant argues that he was not given an opportunity to tender proposed instructions prior to the commencement of the habitual offender portion of the trial. Nothing in the record, however, indicates that the Defendant tendered any proposed instructions or objected when the court's instructions were given. Consequently, there is nothing for review upon this assignment. Raspberry v. State, (1981) Ind., 417 NE.2d 918, 915; Snider v. State, (1980) Ind., 412 N.E.2d 280, 282.

ISSUE III

Defendant assigns as error three specific instances when, he argues, the trial court abused its discretion in "controlling the taking of testimony and overseeing the proceedings." He argues that the trial judge committed reversible error (1) when he left the courtroom during the course of the proceedings, (2) when he limited the testimony of defense witness, Bonita McBrady, and (8) when he instructed the Defendant to testify about his recollection of the testimony of a prior witness.

During the course of the proceedings, the trial judge, without declaring a recess, left the courtroom on two separate occasions while the jury remained in the courtroom. On the first occasion he went to his chambers for a brief period to make a telephone call. On the second, he went to another courtroom and conducted a brief hearing. On both occasions, he left the jury in charge of the bailiff, and on the second, he cleared the courtroom of spectators and locked the door, although Defendant and counsel remained, and the jury examined some exhibits.

We agree that the better practice requires the continued presence of the judge during the entire course of the proceedings so that he can effectively discharge his duties. Merchants National Bank of Massillon, Ohio v. Nees, (1915) 62 Ind. App. 290, 800, 110 N.E. 78, 76 (rehkear-ing denied). However, the judge remained in effective control of the proceedings. We note that there was no objection made at the time of the actions now complained of. Gosnell v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 429, 481, 376 N.E.2d 471, 472. Further, there has been no demonstration of such irregularities having harmed the Defendant. Akins v. State, (1981) Ind., 429 N.E.2d 282, 286.

The Defendant further argues that the trial court erred in limiting the testimony of defense witness Bonita McBrady and of the Defendant, himself, when it sustained the State's objections on hearsay *723 grounds. The Defendant, however, has failed to cite any authority in support of his contentions. Under authority of Ind.R. App.P. 8.3(A)(7), we decline to address his contentions other than to note that we have reviewed the record and found no error in the rulings. The testimony sought to be elicited was clearly hearsay.

Defendant next argues that the trial court erred when it permitted the Defendant to answer a question based upon his recollection of the earlier testimony of a State's witness. During cross examination the Defendant was asked, "Were you in the Courtroom yesterday, I'm sure you heard Detective Fendley testify that in his recollection that you didn't make any reference to your ankle or any pain or injury?" The Defendant's attorney objected, and the court responded, "It would be for the jury to try to remember what was said and what was not said at this point. You may, sir, answer the question by whatever you remember the Detective said in testifying. I believe that was how it was presented to you." The Defendant responded, "Al right."

We do not address this issue inasmuch as the question objected to was never answered.

ISSUE IV

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Bluebook (online)
459 N.E.2d 719, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mc-brady-v-state-ind-1984.