Peak v. Commonwealth

197 S.W.3d 536, 2006 WL 1649316
CourtKentucky Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 24, 2006
Docket2003-SC-0244-MR, 2003-SC-0271-MR
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 197 S.W.3d 536 (Peak v. Commonwealth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Kentucky Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Peak v. Commonwealth, 197 S.W.3d 536, 2006 WL 1649316 (Ky. 2006).

Opinions

WINTERSHEIMER, Justice.

Peak appeals from á judgment based on a jury verdict that convicted him of intentional murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole for twenty-five years.

Meeks appeals from a judgment based on a jury verdict that convicted him of wanton murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. He also was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole for twenty-five years.

These appeals have been consolidated in order to render one opinion. The two defendants raise numerous issues, some of which are the same. We will first address the individual issue(s) raised by Meeks and Peak and then address their shared issues.

The question presented by Meeks is whether the trial judge erred in refusing to suppress his taped statement to the police.

The questions presented by Peak are whether the unredacted statement given by Meeks was improperly admitted; whether there was an impermissible reference to a polygraph exam;' whether the trial judge erred in excluding evidence about the destroyed farmhouse or by failing to give a missing evidence instruction; whether he was entitled to an instruction on accomplice testimony; and, whether the evidence was constitutionally sufficient to support the verdict.

[541]*541The questions presented by both defendants are whether the trial judge erred in reducing the number of peremptory challenges; whether the psychological records of a third co-defendant should have been provided to Meeks and Peak; whether the alleged omission of an oath or affirmation to a witness was palpable or structural error; whether demonstrative exhibits were improperly shown to the jury; whether the trial judge was divested of jurisdiction because the aggravating circumstances were not charged in the indictment; and, whether an alleged inconsistent recommendation by the jury as to sentencing resulted in error.

Peak, Meeks and a third co-defendant, Bearden, were charged with murdering, robbing and conspiring to murder an unidentified victim following the discovery of his skeletal remains in a dry creek bed. Peak and Meeks were also charged with tampering with physical evidence. All three individuals were tried together. Bearden testified at trial against her two co-defendants and in exchange for that testimony the Commonwealth agreed not to seek the death penalty against her. Among other evidence, the Commonwealth also presented the incriminating taped statement Meeks gave to the police.

The evidence at trial indicated that the three co-defendants had previously purchased or obtained drugs from the unidentified victim. After learning that he was trying to sell a kilogram of cocaine, they conspired to murder him and rob him of his drugs. Bearden claimed that the idea was first proposed to her by Meeks. In the taped statement given by Meeks, he originally suggested that Bearden and possibly Peak devised the plan, but later stated he didn’t know who came up with it. Although he admitted that they talked about killing the victim, he claimed that in his mind they were only going to rob him.

The plan was soon put into action. Meeks obtained a gun and gave it to Peak. Bearden and Meeks then dropped Peak off at an abandoned farmhouse where Meeks once lived. Next, Bearden telephoned the victim and told him that she had a buyer for his cocaine. Having convinced him, she and Meeks transported the victim to the farmhouse where Peak lay in waiting. When the victim entered, Peak shot him multiple times and stabbed him in the back of the neck. After the victim was killed, the three co-defendants cleaned up the crime scene: Peak, Meeks and a third individual, Cissell, who was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony, eventually disposed of the body of the victim in a dry creek bed.

Peak and Meeks were convicted of all the charges. The only difference was that Meeks was convicted of wanton murder and Peak was convicted of intentional murder. They were both sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole for twenty-five years for murder, twenty years for first-degree burglary and five year’s for tampering with physical evidence. Meeks was sentenced to ten years for conspiracy to commit murder and Peak was sentenced to twenty years for the same charge. All the sentences were eventually ordered to run concurrent by the trial judge. These consolidated appeals followed.

I. Suppression of Statement by Meeks

Meeks argues that the trial judge committed reversible error in refusing to suppress his statement to the police on the night of his arrest because it was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily given. He contends that the tactics used by the detective were objectively coercive. Meeks, also asserts that he unequivocally asserted his. right to counsel. We disagree.

[542]*542The trial judge held a hearing on the motion to suppress at which Meeks testified as did the two police detectives that interviewed him. Following the hearing, the trial judge made findings of fact and conclusions of law and denied the motion. Our review of the record demonstrates that those findings are supported by substantial evidence and thus, they are conclusive. RCr 9.78. We offer a brief summary of the facts from the hearing:

Meeks was arrested at 10:45 p.m. and signed a waiver of his Miranda rights at 10:55 p.m. He was then questioned by police from that point until 2:03 a.m. The questioning started again at approximately 5:00 a.m. and lasted until 6:42 a.m. Only the last half hour of each session was tape recorded.

Meeks testified at the suppression hearing that he awoke for work on the day of his arrest at 4:30 a.m. and remained awake twenty-six hours straight when the questioning by police ended. He complained that during the questioning he did not move around the room; was constantly yawning and nodding off; and, was physically and mentally exhausted. Meeks claimed that one of the detectives told him to cooperate and the judge would be told of the cooperation. He also alleged that he told the detective that he was scared and that he thought he needed to talk to an attorney.

On cross-examination, Meeks admitted that he had been talking to a detective for about an hour when he placed himself at the murder scene. He also acknowledged that he was allowed to go to the bathroom; did not ask for any food; and, was provided with a cigar to smoke.

A detective testified that Meeks was offered both food and the ability to take breaks. He stated that between interview sessions, he saw Meeks sleeping with his head down. The detective also said that Meeks had no problem drawing a detailed diagram of the crime scene during the second interview session. He stated he made no threat or promises to Meeks to get his statement and that he only told him that he would tell the court that he was cooperative. A second detective said he saw Meeks yawn, but never saw him nod off. One detective testified that Meeks never discussed a need for a lawyer.

In his first taped statement, Meeks admitted that he was given the opportunity to take breaks, to smoke and to get something to drink. In his second taped statement, Meeks acknowledges being coherent and that he was given frequent breaks. He does indicate a lack of sleep, but states that it did not affect his ability to tell the truth.

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Peak v. Commonwealth
197 S.W.3d 536 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
197 S.W.3d 536, 2006 WL 1649316, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/peak-v-commonwealth-ky-2006.