People v. Hanley CA1/4

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 28, 2021
DocketA157228
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Hanley CA1/4 (People v. Hanley CA1/4) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Hanley CA1/4, (Cal. Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

Filed 9/28/21 P. v. Hanley CA1/4

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FOUR

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A157228 v. THOMAS Z. HANLEY, (San Francisco County Super. Ct. No. SCN202219) Defendant and Appellant.

In April 2004, Thomas Hanley’s mother, Ann Outin, was killed during a violent attack in her home. That same month, a complaint was filed charging Hanley with the murder but proceedings were delayed due to concerns about Hanley’s competency. In 2007, Hanley was formally charged with first degree murder for financial gain. (Pen. Code, §§ 187 & 190.2, subd. (a)(1); statutory references are to this code). In 2008, Hanley filed a motion to suppress incriminating statements he made to police, which took years to resolve. After Hanley’s suppression motion was denied in 2012, he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. In 2016, a jury convicted Hanley of second degree murder with an enhancement for personally using a knife. (§§ 187 & 12022, subd. (b)(1)). In 2018, the trial court found that Hanley was sane when he killed Outin. He was sentenced to 15 years to life plus one year in prison.

1 On appeal, Hanley contends his suppression motion was erroneously denied and the prosecutor committed misconduct during closing argument to the jury. We agree with Hanley that investigators should have given Miranda warnings before they interviewed him at the police station, but we find no prejudicial error and thus affirm the judgment. BACKGROUND I. Prosecution Evidence A. Background In September 2003, Hanley began living at Crossroads, a residential placement facility in San Francisco designed to help young adults with mental health issues transition to independent living. For the most part, Hanley followed the program rules and he appeared to get along with residents and staff. In February 2004, however, Hanley told Crossroads program director, Maria F., that he wanted to move out because he was afraid of another resident named Ivan R. Hanley reported that Ivan was in a gang and that he extorted $100 from Hanley by threatening to kill him. Ivan denied Hanley’s accusation, claiming that Hanley owed him $100 because he bought Ivan’s jacket but failed to pay for it. Nevertheless, Hanley said he wanted to move back home with his mother, Ann Outin. During most of February and March 2004, Hanley did not reside at Crossroads.1 For some part of that time, Hanley had parties at Outin’s house while she was on vacation in Europe. When Outin returned, she was upset with Hanley because of the parties and because her house had been damaged. On April 5, Hanley moved back into the Crossroads facility.

1 Crossroads maintained a daily logbook where staff documented when residents left or returned to the facility, whether they took their medication, and other issues or conflicts that arose. A copy of the logbook was admitted into evidence at Hanley’s 2016 murder trial.

2 On April 14, 2004, Hanley told Maria F. that he was worried about his mom because a former Crossroads resident named Anthony D. had told him that if Outin tried to get Anthony in trouble because of the parties, he would have her killed or kill her himself. Maria was aware that Outin wanted to talk to Anthony because Outin had called and asked for his contact information, which Maria refused to provide. When Maria suggested that Hanley call his mom and tell her about Anthony’s threats, Hanley responded that the phone line was busy and he suspected it was off the hook. Maria suggested calling the police, which Hanley said he would do the following day. B. Hanley’s 911 Call and the Crime Scene Investigation On the morning of April 15, 2004, Hanley told Maria F. he was going to his mom’s house for a family therapy session and he would call the police when he got back. Later, at around 11:00 a.m., Hanley called 911 and reported that his mother had “just been murdered.” Hanley told the operator he did not see what happened; he had just arrived at his mom’s house for family therapy and when nobody answered the doorbell he went around back. He found his mom on the floor and there was “blood everywhere.” When the 911 operator asked if Outin had been having “problems of some kind,” Hanley reported his suspicions about Anthony D. Hanley explained that he had a party at his mom’s house while she was on a trip to Paris and when she returned she discovered some of her things were missing. Hanley said that he had told Anthony that his mom wanted her things back and if Anthony did not return them she might “call the police or something.” Hanley recounted to the operator that Anthony told him that he didn’t care and wasn’t worried and then said something like “I’ll kill the bitch or whatever.” The operator told Hanley the police would be there soon. Hanley

3 asked if he should open the door even though there was “blood all over the doors and everything.” The operator told Hanley to try not to touch things and stayed on the phone until Hanley indicated the police had arrived. Officer Etcheveste was one of several San Francisco police officers who responded to Hanley’s 911 call. When Etcheveste arrived at Outin’s house, Hanley was sitting on the steps of a neighbor’s house. Sergeant Bosch, who was already at the scene, instructed Etcheveste to “stand with” Hanley, to not ask any questions, and to remember and report any statements Hanley made. While Etcheveste waited with Hanley, he received updates on his police radio from officers who were conducting an initial search of Outin’s house. Hanley appeared to listen to these updates with interest. When officers reported they were going to search an in-law unit in the basement of Outin’s house, Hanley stated: “ ‘Oh, no, the officers are checking the first floor. That’s where my knives collection is. It’s under my bed where I used to stay. That’s where Andy would look, yeah, when I saw my mom’s feet.’ ” A short while later, Hanley said: “ ‘They were coming after me next. That Anthony [D.], I should have never let them over. I just wanted to see my mom. Damn, I came over this morning about 11:00 a.m. I rang the doorbell and waited for her to answer. I looked at the doorknob and saw some blood. I went over to the side of the house and saw the gate was opened. I thought that was weird. And I checked the back door and saw it wide open. I went inside and went upstairs and saw all this blood. Blood was splattered all over the place. I went into my mom’s bedroom and saw her laying there. Man, I called the police. Damn it. I knew Anthony [D.] would kill her. Do you know he was— do you know he has been arrested for rape? Man, I can’t believe this.’ ”

4 Homicide inspectors Everson and Maffei arrived at Outin’s home shortly after noon. A sergeant directed the inspectors to Hanley, who was sitting on the neighbor’s steps with his family therapist, Mr. Scott. After the inspectors introduced themselves and expressed their condolences, they told Hanley they would like to speak with him because he was the person who discovered his mother’s body and called 911. The inspectors asked if Hanley would come to their office to give a statement and he said that he would. The inspectors made the same request of Scott because he had indicated that he came to the house to do a family therapy session with Hanley and Outin. Scott declined but said he would come in later. The inspectors asked if Hanley had a way to get to the Hall of Justice and when he said that he did not they offered to have someone drive him. Hanley said that was fine.

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People v. Hanley CA1/4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-hanley-ca14-calctapp-2021.