STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
07-794
VERUS
CALVIN JOSEPH COLEMAN
************** APPEAL FROM THE TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF NATCHITOCHES, DOCKET NO. C 6003 HONORABLE DEE A. HAWTHORNE, DISTRICT JUDGE
************* SYLVIA R. COOKS JUDGE **************
Court composed of Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge, Sylvia R. Cooks, and Jimmie C. Peters, Judges.
AFFIRMED.
Paula C. Marx Louisiana Appellate Project Post Office Box 80006 Lafayette, LA 70598-0006 (337) 991-9757 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Calvin Joseph Coleman
Billy J. Harrington Assistant District Attorney 10th Judicial District Post Office Box 838 Natchitoches, LA 71458-0838 (318) 357-2214 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: State of Louisiana COOKS, Judge.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Calvin Joseph Coleman was indicted for second degree murder, a violation of
La.R.S. 14:30.1. Initially, he pled not guilty then changed his guilty plea to not guilty
and not guilty by reason of insanity. A sanity commission was appointed. On
November 11, 2003, because of conflicting psychiatric evaluations, Coleman was
remanded for further evaluation at the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System
Forensic Division (Feliciana). On October 7, 2005, Defendant was found capable of
assisting with his defense.
Prior to trial, Coleman filed a motion to suppress inculpatory statements made
to officers after his arrest. Following a hearing, the trial court denied the motion. The
jury found Coleman guilty of second degree murder. He was sentenced to life
imprisonment, without benefit of parole. Coleman appeals, asserting the following
assignments of error:
1. The trial court erred in admitting his statements into evidence because at the time Coleman was in a delusional state.
2. The evidence is insufficient to support a conviction for second degree murder.
3. The trial court erred in limiting the expert testimony of psychiatrist Dr. Paul Ware.
For the reasons assigned below, we affirm the conviction and sentence of
Calvin J. Coleman.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Sufficiency of the Evidence
Defendant argues the State failed to sustain its burden of proof beyond a
reasonable doubt that Defendant had the requisite specific intent to kill the victim.
Defendant also argues he sustained his burden of proof by a preponderance of the
2 evidence proving he was insane at the time of the shooting and did not know right
from wrong. In State v. Leger, 00-920, pp.1-2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/20/00), 775 So.2d
1169, 1170, writ denied, 01-240 (La. 3/15/02), 811 So.2d 1169, this court stated:
When the sufficiency of the evidence is raised on appeal, this court must decide whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). In reviewing the evidence, this court must keep in mind that it is the fact finder’s role to weigh witness credibility, and we should not second-guess those credibility determinations beyond the sufficiency evaluations under the Jackson standard of review. State ex rel. Graffagnino v. King, 436 So.2d 559 (La.1983). However, “Due Process requires the reviewing court to determine ‘whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” State v. Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305, 1308-09 (La.1988) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. at 2789).
Defendant was convicted of second degree murder, a violation of La.R.S.
14:30.1(A)(1), which provides that second degree murder is the killing of a human
being “when the offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm.”
“Specific intent is defined as ‘that state of mind which exists when the circumstances
indicate that the offender actively desired the prescribed criminal consequences to
follow his act or failure to act.’ La.R.S. 14:10. Specific criminal intent may be
inferred from the circumstances present in the case and the actions of Defendant.”
State v. Reed, 00-1537, p.7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/6/02), 809 So.2d 1261, 1266.
The following facts were established at trial. At approximately 11:00 a.m.,
Mark Hinton, an instructor at Louisiana Technical College, had just finished teaching
a class when Coleman entered the classroom and began firing a gun at a student,
Tyrone Sylvia. Hinton testified his back was toward the door when he heard the first
shots fired. As he turned, he saw the victim fall to the floor. Hinton ran out of the
classroom to the administrative office where he called the police. He testified at the
3 time he did not recognize the shooter but later recognized Coleman as one of his
former students.
Nancy Murry, an instructor at the college, testified at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
she saw a young man, later identified as Coleman, standing quietly outside of the
classroom where the victim was shot. She did not recognize the man, but they greeted
each other “cordially”and she thought nothing more about it. Also, Joshua Moak, a
student at the college, saw Coleman standing outside the classroom when he was on
his way to the cafeteria for an early lunch. He stated they nodded to each other.
Moak mentioned the classroom door had a rectangular window in the door, so the
inside of the classroom could be seen. Kim Worsham, manager of the student
bookstore, testified she saw Coleman a little after 11:00 a.m. standing outside the
classroom. She recognized him as a former student of the school. She thought he
might have been there to meet someone for lunch. She stated he seemed to have
recognized her, but there was nothing that aroused her suspicion.
Ross Desadier, a sergeant with the Natchitoches City Police Department,
testified he received a call about a shooting at the Louisiana Technical College. Upon
arrival, he observed a man on the classroom floor. The victim was shot once in the
forehead and twice in the back. There were a few casings and some bullets found on
the floor by the body. The bullets were from a .380 caliber gun. Sergeant Desadier
collected the bullets and casings and accompanied the body to a funeral home.
Doryce Polk, an officer with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, testified
she received a phone call from Coleman. She and two other officers went to the
location from which Defendant had called. He met them as they drove up and,
without resistence, they handcuffed him and put him into the police car. She stated
she read him the Miranda rights. When she asked if he understood his rights, he
4 nodded his head affirmatively. She testified at one point he became agitated when his
uncle walked behind the police unit with an officer and they began walking across
the roadway toward a field. She stated Defendant said nothing to her.
Travis Trammel, a deputy with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office,
testified when he arrived at the location in Clarence where the Defendant had
surrendered, Defendant was sitting in back of the police unit. Deputy Trammel stated
he entered the unit, Mirandized the Defendant, and asked him if he would talk to him.
He testified Defendant said, “I just did what I had to do.” He said initially Defendant
declined to talk to him, but then stated: “It was him or me.” The deputy asked where
the gun was and Defendant responded he did not know. Upon further questioning,
Defendant said he wanted to talk to a lawyer. Deputy Trammel then terminated the
interview.
Deputy Trammel testified tracking dogs were later brought to the location, the
dogs searched the field across the street, and located in a hole in the ground a chrome
semi-automatic pistol wrapped in a towel. When asked how Defendant’s demeanor
was, Deputy Trammel testified he seemed nervous and scared, as if something
“traumatic” had happened in his life.
Jeff Franks, a detective with the Natchitoches City Police Department, testified
after the Defendant was brought into the police department, he attempted to interview
him, but Defendant declined. Defendant signed a Miranda Rights form indicting he
understood his rights and desired not to make a statement. Officer Franks testified
after he had gone over Defendant’s rights with him, he went outside. Within a few
minutes, Defendant was taken outside for a smoke. Officer Frank stated while
standing outside, Defendant laughed, then said. “I just can’t believe I’m sitting here
5 laughing after what I just did.” When asked how Defendant acted, Officer Frank said
that he appeared calm and relaxed.
Julius Armstrong, a sergeant with the Natchitoches City Police Department,
interviewed Defendant. Sergeant Armstrong testified at first Defendant did not want
to talk and again signed a Miranda Warning form stating such, but within a short time
the Defendant agreed to speak with him. Coleman stated he asked a friend to take him
to town where he bought some items, including a bus ticket out of town. They talked
about school and the friend asked about Mr. Hinton, who taught electronics at the
Louisiana Technical College. They went to the library, then they went to the college
because they wanted to speak with Mr. Hinton. Once they arrived at college, they
learned Mr. Hinton had a class at the time, so they decided to leave. Coleman said he
told his friend to wait for him in the car, he was going to go to the lavatory first.
Defendant then went into the classroom and shot the victim. He stated he and the
victim were having problems, that the victim had threatened him. Defendant
indicated the problem was over two hundred dollars he owed the victim. He stated
that he knew the victim had done time in prison, and he was afraid for his life.
In the statement, Coleman advised Sergeant Armstrong several times that his
friend who took him to the school had nothing to do with the shooting. He said his
friend was totally unaware of what was happening and he was innocent of any
wrongdoing. Defendant said the friend then dropped him off at the Armory, and he
threw the gun away into a field. He then rode to Clarence, where he was later taken
into custody. Sergeant Armstrong testified Defendant was “calm, collective[sic],
appeared to know what he was doing.” The sergeant testified Defendant was not
intimidated or threatened in any way. Nor were any promises made to get his
confession.
6 Assistant Chief of the Natchitoches City Police Larry Vaughn testified the gun
was found in the field across from where Defendant surrendered to the police, and it
was the gun used to kill the victim. By Defendant’s own admission, he shot the
victim. Furthermore, his intent to commit the crime was demonstrated by the fact he
first purchased a ticket out of town, then stood waiting outside the classroom door,
entered the classroom, and fired several shots directly at the victim. This court has
held that the act of aiming a firearm directly at a person and pulling the trigger can
inferentially support a jury’s finding that the Defendant had the requisite specific
intent to kill. State v. Clark, 93-1470 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/5/94), 643 So.2d 463, writ
denied, 94-2715 (La. 1/9/95), 649 So.2d 418.
We find the evidence was sufficient for the jury to conclude beyond a
reasonable doubt that Defendant had the specific intent to kill the victim. Defendant,
however, argues the specific intent requirement necessary to prove second degree
murder was negated by the fact that he was suffering from a mental illness at the time
of the shooting and as a result of the illness was not able to appreciate the wrongness
of the act. In support of this defense, Coleman submitted the testimony of his mother,
Sandra Coleman, and several relatives. Ms. Coleman testified the Defendant was
living with her at the time of the shooting. She stated approximately three or four
months prior to the shooting, Defendant’s behavior changed radically. She stated
there was never a problem with her son, no mental health issues, that he had always
been a happy, stable person. However, he became so paranoid he would not allow
her to go outside or answer the telephone. He stopped eating the food she cooked for
him, often throwing the food out into the yard. Defendant admitted to her that
something was wrong, but would do nothing about it. He paced and spit constantly
and he told her “they gonna kill us all.”
7 Gladys Coleman, Defendant’s aunt, corroborated Sandra Coleman’s testimony,
stating she would call because she was so worried about the situation, but no one
would answer the phone, so, she would call a neighbor to go and check up on the
family. She stated Defendant scared her to the point where she did not want to be
around him anymore. Claudine Hill, Defendant’s first cousin, testified on a specific
occasion, after being told about Defendant’s behavior, she went over to the house and
found Sandra Coleman sitting terrified in a chair and Defendant pacing back and
forth. When she asked him what was wrong, he told her “if they’ll do it to you,
they’ll do it to me.” She stated he never told her who “they” were. Aretha McWrite,
a long-time neighbor, testified Defendant had been a friend of her daughter and
sometimes hung out at her house. She stated he was easygoing and always joking
around, but in March 2005, about the time of the local football play-offs, she noticed
that he had become increasingly nervous, to the point that when he visited he would
lock the door behind him and peer anxiously out the windows. LaQuida Westin, the
mother of Defendant’s son, testified that Defendant became very distant toward his
son prior to the shooting. She stated that normally he had a very good relationship
with the boy and would spend a lot of time with him. Truly Coleman, Defendant’s
aunt, testified the Coleman family was a close-knit family and the Defendant had
been a normal, happy person. A few weeks before the shooting, he told her he saw
too much at school, and people were messing with people’s minds over the internet.
Dr. Paul Ware, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Louisiana State
University Health Science Center in Shreveport, testified as an expert witness in
psychiatry and forensic psychiatry on Defendant’s behalf. Dr. Ware saw Defendant
for the first time after he was released from Feliciana. He was ordered by the trial
court to assess Defendant’s capability to assist in his defense and to determine
8 whether Defendant was insane at the time of the shooting. Dr. Ware interviewed
Defendant and his family and reviewed reports from the sanity commission and
medical records from Feliciana. Particularly significant to him was the testimony he
heard in court regarding Defendant’s fear of what was happening at school. Dr. Ware
stated, following that testimony, he questioned Defendant about it. Dr. Ware testified
that “he said they were taking advantage of young girls and they were putting it on
the internet and he truly did believe that without a doubt. He believed that and he felt
like that he had to react to that and to do something to try to fix it.” Dr. Ware said
that from the descriptions of the changes in Defendant’s behavior, he “was clearly
suffering from a delusional disorder.” Dr. Ware concluded that Defendant’s disorder
was based on false beliefs which, together with psychotic behavior, such as hearing
voices, he could not resist. Dr. Ware opined that Defendant was “significantly
impaired during that period of time.” When asked if Defendant could distinguish
between right and wrong when he shot the victim, he stated Coleman was suffering
from a delusional disorder and “was not aware of the wrongness of his behavior at the
time.”
The State questioned Dr. Ware concerning the medical evaluation done on
Defendant while he was at Feliciana. Dr. Ware admitted Feliciana had reported that
Defendant “had little regard for others or opinions of society around him,” that his
“desire to be in control may lead to explorative [sic] or manipulative behavior on his
part,” and that “the probability of fainting [feigning] of the defendant is high, about
98%.” The State pointed out Dr. Wheat’s evaluation of Defendant indicated
Defendant may have been malingering.
In State v. Silman, 95-154, p. 7 (La. 11/27/95), 663 So.2d 27, 32, the Louisiana
Supreme Court said:
9 In reviewing a claim for insufficiency of evidence in an action where an affirmative defense of insanity is raised, this court, applying the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), must determine whether under the facts and circumstances of the case, any rational fact finder, viewing the evidence most favorable to the prosecution, could conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he was insane at the time of the offense. State v. Peters, 94-0283 (La. 10/17/94); 643 So.2d 1222; State v. Nealy, 450 So.2d 634 (La.1984); State v. Price, 403 So.2d 660 (La.1981); State v. Claibon, [395 S.2d 770 (La.1981)]; State v. Roy, 395 So.2d 664 (La.1981).
In Silman, the supreme court set forth the standard and burden of proof when
a defendant claims insanity at the time of the offense, as follows:
In Louisiana, a legal presumption exists that a defendant is sane at the time of the offenses. La.R.S. 15:432. To rebut the presumption of sanity and avoid criminal responsibility, defendant has the burden of proving the affirmative defense of insanity by a preponderance of the evidence. La.C.Cr.P. art. 652. Criminal responsibility is not negated by the mere existence of a mental disease or defect. To be exempted of criminal responsibility, defendant must show he suffered a mental disease or mental defect which prevented him from distinguishing between right and wrong with reference to the conduct in question. La.R.S. 14:14; State v. Williams, 346 So.2d 181 (La.1977). The determination of sanity is a factual matter. All the evidence, including expert and lay testimony, along with the defendant’s conduct and action, should be reserved for the fact finder to establish whether the defendant has proven by a preponderance of the evidence that he was insane at the time of the offense. State v. Bibb, 626 So.2d 913 (La.App. 5th Cir.1993), writ denied, 93-3127 (La. 9/16/94); 642 So.2d 188; State v. Claibon, 395 So.2d 770 (La.1981). Lay testimony pertaining to defendant’s actions, both before and after the crime, may provide the fact finder with a rational basis for rejecting unanimous medical opinion that the defendant was legally insane at the time of the offense. State v. Peters, [94-0283 (La.10/17/94), 643 So.2d 1222]; State v. Claibon, supra.
Id. at 32.
In State v. Appacrombie, 33,551 (La.App. 2 Cir. 9/12/00), 766 So.2d 771, writ
denied, 00-2856 (La. 10/5/01), 798 So.2d 961, the second circuit affirmed the jury’s
verdict of guilty, despite abundant expert testimony of Appacrombie’s inability to
distinguish right from wrong when she shot a teenage girl who she thought was
bullying her daughter. Five doctors, including Dr. Ware, testified Appacrombie was
10 suffering from a mental illness when she shot the victim. The doctors testified she
was psychotic and delusional. Appacrombie had problems with seizures and had a
temporal lobectomy, which did not seem to stop the seizures. There was testimony
she exhibited violent behavior prior to the lobectomy and there was testimony she
exhibited violent and irrational behavior following the surgery. However, the second
circuit found the jury could have inferred from her behavior that she was aware her
conduct was wrong. She spoke rationally at the time of the shooting, she acted
appropriately when she was apprehended, admitted what she had done, and
cooperated with the police officers. She immediately called the police on her own
accord.
Applying the law to the facts in the present case, we find the trier of fact could
have found concluded Defendant failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence
that he was incapable of appreciating the wrongness of his act. Defendant planned
his actions deliberately, purchased a bus ticket out of town, hid the weapon, called the
police on his own volition, surrendered to the police calmly, and insisted that his
friend who drove him to and from the school was innocent of any complicity with the
shooting. While the testimony indicated Defendant may have been suffering from a
mental illness, there was no evidence that he did not understand right from wrong
when he killed the victim.
Motion to Suppress
Defendant asserts the trial court erred when it denied his motion to suppress
statements made to the police shortly after the shooting. The Defendant argued he
had diminished mental capacity, and he suffered a mental illness at the time of the
shooting; therefore, his statements admitting he shot the victim were not voluntary
11 and not admissible at trial. In State v. Dugar, 93-718, p.17 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/5/94),
643 So.2d 870, 880, this court stated:
Before the state may introduce into evidence what purports to be a confession or statement of a defendant, it must first affirmatively show that it was freely and voluntarily given and was not made under the influence of fear, duress, intimidation, menaces, threats, inducements, or promises. La.Code Crim.P. art. 703(G); La.R.S. 15:451. In addition, if the statement was made during custodial interrogation, the state must prove that the accused was advised of his Miranda rights and intelligently and voluntarily waived those rights. La. Const. Art. I § 13 (1974); Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966); State v. Coleman, 395 So.2d 704 (La.1981).
To meet its burden the state may rely on the presumption of sanity provided in La.R.S. 15:432. Because of this presumption, the defendant has the burden of proving a mental defect which renders him unable to understand his rights and, therefore, incompetent to waive them. State v. Glover, 343 So.2d 118 (La.1977). The state is not required to negate a defendant’s mental abnormality, but it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession or statement a defendant gave was voluntary. The defendant must then prove the existence of a mental defect or disorder that prevented his confession or statement from being intelligently and voluntarily made. State v. Glover, supra. However, the law is clear that when the issue on appeal is whether an accused’s level of intellectual capacity precludes him from effectively understanding the essential nature of his right to remain silent, to have assistance of counsel, and of the consequences of his speech, much discretion is accorded to the trial court’s determination. State v. Lefevre, 419 So.2d 862 (La.1982); State v. Ashworth, 554 So.2d 271 (La.App. 3d Cir.1989), writ denied, 561 So.2d 113 (La.1990).
In State v. Verret, 06-1337, p. 11 (La.App. 1 Cir. 3/23/07), 960 So.2d 208, 216,
the First Circuit stated:
The admissibility of a confession is, in the first instance a question for the trial court; its conclusions on the credibility and weight of the testimony relating to the voluntary nature of the confession are accorded great weight and will not be overturned unless they are not supported by the evidence. Whether or not a showing of voluntariness has been made is analyzed on a case-by-case basis with regard to the facts and circumstances of each case. The trial court must consider the totality of the circumstances in deciding whether or not a confession is admissible. [State v.]Plain, 99-1112 [(La.App. 1 Cir. 2/18/00),]at p. 6, 752 So.2d [337]at 342.
12 A hearing was held on the motion to suppress. Detective Jeff Franks with the
Natchitoches City Police Department testified he interviewed Defendant at the police
department shortly after Defendant was brought to the station. He stated he read
Defendant his Miranda rights, following which Defendant indicated he did not want
to speak. Detective Franks stated he read each of the five rights shown on the form
to Defendant and asked specifically if he understood. Defendant indicated he
understood and wrote “yes” on the form next to the question, “Do you understand
each of these right I have explained to you?” and “no” next to the question, “Having
these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us now?” Defendant initialed each
response and signed the form with witnesses. Moreover, Defendant wrote down his
address and the date on the form. Detective Franks then testified he stepped outside
for a cigarette. About thirty minutes later, Sergeant Armstrong brought Defendant
outside for a cigarette. He asked Detective Franks to keep an eye on Defendant. The
detective stated that while he was standing within five feet of him, Defendant laughed
and then said, “I could not believe that I am able to laugh after what I did. But he
deserved to die, though.” Detective Franks stated no one was speaking to Defendant.
The detective said Defendant was just sitting there relaxed, “I mean it’s like he just
got through taking a bath and was relaxing.”
Julius Armstrong, a sergeant with the Natchitoches City Police Department,
testified he came into contact with Defendant at the police department shortly after
Defendant declined to talk to Detective Franks. The sergeant stated that, using the
Miranda rights form, he Mirandized Defendant. He specifically asked Defendant
about his educational background. Defendant told him he had graduated from high
school and attended two years of a vocational school, and had been in the military.
Detective Armstrong stated Defendant did not appear to be on any drugs or alcohol.
13 He informed the detective he did not want to speak without a lawyer. Again,
Defendant signed a form indicating he understood his rights and did not want to
speak at that time. Sergeant Armstrong testified at this point, he took Defendant
outside for a cigarette.
When Defendant returned from smoking the cigarette, he started telling the
sergeant about the shooting. Sergeant Armstrong stopped him and once again
Mirandized him and had him sign the form indicating he wished to talk about the
incident. The sergeant stated Defendant appeared confident, calm, and coherent. He
made eye contact. Moreover, Sergeant Armstrong testified there were no threats,
intimidation, or any promises made to invoke the confession. Sergeant Armstrong
testified there was nothing to indicate to him that Defendant suffered from a mental
illness at the time he gave his statement.
Finally, Detective Travis Trammel testified he spoke with Defendant just after
he was taken into custody in Clarence. He stated he had been informed Defendant
had gone out into the field across the street, and he thought perhaps Defendant had
tossed the gun into the field. He stated he got into the police car with Defendant and
asked him where was the gun. He said he had been told Defendant had been
Mirandized already, but he gave him another verbal warning of his rights and
Defendant indicated he understood. He stated Defendant appeared nervous, stressed,
sweaty, and said, “I just did what I had to do. It was either him or me.” The detective
stated Defendant then declined to speak with him, at which time he terminated any
conversation with Defendant.
While Defendant did not present any witnesses at the hearing, he submitted to
the trial court the psychological evaluations of Drs. Wheat and Bienvenue, and the
report issued by Feliciana at the time of his commitment in May 2005. Defendant
14 argued it had been determined he was not capable of assisting in his own defense and
was committed to Feliciana; therefore, he was not capable of giving voluntary
statements to the police. He argued the police should have known from the
circumstances that he suffered from a mental defect because of the fact that he shot
someone in broad daylight, in front of witnesses, went home, lied initially about
where the gun was, and there was never a true motive established for the shooting.
Accordingly, his confession was involuntary and not intelligently made.
In its ruling, the trial court noted that the initial evaluations of Defendant were
indeterminate: one physician stated he was capable of proceeding, and the other
physician stated he was not. The trial court found:
At any rate, this points out that this is not a clear, this is not a clear issue here. Even at that time and that is you know a number of years afterwards, well I’m sorry. Originally even a psychiatrist back in the fall of that year couldn’t make a determination that he was not able to. The evidence clearly shows from the evaluation of the officers of the individual that he was advised of his rights. It was a spontaneous statement made and the Court finds that it was a spontaneous. It was not coerced and it was not initiated because the officers asked a question. Uh, and I find that all of the, all of the uh, Miranda Rights were given at all of the appropriate times by all of the officers that were involved. They were evaluated by the officers and determined that he didn’t appear anything but normal to them so they took the statement. Now after the fact that some, that some facts did not uh, pan out to be true as argued by Mr. Guillet while that’s a very good argument, it, I don’t think pans out in all cases. Because when people give confessions they don’t always tell all of the truth when they do that. So I don’t think that’s a factor in determining whether or not it’s free and voluntary. So I find that the statement was free and voluntary and uh, can be admitted into evidence.
We agree with the trial court and find the State met its burden of proving
Defendant’s confessions were voluntary and intelligently made and Defendant did not
meet his burden of proving a mental defect rendering him incapable of understanding
his rights and, therefore, incompetent to waive them. Defendant relies heavily on a
deposition of Dr. Ware. In the deposition, Dr. Ware stated that the improper
15 questioning techniques used by the officers impacted Defendant’s statements and that
most certainly “it would be very difficult if not impossible for someone suffering
from a psychotic delusional disorder, which he was, to be able to testify as to what
happened--be voluntary.” A reading of the interview conducted by Sergeant
Armstrong indicates Defendant spoke freely and was not cut off or misdirected. In a
narrative, Defendant described the morning with his friend leading up to the time
where he stood outside of the classroom, awaiting an opportunity to enter and shoot
the victim. Defendant had the presence of mind to insist that his friend, who drove
him to school, was not involved in the crime. Moreover, two of the inculpatory
comments he made were spontaneously made. The taped confession was made after
he spontaneously began to confess, was stopped, and was reminded of his right to
remain silent. We find no merit to this argument.
Testimony of Dr. Ware
Defendant argues he was deprived of the right to an effective defense when the
trial court ruled Dr. Ware could not testify as to the improper interrogation technique
employed by Sergeant Armstrong. The defense sought to admit the testimony of Dr.
Ware to the effect that the defendant’s statement given to the police after the shooting
could not be believed because of the method of questioning used by the police. The
State objected. The trial court allowed Dr. Ware to testify as to whether the defendant
knew right from wrong at the time of the offense and his state of mind both before
and after the shooting. In addition, the Court allowed Dr. Ware to generally testify
about the effect particular police questioning might have on individuals with certain
mental conditions. We find no merit to this argument.
16 Excessiveness of Sentence
Defendant argues a sentence of life imprisonment is excessive considering that
he “committed the offense under the influence of an abnormal mental state.”
Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:30.1 provides for a sentence of life imprisonment
without the benefit of parole. The trial court has no discretion to impose any other
sentence after a conviction for second degree murder. The Defendant argues the
circumstances presented in this case are unusual and a lesser sentence is warranted.
While there is authority for the trial court to impose an alternative sentence, the
burden of proof is on the Defendant to establish“because of unusual circumstance[s]
. . . [he is] a victim of the legislature’s failure to assign sentences that are
meaningfully tailored to the culpability of the offender, the gravity of the offense, and
the circumstance of the case.” State v. Young, 94-1636, pp 5-6 (La.App. 4 Cir.
10/26/95), 663 So.2d 525, 531, writ denied, 95-3010 (La. 3/22/96), 669 So.2d 1223.
We find the Defendant failed to rebut the presumption that the sentence is
constitutional by clear and convincing evidence. See Appacrombie, 766 So.2d 771.
See also, State v. Pierre, 02-277 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/11/03), 854 So.2d 954, writ denied,
03-2042 (La. 1/16/04), 864 So.2d 626.
DECREE
Based on the foregoing review of the record, the conviction and sentence of
Calvin Joseph Coleman is affirmed.