State v. Aldridge

502 P.2d 1355, 108 Ariz. 536, 1972 Ariz. LEXIS 391
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 20, 1972
DocketNo. 2387
StatusPublished

This text of 502 P.2d 1355 (State v. Aldridge) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Aldridge, 502 P.2d 1355, 108 Ariz. 536, 1972 Ariz. LEXIS 391 (Ark. 1972).

Opinion

CAMERON, Vice Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from a jury verdict and judgment of guilty to the crime of voluntary manslaughter, § 13-456, subsec. A, par. 1 A.R.S., while armed with a gun, § 13^-57, subsec. B A.R.S., and from a sentence of not less than five nor more than eight years thereon.

We are called upon to answer the following questions on appeal:

1. Was it error to allow a police officer to testify who had not been previously endorsed as a witness?
[538]*5382. Was it error to admit testimony of defendant’s statements to police officers after the prosecution failed to produce such statements?
3. Was it error to fail to produce the statements of the defendant to Jerilyn Bush even though she did not testify as to those statements?

The facts necessary for a determination of the matter on appeal are as follows. On 7 December 1970, the deceased, Richard Hyde, and Lloyd Stevens arrived at Bernie’s Bar on South Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, at approximately 8:30 p. m. They met with defendant who was acquainted with both Hyde and Stevens. After drinking and shooting pool, the defendant and Hyde got into an argument and Hyde threatened to kill the defendant with a pool cue. The defendant left the bar, got into his camper truck and started the engine. Hyde came up to the defendant’s vehicle, opened the righthand door, and was shot by the defendant. The defendant contends that Hyde had something in his hand which he thought was a gun, and because of Hyde’s reputation of violence he acted in self-defense. The defendant immediately called the police and upon the arrival of the police the defendant surrendered his gun.

Prior to the trial, the defendant’s attorney moved that the court order the County Attorney to provide him with any evidence concerning the dangerous and violent character of Richard Ray Hyde which would substantiate defendant’s right of self-defense. On the second day of the trial, after the selection of the jury and the opening statements but before the taking of testimony, the attorney for the defendant moved for the production of statements by prosecuting witnesses, the police, and the defendant.

The motion was granted as to some of the statements and the attorney for the State complied with the order of the court for the production of said statements. As to other statements the record is not clear as to what the court ordered and it is the failure of the State to provide these statements that defendant claims as error.

THE UNENDORSED WITNESS

Officer Woodhead was not endorsed as a witness as required by Rule 153 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S. On Friday of the trial the State requested a hearing in chambers outside the presence of the jury at which time Officer Wood-head testified and a tape recording of defendant’s telephone call to the police after the shooting was heard. The court ruled the tape could be played before the jury. On the following Monday, the 26th of April when Officer Woodhead was called, the defendant objected claiming the officer had not been previously endorsed as a witness. Our Court of Appeals has stated:

“Rule 153, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., requires the State to endorse the names of all state witnesses on the indictment. Rule XIII (e), Rules of the Superior Court of Maricopa County, 17 A.R.S., supplements Criminal Rule 153 and requires the endorsement of names of all State witnesses within five days before trial. In State v. King, 66 Ariz. 42, 182 P.2d 915 (1947) we find the following comment with reference to the failure to endorse a witness as provided by Rule 153:
‘These rules do not in express terms provide that the effect of a failure to endorse the name of a witness disqualifies the unnamed person as a witness. We do not feel that the rules are susceptible of the interpretation contended for by appellant that a person whose name is not endorsed is absolutely disqualified from being a witness. The state may be penalized for failure to endorse the name of a witness for the court may in its discretion refuse to permit the use of an unendorsed witness as the ends of justice demand, or it may grant a continuance. This discretion is not an arbitrary one but rather a legal discretion to be exercised to effect the ends of justice.’
[539]*539“While it is discretionary with the trial court whether to permit an unendorsed witness to testify, the exercise of such discretion must be consonant with the purpose of the rule, which purpose is to enable an accused to advisedly prepare his defense.” State v. Von Reeden, 9 Ariz.App. 190, 194, 450 P.2d 702, 706 (1969).

While admittedly the better practice is to endorse all witnesses prior to the trial as required by Rule 153, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., in the instant case a reading of the transcript and a listening to the tape does not indicate that the failure to endorse was prejudicial to the defendant or that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the officer to testify and the tape to be played to the jury.

FAILURE TO REVEAL THE STATEMENTS OF THE DEFENDANT

On the morning of the second day of trial, the attorney for the defense moved that:

“ * * * the Court order the Maricopa County Attorney and his deputies to produce any statements, written or oral, made by the accused that the State will produce at the trial.”
The following took place:
“MR. ERLICHMAN: No objection to producing the DR after the officer who wrote the DR takes the stand.
“THE COURT: It is ordered after each police officer testifies Prosecution will provide Counsel for the defendant to aid them in cross-examination with a DR of this particular officer.”

And:

“THE COURT: The second part of this motion is to produce any statement written or oral made by the accused that the State will produce at the trial.
“MR. DIETTRICH: Your Plonor, we have no objection to producing statements made by the defendant to police after the crime was committed. (Emphasis added)
“THE COURT: Do you have any written statement—
“MR. DIETTRICH: No written statements.
“THE COURT: —you intend to offer, an admission against interests?
“MR. DIETTRICH: We have oral statements paraphrased into departmental reports. That’s all we have.
“THE COURT: Do you intend to offer those statements into evidence?
“MR. DIETTRICH: Some of them.”

It is not clear from the transcript what the order of the court was on defendant’s motion and defendant’s attorney did not press for a definitive ruling even though the State’s attorney made it clear that he intended to provide only statements made after the crime was committed.

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Related

State v. Von Reeden
450 P.2d 702 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1969)
State v. King
182 P.2d 915 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1947)
State v. McClellan
217 N.E.2d 230 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1966)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
502 P.2d 1355, 108 Ariz. 536, 1972 Ariz. LEXIS 391, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-aldridge-ariz-1972.