State v. Armstrong

440 P.2d 307, 103 Ariz. 280, 1968 Ariz. LEXIS 247
Arizona Supreme Court·Decided May 16, 1968·No. 1546·Published·Cited by 14 cases

Opinions

STRUCKMEYER, Justice.

In deciding this case, State v. Armstrong, 103 Ariz. 174, 438 P.2d 411, we routinely remanded for determination by the trial judge-the voluntariness of an asserted confession: in accordance with our decision in State v. Simoneau, 98 Ariz. 2, 401 P.2d 404. Defendant now, in his motion for rehearing,, urges that, since we decided the trial judge-should have resolved the question of voluntarines's, it was fundamental error not to-have had the jury at the trial pass upon the same question. A re-examination of the-record has lead us to certain conclusions, which we think are of sufficient significance to require their disposition by way of' a written decision.

The defendant was charged with the crime of robbery. He was arrested by a. City of Phoenix police officer, Jack Dunn, a detective, and taken to the police station and there interrogated in the presence of Police Officer Richard O. Rimer. At the trial on April. 22, 1964, Detective Rimer was-called to the witness stand. When it became apparent that he was going to relate a conversation with defendant, defense-counsel requested permission to interrogate-the witness on voir dire “just to see about the statements that are being made to determine whether or not they will be admissible.” Permission having been granted, defense counsel questioned Detective Rimer, in part, as follows:

“Q Now then, there were only three of you in the room?
“A Yes, sir.
“Q Were you wearing a side arm?
“A No, sir.
“Q Did you or Detective Dunn, in your presence, at any time, tell the Defendant he was entitled to an attorney?
“A Yes, sir, he was advised of his. rights, as I previously stated.
[281] “Q Well, I know, but I am asking you —he was entitled to an Attorney?
“A Yes, sir, he was advised that he had a right to an Attorney.
******
“Q All right. Now then, you told him he was entitled to Counsel, did you, at any time, or Detective Dunn, tell him that anything he said would be held against him?
“A He was told that he did not have to make any statement verbally or written to us. If he did not wish to do so, he was •advised of his rights.
“Q Did you or Detective Dunn tell him that in the event he did make a statement, and would plead guilty, that you would see that he went to the hospital?
“A. No, sir.
“Q You didn’t have that conversation with him?
“A. No, sir.
“Q Was any conversation about his being sent to a hospital indulged in, at that time?
“A I don’t recall any conversation about any hospital of any kind.
■ “Q As a matter of fact, did Detective Dunn tell him if he would plead guilty to this crime, that he would use his influence to get him sent to a hospital?
“A Detective Dunn made no statement of this type in my presence.
“[Defense Counsel]: You may proceed.”

Detective Rimer then related statements of the defendant to the effect that he and another had committed the robbery.

Detective Dunn was also called to the witness stand. He testified without objection that the defendant had admitted to him “that he had committed this particular robbery and others.”

Since the trial of this case was prior to the decision of-the United States Supreme Court in Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908, the trial judge applied the accepted law of this state as of that time. See State v. Hudson, 89 Ariz. 103, 358 P.2d 332. Arizona did not then require a specific determination of voluntariness by the trial judge but only a decision that there was a question of fact for the jury to resolve. Cf. State v. Owen, 96 Ariz. 274, 394 P.2d 206.

After the opinion in Jackson v. Denno, we said:

“It is the duty of a trial court to hold a hearing as to voluntariness of a statement or confession, if a question as to its voluntariness is raised — either by the attorneys, or' one is presented by the evidence.” State v. Goodyear, 100 Ariz. 244, 413 P.2d 566.

In the present case no question of voluntariness was raised — either by defendant’s attorney or by the evidence. Accordingly, we have concluded that the trial judge was not required, sua sponte, to enter upon an examination outside of the presence of the jury to determine the possible involuntariness of the confession.

Armstrong took the witness stand and testified in his own behalf:

“Q And, did you have a conversation with Mr. Dunn in the interrogation room there ?
“A Yes.
“Q What did Mr. Dunn say to you?
“A Mr. Dunn told me that he had my record. And, that a man with my past record must need some type of mental health. Now, he told me that he knew pretty sure I was not involved in the robbery, but he said we have other charges we are going to make you on anyway, so he said, Why don’t you cooperate with me, John, and I will help you get into the hospital here.’ Those were his very words. And, I told him, I said, ‘Look, if you can get me into an alcohol clinic or a hospital, I will clear up your whole files. I will plead guilty to any charge you bring up against me in Court. But, as far as me being guilty of that robbery, I: am not guilty of that robbery.’
[282] “Q Do you remember Officer Rimer being present?
“A I never saw him before today in Court.. I have never seen that Officer before.
* ‡ ‡ * * *
“Q In other words, what Officer Dunn said here is not true?
“A It is incorrect.
“Q It is worse than that, it is a lie.
“A It is an absolute lie, yes, sir.
“Q It is perjury?
“A It is. It is an absolute lie. The Officer I have never seen him before in my life, that claimed he sat in the room while I talked to Jack Dunn. I never talked to anybody.
“Q And, Detective Rimer is also lying, incorrect, perjury?
“A I have never seen him before. The man couldn’t look me in the eye here in the Courtroom. I have never seen him before.”

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State v. Armstrong, 440 P.2d 307, 103 Ariz. 280, 1968 Ariz. LEXIS 247 (Ark. 1968).

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