State v. Avery

212 S.E.2d 142, 286 N.C. 459, 1975 N.C. LEXIS 1242

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: March 12, 1975
• Docket: 33
• Status: Published

Opinions

MOOEE, Justice.

Defendant first contends that he was deprived of his constitutional right to trial by an impartial jury when the trial judge allowed juror Tilgiham to be dismissed upon challenge for cause by the State. Defendant asserts that Mrs. Tilgiham’s objections to the death penalty were general and that she therefore should not have been dismissed for cause, citing Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 20 L.Ed. 2d 776, 88 S.Ct. 1770 (1968).

During voir dire, the following transpired between the solicitor and Mrs. Tilgiham:

“Q. And let me ask you this question. If you were satisfied from the evidence and beyond a reasonable doubt, would you vote for a verdict of guilty, realizing at the time you cast that vote that it would take this man’s life?

“A. No. It is kind of a hard question about taking a person’s life. I would have to think that over. I would hate to do that.

“Q. I am just asking you could you do that?

“A. I could if I . . . you know ... I would have to think first.

“Q. Ma’am?

“A. Well, I could, you know, but I have ... it is a hard thought to say what I would say about taking a man’s life.

“Q. I am certainly not attempting to do anything except try to find out from you if you could and would do that.

“A. I can’t. . . .

“Q. If you were satisfied from the evidence that the defendant was guilty of murder in the first degree, would you vote for a verdict of guilty realizing at the time that it would take his life?

“A. Well, it would be hard to take a person’s life. It would be on my conscience.

“Q. I just want you to tell me if you could or could not do that?

“A. No, I don’t feel like I could do that.

“Q. Under any circumstances regardless of the facts in any case would you vote for a verdict, in any case that would take this man’s life?

“A. I wouldn’t like to vote to take his life if I could help it.

“Q. Well, are you opposed under all circumstances and conditions to capital punishment?

“A. On the punishment, yes.

“Q. I said are you opposed to capital punishment?

“A. Well, yes.

“Q. You are?

“A. I think so as far as I know of taking his life.

“Q. Your Honor, I submit this woman for cause.

“Court: All right. You may step down.”

Since Witherspoon, this Court has consistently held that if a prospective juror states that under no circumstances could he vote for a verdict that would result in the imposition of the death penalty no matter how aggravated the case and regardless of the evidence shown, the trial court can properly dismiss the juror upon a challenge for cause. State v. Noell, 284 N.C. 670, 202 S.E. 2d 750 (1974) ; State v. Anderson, 281 N.C. 261, 188 S.E. 2d 336 (1972) ; State v. Watson, 281 N.C. 221, 188 S.E. 2d 289 (1972) ; State v. Cook, 280 N.C. 642, 187 S.E. 2d 104 (1972) ; State v. Westbrook, 279 N.C. 18, 181 S.E. 2d 572 (1971), modified on other grounds, 408 U.S. 939, 33 L.Ed. 2d 761, 92 S.Ct. 2873 (1972) ; State v. Atkinson, 275 N.C. 288, 167 S.E. 2d 241 (1969), modified on other grounds, 403 U.S. 948, 29 L.Ed. 2d 859, 91 S.Ct. 2283 (1971).

Whether a juror evidences absolute opposition to the death penalty so as to be excludable for cause under Witherspoon is a difficult question subject to seemingly inconsistent results on similar facts. See Annot., 39 A.L.R. 3d 550 (1971). We are aware of numerous decisions in other jurisdictions upholding challenges for cause on answers more equivocal than those of juror Tilgiham. See, e.g., Paramore v. State, 229 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 1969), modified on other grounds, 408 U.S. 935, 33 L.Ed. 2d 751, 92 S.Ct. 2857. (1972) ; Williams v. State, 228 So. 2d 377 (Fla. 1969), modified on other grounds, 408 U.S. 941, 33 L.Ed. 2d 765, 92 S.Ct. 2864 (1972) ; State v. Conyers, 58 N.J. 123, 275 A. 2d 721 (1971) ; State v. Elliott, 25 Ohio St. 2d 249, 54 Ohio Ops. 2d 371, 267 N.E. 2d 806 (1971), modified on other grounds, 408 U.S. 939, 33 L.Ed. 2d 761, 92 S.Ct. 2872 (1972) ; Koonce v. State, 456 P. 2d 549 (Okla. Crim. 1969), modified on other grounds, 408 U.S. 934, 33 L.Ed. 2d 748, 92 S.Ct. 2845 (1972) ; Tezeno v. State, 484 S.W. 2d 374 (Tex. 1972). We are also aware that a substantial number of death penalty cases have been reversed on the authority of Witherspoon in memorandum opinions by the United States Supreme Court. For a partial list, see Tezeno, id. at 383.

In State v. Noell, 284 N.C. 670, 202 S.E. 2d 750 (1974), we held that a prospective juror, Mrs. Rogers, was properly excused for cause after answering questions concerning her belief as to capital punishment as follows:

“ ‘Mr. Pierce [the solicitor] : And Mrs. Rogers, let me ask you the same question, that I have been asking. Would it be impossible for you to bring in a verdict requiring the imposition of the death penalty, under any circumstances, no matter — even though the State proved to you the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt ?

Juror Rogers: I do not believe in capital punishment.

Mr. Pierce : Let me ask you this question, again, with your answer in mind, please. Would it be impossible to bring in a verdict that required the imposition of the death penalty, no matter what the State showed you, by way of the evidence?

Juror Rogers : I think so.’ ”

While it is clear that Mrs. Tilgiham, the prospective juror in this case, encountered some difficulty formulating answers to the questions, the solicitor was diligent in seeking to help the juror clarify her position. The solicitor stated that he was seeking by his questions only to find out, under Witherspoon, if the juror could or could not render a guilty verdict, the consequences of which would be death to the defendant. We believe the juror clarified her position to the extent that it was clear that she would refuse to return a guilty verdict regardless of the evidence. This is shown by her other answers, as well as by the following exchange:

“Q. If you were satisfied from the evidence that the defendant was guilty of murder in the first degree, would you vote for a verdict of guilty realizing at the time that it would take his life?

“A. Well, it would be hard to take a person’s life. It would be on my conscience.

“Q. I just want you to tell me if you could or could not do that ?

“A. No, I don’t feel like I could do that.”

As the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said in Tezeno:

“We cannot believe that Witherspoon . . . requires certain formal answers and none other. We surely feel that the test of Witherspoon is ‘not to be applied with the hyper-technical and archaic approach of a 19th century pleading book, but with realism and rationality. [Citation omitted.] ’ ” 484 S.W. 2d at 383.

We think that, reading the juror’s answers as a whole, she displayed an unequivocal reluctance to render a guilty verdict, knowing that defendant would be subjected to the death penalty. Furthermore, the record does not disclose that the State had exhausted its nine peremptory challenges, and had this challenge for cause not been sustained, the solicitor could have challenged this juror peremptorily.

This assignment is overruled.

Defendant next contends that the trial court erred in allowing into evidence the defendant’s in-custody confession.

A voir dire hearing was held to determine the admissibility of the confession. On voir dire, Special Agent William Earl Godley of the State Bureau of Investigation testified that he read the defendant his rights at the Murfreesboro Police Station as follows:

“Before I ask you any questions, you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent and riot make any statement. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before you answer any questions and to have him or anyone else with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you by the Court before any questioning, if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer.”

Defendant, a high school graduate, testified on voir dire that he had been taken into custody three times before and that he understood his rights. He signed a written waiver of those rights at about 1:55 a.m. Defendant testified that “nobody mistreated me,” that he knew and understood his rights, and that he had a Coca-Cola and was allowed to smoke. After a thorough voir dire hearing, covering eleven pages in the record, the trial court concluded that the defendant freely, understandingly and voluntarily made the statement to Sheriff Daniels without undue influence, compulsion and duress and without promise of leniency, and that defendant’s constitutional rights had not been abridged in any way. Such conclusions, when supported by competent evidence, are conclusive on appeal. State v. Thompson, 285 N.C. 181, 203 S.E. 2d 781 (1974) ; State v. Crews, 284 N.C. 427, 201 S.E. 2d 840 (1974) ; State v. Frazier, 280 N.C. 181, 185 S.E. 2d 652 (1972) ; State v. Hill, 276 N.C. 1, 170 S.E. 2d 885 (1969).

Defendant earnestly contends, however, that the confession was rendered incompetent due to an incident which occurred between him and Police Chief Wheeler earlier in the evening on 29 September at the police station.

Upon being arrested and placed in the police car around 9:15 p.m., defendant was read his rights. After arriving at the station, defendant asked to make a telephone call. Police Chief Wheeler told defendant he could make the telephone call after he gave the officers his name, date of birth and address. Defendant refused to give that information and was not allowed to make a telephone call at that time. Chief Wheeler testified that he needed the name of the defendant so he could complete his legal papers, draw a warrant promptly (as required by G.S. 15-47), and keep his phone log up to date as required by city regulations. He further testified: “The city requires me to make a log of each call that is made and who makes the call. If he had told me who he was, I would have let him make the call. I did not try to keep him from making the call but I had to know who he was going to call so I could log it.” The information sought by Chief Wheeler was harmless to defendant yet necessary to the police in performing clerical duties accompanying arrest.

Later that night Sheriff Daniels of Bertie County took charge of the investigation. Sheriff Daniels recognized defendant as being one of the Avery boys from Lewiston whom he had arrested before. The sheriff was present when defendant was advised of his rights by Agent Godley and when defendant signed the waiver of those rights. After the waiver was signed, Agent Godley left and Sheriff Daniels, after again reminding defendant of his rights, asked him if it would be all right if he talked to him without a lawyer being present. Defendant replied that this would be all right. Defendant did not request to use the telephone that night although the sheriff told him that there was a telephone available if there was anyone he wanted to call. Under these facts, we do not feel that the refusal of Chief Wheeler to allow defendant to make a phone call until he gave the officer his name, date of birth and address was such prejudicial error, if error, as to require a new trial. Especially so when shortly thereafter, and before making any incriminating statement, defendant was told by the sheriff that a telephone was available if he desired to use it. At that time defendant did not request to make a telephone call but told the sheriff he did not want an attorney or anyone else present at that time and if he decided to get an attorney he would get one himself later on.

Assuming, without deciding, that it was error for Chief Wheeler to refuse to let defendant make the telephone call when he first requested to do so, we believe that under the facts in this case it, at most, would be harmless error. As stated in State v. Taylor, 280 N.C. 273, 280, 185 S.E. 2d 677, 682 (1972) :

“Every violation of a constitutional right is not prejudicial. Some constitutional errors are deemed harmless in the setting of a particular case, not requiring the automatic reversal of a conviction, where the appellate court can declare a belief that it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 17 L.Ed. 2d 705, 87 S.Ct. 824, 24 A.L.R. 3d 1065 (1967) ; Harrington v. California, 395 U.S. 250, 23 L.Ed. 2d 284, 89 S.Ct. 1726 (1969). Unless there is a reasonable possibility that the evidence complained of might have contributed to the conviction, its admission is harmless. Fahy v. Connecticut, 375 U.S. 85, 11 L.Ed. 2d 171, 84 S.Ct. 229 (1963)

In the present case defendant was positively identified by Mrs. Ivy who was present and who was also shot by defendant and who saw defendant shoot deceased. A car was seen leaving the vicinity of the shooting at a high rate of speed shortly after the shooting occurred. Soon thereafter, a car of the same description being driven by the defendant was stopped. A pistol was found in the car with four spent cartridges and two live ones. Mrs. Ivy testified that three shots were fired after the one which struck her. A ballistics expert testified that the bullets which killed deceased were fired from the pistol found in defendant’s possession in the car stolen from Mr. Robertson. Eleven live cartridges for the same caliber pistol and $136 in cash were found in defendant’s pockets. A hat similar to the one which defendant had over the pistol when he first entered the store was also found in the car which defendant was driving. In view of this overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt, we hold that the failure to allow defendant to make the telephone call as first requested, when he was allowed the opportunity to do so shortly thereafter, and before making any incriminating statement, was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We do not believe there is a reasonable possibility that this failure contributed to defendant’s conviction. See State v. Castor, 285 N.C. 286, 204 S.E. 2d 848 (1974) ; State v. Frank, 284 N.C. 137, 200 S.E. 2d 169 (1973) ; State v. Humphrey, 283 N.C. 570, 196 S.E. 2d 516 (1973).

Defendant next contends that his constitutional and statutory rights were violated by virtue of his being confined in jail for eight days without appointment of counsel.

Defendant was arrested about 9:15 p.m. on 29 September 1973. He was taken to the Murfreesboro Police Department where he signed a written waiver of his rights at about 1:55 a.m. He made a full confession about 3:00 a.m. on 30 September. Counsel was appointed for defendant in District Court on 8 October 1973. Sheriff Daniels testified on voir dire that at no time during the week preceding 8 October did defendant request that counsel be appointed for him. Daniels further testified that defendant told him that he could get his own attorney through connections he had in Washington, D. C. Defendant testified on cross-examination during voir dire that he told police officers he could get his own attorney and that he did not want appointed counsel. He testified that he told officers this on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, following his confession on Sunday morning, and that he was given appointed counsel as soon as he discovered he could not employ his own attorney. This contention is without merit.

Defendant asserts that he was deprived of his constitutional right to the presence of counsel during these eight days, and cites State v. Hill, 277 N.C. 547, 178 S.E. 2d 462 (1971), and State v. Pearce, 266 N.C. 234, 145 S.E. 2d 918 (1966), in support of his argument. Defendant’s reliance is misplaced. In Hill, defendant was held to be unconstitutionally deprived of his right to counsel when his counsel, who had been summoned, was refused permission to see him. In this case, defendant was offered an opportunity to contact counsel, and he assured the officers he would seek his own counsel to assist him. In Pearce, defendant was held for two months before counsel was appointed, during which the officers elicited much damaging testimony from him. In that case, lack of presence of counsel was but one factor among several which induced this Court to rule the admissions of defendant to be involuntary. At no time in that case did the defendant assure the officers he would procure his own counsel. In the present case defendant continued to assure the officers that he intended to employ private counsel. Under these circumstances, we hold that defendant’s constitutional rights were not violated by the eight days’ delay in appointment of counsel.

Defendant contends specifically, however, that his rights under G.S. 7A-453 and G.S. 15-47 were violated by the eight days’ delay in appointing counsel for him. Pertinent parts of those statutes are as follows:

“G.S. 7A-453. Duty of custodian of a possibly indigent person; determination of indigency.— ....

“(b) In districts which do not have a public defender, the authority having custody of a person who is without counsel for more than 48 hours after being taken into custody shall so inform the clerk of superior court. The. clerk shall make a preliminary determination as to the person’s entitlement to counsel and so inform any district or superior court judge holding court in the county. The judge so informed may assign counsel. The court shall make the final determination.

“(c) In any district, if a defendant, upon being taken into custody, states that he is indigent and desires counsel, the authority having custody shall immediately inform the defender or the clerk of superior court, as the case may be, who shall take action as provided in this section.

“(d) The duties imposed by this section upon authorities having custody of persons who may be indigent are in addition to the duties imposed upon arresting officers under G.S. 15-47.”

“G.S. 15-47. Arresting officer to inform offender of charge, allow bail except in capital cases, and permit communication with counsel or friends.— . . . [A]nd it shall be the duty of the officer making the arrest to permit the person so arrested to communicate with counsel and friends immediately, and the right of such persons to communicate with counsel and friends shall not be denied.” (Repealed by Chapter 1286, Session Laws 1973, effective July 1, 1975.)

In this case, all the evidence is to the effect that defendant told the officers he intended to procure his own attorney through friends in Washington, D. C. He continued to tell the officers this for several days after his arrest. When it first became apparent that he was unable to secure such attorney, an attorney was appointed to represent him without further delay. As stated in State v. McCloud, 276 N.C. 518, 531, 173 S.E. 2d 753, 763 (1970) :

“The failure to observe the provisions of these statutes may well result in the violation of a person’s constitutional rights. However, G.S. 15-46 and G.S. 15-47 do not prescribe mandatory procedures affecting the validity of a trial. State v. Broome, 269 N.C. 661, 153 S.E. 2d 384; Carroll v. Turner, 262 F. Supp. 486 (E.D.N.C. 1966).”

Defendant, both by words and acts, waived his right to earlier appointment of counsel. No violation of the quoted statutes is shown. This assignment is overruled.

Defendant finally contends that his constitutional and statutory rights were violated by the imposition of the death penalty. The defendant’s contentions with respect to the validity of the death sentence have been carefully considered and found to be without merit by this Court in a number of recent decisions. State v. Noell, supra; State v. Jarrette, 284 N.C. 625, 202 S.E. 2d 721 (1974) ; State v. Waddell, 282 N.C. 431, 194 S.E. 2d 19 (1973). No useful purpose would be served by further discussion here. This assignment is overruled.

In view of the seriousness of the charge and gravity of the punishment imposed, we have carefully examined each of defendant’s assignments of error. An examination of the entire record discloses that the defendant has had a fair trial free from prejudicial error.

No error.