State v. Clark

581 So. 2d 747, 1991 WL 88775
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided May 30, 1991·No. 88-KA-0629·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

581 So.2d 747 (1991)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Norman CLARK.

No. 88-KA-0629.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

May 30, 1991.

*749 Harry F. Connick, Dist. Atty., Val M. Solino, Asst. Dist. Atty., New Orleans, for appellee.

Dwight Doskey, Orleans Indigent Defender Program, New Orleans, for appellant.

Before CIACCIO, WILLIAMS and PLOTKIN, JJ.

WILLIAMS, Judge.

Defendant was indicted for the second degree murder (LSA-R.S. 14:30.1) of Roosevelt Percy on January 17, 1983. He pleaded not guilty, and was tried by a twelve-person jury on August 30-31, 1983. The jury found defendant guilty of manslaughter. The State filed a multiple bill, and defendant was adjudicated a third offender. He was sentenced on July 11, 1985, to life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Defendant was granted an out-of-time appeal on January 6, 1988.

FACTS

On the night of January 16 and early morning of January 17, 1983, defendant, whose nickname was "Tiny Man," had an argument with Roosevelt Percy at Rose's Tavern located at the corner of Thalia and South Dorgenois. Roosevelt's brother Michael got him out of the bar and was talking with him outside when another brother, Clifford, joined them. Shortly thereafter, Roosevelt and Clifford went back into the bar while Michael left to park his car. After parking, Michael headed back to Rose's bar where he saw Roosevelt and Clifford coming out. Michael then saw defendant emerge from the bar and strike Roosevelt several times with a gun and then shoot Roosevelt. Roosevelt ran across the street where he collapsed in a courtyard. Michael ran to his mother's apartment to telephone an ambulance.

Michelle Percy, Roosevelt's sister, was looking out of her living room window and across the street in front of Rose's where she could see one man striking another man. She heard shots and saw one of the men, whom she then recognized as Roosevelt, run across the street. She ran out to where Roosevelt lay in the courtyard. Roosevelt said the name, "Tiny Man." Michelle then left to call an ambulance.

When Michael arrived at his mother's apartment, he saw his brother Clifford lying in the hallway. Clifford had also been shot. Clifford testified that he went into Rose's to ask defendant what the argument was about, but defendant did not respond. As Clifford left the bar, defendant ran past him. When Clifford got outside, defendant's nephew Milton Clark, whose nickname was "Man," told Clifford he (Clifford) had nothing to do with the situation. Clifford saw defendant strike Roosevelt about the head with a pistol then shoot him. Defendant fired a shot at Clifford as he (Clifford) ran toward defendant and grabbed the gun. Clifford heard a shot, turned around and saw Milton pointing a gun at him. Clifford ran back into the bar as Milton fired two more shots. One of the shots struck Clifford. Clifford left the bar and arrived at his mother's apartment where he collapsed.

Michael returned to Roosevelt, who repeatedly said "Tiny Man." Roosevelt died shortly thereafter. The Percys knew defendant only by his nickname. They selected his photograph from a lineup as the person they knew as "Tiny Man."

Defendant's girlfriend, daughter and mother (Milton Clark's grandmother) all testified that Milton told them he was the one who shot Roosevelt. Milton denied their statements. Kaye Bursett, who was at Rose's at the time of the shooting, testified that she saw Milton shoot Roosevelt. Herbert Johnson testified that after the first confrontation between defendant and Roosevelt, he (Johnson) and Milton went to Milton's home where Milton got a gun. He and Milton returned to Rose's bar and Milton gave the gun to defendant. The fight *750 between defendant and Roosevelt resumed. Milton joined in and obtained the gun from defendant. Johnson testified that Milton shot Roosevelt. He also testified that when Clifford came out of Rose's, Milton shot him as well.

ERRORS PATENT

A review of the record reveals no errors patent.

PHOTOGRAPHIC LINEUP

Defendant complains a mistrial should have been granted when the photographic lineup containing his picture was introduced into evidence and when Detective John Dillman testified that the picture had been selected from the lineup. He argues that the lineup was unnecessary since the Percys already knew him. Further, the photograph shows him as a much younger man. This fact, coupled with the testimony of Detective Dillman, suggested to the jury that he had been previously arrested. Therefore, the introduction of the photographic lineup was a prohibited comment on other crimes, thereby entitling defendant to a mistrial under LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 770(2).

During trial, defendant objected to Detective Dillman's testimony that Michelle and Michael Percy selected defendant's photograph from the lineup. The objection was based on the hearsay nature and lack of responsiveness of the testimony, and defendant moved for a mistrial. The trial court sustained the objection, but instead of granting the mistrial, the court admonished the jury. The photographic array was not introduced into evidence until after the close of the State's case, and the motion for mistrial based on the introduction of the photographs was not made until the close of defendant's case. The trial judge stated that based on an earlier bench conference the motion would be considered as timely. The trial court denied the motion for mistrial.

Under LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 770(2), a mistrial must be granted when a judge, district attorney or court officer refers either directly or indirectly to other crimes allegedly committed by the defendant as to which evidence is not admissible. In State v. Davis, 407 So.2d 702 (La.1981), the defendant complained about the introduction into evidence of a seven year old mug shot in which there was a plaque around his neck reading "Department of Louisiana" and the date it was taken. The Supreme Court found that under C.Cr.P. art. 770(2) the defendant was not entitled to a mandatory mistrial because identification was a highly material issue and the discrepancy in the dates was not spelled out for the jury. It could not be plainly inferred that the prosecutor was commenting on other crimes committed by the defendant.

We find that the introduction into evidence of defendant's photograph did not constitute either a direct or indirect reference to other crimes committed by defendant. There was no indication on the photograph that it was connected with any prior crime, and the fact that defendant appears younger in the photograph does not lead to the conclusion that it was connected to prior criminal acts. It cannot be plainly inferred that the State commented on other crimes committed by defendant. Therefore, defendant is not entitled to a mistrial under C.Cr.P. art. 770(2).

As to Detective Dillman's testimony regarding the photographic lineup, that testimony cannot be considered as a comment on other crimes since Detective Dillman only stated that the witnesses selected this photograph. Neither assignment of error has merit.

RECANTATION

In his second assignment of error, defendant complains that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on the alleged recantation by Clifford Percy of his trial testimony. At trial, Clifford testified that the defendant shot the victim. However, in December, 1986 Clifford told Lottie Irving, defendant's former girlfriend, that Milton Clark was the one who shot his brother. By this time, Milton Clark was dead. Ms. Irving convinced Clifford to speak with

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State v. Clark, 581 So. 2d 747, 1991 WL 88775 (La. Ct. App. 1991).

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