State v. Givens

701 So. 2d 1042, 97 La.App. 5 Cir. 17, 1997 La. App. LEXIS 2428, 1997 WL 631983
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 15, 1997
DocketNo. 97-KA-17
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 701 So. 2d 1042 (State v. Givens) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Givens, 701 So. 2d 1042, 97 La.App. 5 Cir. 17, 1997 La. App. LEXIS 2428, 1997 WL 631983 (La. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

hBOWES, Judge.

Defendant was convicted on one count of second degree murder (of Shawn Brown) and he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, with credit for time served. Defendant now appeals. We affirm the defendant’s conviction and sentence.

FACTS

The facts adduced at trial reflect that, in the early hours of January 5,1994, the defendant and two co-perpetrators (Ronnie and Melvin Davis) entered the home of Doris Robinson, at 1348 Myrtle Street in Metairie. Doris’ sister, Linda Robinson, was at the residence with Doris’ twelve-year joldg daughter, Cynthia; a cousin, John Hawkins; a fifteen-year-old nephew, Shawn Brown; and a family friend, Roy Johnson. Both Johnson and • Robinson testified that defendant appeared to be the leader of the group.

Defendant forced Cynthia into a back room and demanded that she show him where any [1043]*1043money, guns or drugs were hidden. The other two men held guns on the other occupants of the house. Ms. Robinson testified that she and the other victims handed over money, jewelry, and “crack” cocaine. Defendant returned to the front of the house, collected the victims’ property, and exited through the front door. Ms. Robinson further testified that Melvin and Ronnie Davis began firing at her, and at the male occupants of the house. Johnson and Hawkins both testified that all of the perpetrators fired their weapons.

Ms. Robinson stated Melvin Davis shot her repeatedly, inflicting twenty-two gunshot wounds. The fetus Ms. Robinson was carrying died as a result of bullet wounds. • Johnson was shot in the hand before he fled the house. Hawkins was also wounded as he ran from the room, and he hid underneath the house until police arrived. Brown received gunshot wounds to the head, and died later that day at Ochsner Hospital.

RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant, Shedriek Givens, and co-defendants, Melvin and Ronnie Davis, were charged by an amended six count indictment. Count One of the indictment charged the second degree murder of Shawn Brown.

|30n December 12, 1995, a jury trial commenced as to Shedriek Givens alone and as to only count one of the indictment, namely the second degree murder of Shawn Brown. Due to an improper comment by defense counsel, Mark Nolting, during voir dire, the trial judge dismissed the prospective jurors and continued the trial. On January 16, 1996, trial again commenced on Count One as to Shedriek Givens only. On January 24, the sixth day of trial, defendant, through Indigent Defender Board attorney Carol Kiff, expressed his concern that interaction between the trial judge and defense counsel during the course of the trial had prejudiced the jury. Through his appointed attorney, Ms. Kiff, defendant moved for a mistrial. The trial court granted defendant’s motion over the state’s objection.

Trial was had on June 25-28, 1996, and, at its conclusion, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged of second degree murder.

On appeal, defendant alleges that the trial court’s declaration of a mistrial in the appellant’s previous trial of January 24, 1996 was improper and, therefore, his current conviction, obtained in his June 1996 retrial, is barred by double jeopardy.

ISSUE ON APPEAL

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 15 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 prohibits placing a person twice in jeopardy for the same offense. Further, La.C.Cr.P. art. 591 provides:

No person shall be twice put in jeopardy-of life or liberty for the same offense, except, when on his own | potion, a new trial, has been granted or judgment has been arrested, or where there has been a mistrial legally ordered under the provisions of Article 775 or ordered with the express consent of the defendant.

La.C.Cr.P. art. 775 sets forth the circumstances under which a mistrial may be granted, and further provides that:

A mistrial may be ordered, and in a jury case the jury dismissed, when:
******
Upon motion of a defendant, a mistrial shall be ordered, and in a jury case the jury dismissed, when prejudicial conduct in or outside the courtroom makes it impossible for the defendant to obtain a fair trial, or when authorized by Article 770 or 771.
A mistrial shall be ordered, and in a jury case the jury dismissed, when the state and the defendant jointly move for a mistrial.

See State v. Smith, 430 So.2d 31 (La.1983).

Defendant argues that the trial court declared a mistrial on the basis of defense counsel Mark Nolting’s performance, when he (defendant) did not raise such a claim. Defendant contends that he was manipulated by the trial court, and that the judge acted sua sponte in ordering the mistrial.

Generally, where the trial court declares a mistrial without the defendant’s consent, and where the mistrial is not based on [1044]*1044one of the grounds listed in art. 775, supra, any further prosecution of that defendant for the same criminal conduct is barred by double jeopardy. State v. Joseph, 434 So.2d 1057 (La.1983). The record in this case clearly shows, however, that 1 sdefendant freely and knowingly requested a mistrial, and that the court properly granted the mistrial under the provisions of art. 775, supra.

The record reflects that the trial at issue proceeded for six days before the granting of a mistrial. During the course of the proceedings, defense counsel Mark Nolt-ing appears to have severely tried the judge’s patience by performing extensive and often repetitive cross-examination of state’s witnesses. Comments and admonitions by the judge were, for the most part, confined to bench conferences out of the jury’s hearing. However, some of the judge’s comments were made in the jury’s presence.

On January 24, 1996, the fifth day of testimony in the case, defense counsel was to continue what had already become a time-consuming cross-examination of Detective Philip Ramon. During a bench conference out of the jury’s presence, the trial judge stated to defense counsel:

In fact, let me tell you something else about this case, Mr. Nolting, you’ve about reached your limit with me. You’ve kept this jury here; we’re into the second week with this rambling, pointless repetitive questioning of yours on cross examination, and with nonsense like this, arguments that you’re making like this. I’m not going to put up with this much longer.
This jury is so outraged at your performance that they’re laughing at you, audibly, in the courtroom. And when you ask these same questions over and over and over again, they’re sighing and groaning because they’ve heard it so many times.
Now, you’re not going to continue to do that, I’m going to tell you that.
16... If you do that, in spite of the fact that I’m telling you not to, we’re going to recess this trial, and we’re going to deal with your behavior, and not your client’s. Do you understand?

While still out of the jury’s presence, Mr. Nolting moved for a mistrial.

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Related

State of Louisiana v. Lee R. Jackson
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2024
Shedrick Givens Versus Tim Hooper, Warden
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2024
State v. Dickerson
760 So. 2d 503 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2000)

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Bluebook (online)
701 So. 2d 1042, 97 La.App. 5 Cir. 17, 1997 La. App. LEXIS 2428, 1997 WL 631983, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-givens-lactapp-1997.