State v. Hansen

562 N.W.2d 840, 252 Neb. 489, 1997 Neb. LEXIS 126
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMay 9, 1997
DocketS-96-615
StatusPublished
Cited by51 cases

This text of 562 N.W.2d 840 (State v. Hansen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska 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. Hansen, 562 N.W.2d 840, 252 Neb. 489, 1997 Neb. LEXIS 126 (Neb. 1997).

Opinion

Wright, J.

Following a bench trial, Gabriel S. Hansen was convicted of first degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Hansen appeals.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

A conviction in a bench trial of a criminal case is sustained if the evidence, viewed and construed most favorably to the State, is sufficient to support that conviction. The trial court’s findings have the effect of a jury verdict and will not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. State v. Emrich, 251 Neb. 540, 557 N.W.2d 674 (1997).

To sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as a violation of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and article I, § 11, of the Nebraska Constitution and thereby obtain reversal of a defendant’s conviction, the defendant must show that (1) counsel’s performance was deficient and (2) such deficient performance prejudiced the defendant, that is, demonstrate a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceeding would have been different. State v. Schoonmaker, 249 Neb. 330, 543 N.W.2d 194 (1996); State v. Clausen, 247 Neb. 309, 527 N.W.2d 609 (1995). See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).

FACTS

Background

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 17, 1995, Christopher M. Savin was killed in a drive-by shooting as a result of a gunshot wound to the left side of the head. The weapon used in the shooting was a 1574-inch sawed-off 20 gauge shotgun loaded with 3/4-ounce “deer slugs.” Dr. Jerry Jones, a pathologist, testified that based on the fact that he found the composite wadding from the shell embedded in Savin’s left eye, the shot was fired no more than 15 feet from where Savin was standing. Hansen admitted at trial that he shot Savin, but pled not guilty to the charges because he denied that he acted with premeditation and that he intended to harm anyone.

*492 At the time of the shooting, Savin, Charles Aguirre, Steven Hopkins, Lavon Harbour, John Dixon, and Larry Bonner, Jr., were standing near a streetlight on the southwest corner of 40th and Franklin Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Savin was standing on the sidewalk, facing 40th Street. While they were standing there, Hopkins and Bonner noticed a white 1966 Chevy Impala drive past them heading north. Soon thereafter, they noticed the same car coming back toward them heading south. Hopkins stated that as the car came toward them, it seemed like the car was swerving closer to the curb. Bonner stated that he noticed that the car was going slower than the first time it passed them and that it was closer to the curb.

Hopkins testified that as the car came closer, someone near the back passenger window “threw a sign,” which drew everyone’s attention to the back window. Immediately thereafter, a shot was fired from the front passenger window. Hopkins stated that he was able to briefly see the barrel of a gun, which was pointed out the window, and that Savin was standing directly in front of the gun.

Hammett’s Testimony

Marcus Hammett testified that on the night of the shooting, Hansen had picked up Rufus Dennis, James Murry, and him in Hansen’s Impala, and that earlier in the evening, “they was like, we gonna go dump on some slobs.” He explained that this meant they were going to “[s]hoot us some Bloods.” Later in his testimony, Hammett indicated that at the very least, Murry had made this statement.

Prior to the shooting, Hansen was carrying the sawed-off shotgun under the front seat of his car. According to Hammett, Hansen told Hammett that he was carrying the shotgun in his car because some members of the Bloods street gang had been shooting at him approximately 2 weeks earlier. Hammett testified that during the two nights prior to the shooting of Savin, he had gone out with Hansen, and the shotgun had been fired. First, 2 days before Savin was killed, Hammett, Dennis, Murry, and a friend of Murry’s had gone with Hansen to a party. They left the party because they had gotten into a fight. As they were pulling out of the driveway, Hansen said, “[L]ight ‘em up.” At that time, Dennis fired the shotgun, and Murry’s friend fired a *493 ,22-caliber gun out the car windows while a group of people were standing nearby. Second, the day before Savin was killed, Hammett, Dennis, and another friend were driving with Hansen in the Impala when Hammett fired the shotgun at a house.

Hammett testified that during the shootings of the previous two nights, the shotgun had been loaded with BB shells. After Hammett fired the last of the BB shells, Hansen told him, “[T]hat ain’t gonna do nothin’ to nobody, so let’s go get some slugs so we can do some damage, you know.”

Hammett stated that on the evening of Savin’s shooting, after the group had driven around for about 3 hours, they were driving down 40th Street, near Franklin Street, when they saw some people standing near a streetlight. At that time, Murry, referring to this group of people, said, “[T]here go some Trey-Eights right there. They just hit me up.” Hammett explained that “Trey-Eights” was a term used for the 38th Street Bloods. According to Hammett, Murry’s reference to Trey-Eights “hitting him up” meant that someone from the group “threw him” a gang sign.

Hammett testified that in response to Murry’s comments, Hansen told the others that it was his turn to “blast,” meaning his turn to fire the shotgun. Dennis then told Hansen that “you can’t blast if you’re driving,” so Hansen and Dennis decided to switch places. Hansen drove a short distance down the street, pulled over, and switched seats with Dennis, so that Dennis was driving and Hansen was in the front passenger seat. Dennis then turned the car around and headed back toward the group standing near the streetlight. At this time, they were driving in the lane nearest to the curb where the group was standing.

Hammett stated that as they drove toward the first group, they noticed another group of people on the other side of the street. Murry suggested that they not go through with the drive-by shooting because the people on the other side of the street could shoot back. According to Hammett, even Hansen said, “[Yjeah, let’s not do it.” However, Hammett stated that as they were slowing down and Dennis was making a hand signal to turn left onto Franklin Street, Hansen yelled, “What’s up, cuz?” swung the shotgun out the window, and fired. Hammett testified that the discharged shell hit him when Hansen pumped the shotgun. After Hansen fired the shotgun once, it apparently jammed, *494 and in Hammett’s words, they were “mobbin out,” or driving away quickly.

Hammett explained that “What’s up, cuz?” is a phrase which identifies the speaker as a Crip. According to Hammett, if you see a Blood and you say, “What’s up, cuz?” the Blood will take it as disrespect.

Hansen’s Testimony

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
562 N.W.2d 840, 252 Neb. 489, 1997 Neb. LEXIS 126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hansen-neb-1997.