State v. Lilly

552 So. 2d 1036, 1989 WL 140761
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 14, 1989
Docket88 KA 1709
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 552 So. 2d 1036 (State v. Lilly) 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. Lilly, 552 So. 2d 1036, 1989 WL 140761 (La. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

552 So.2d 1036 (1989)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Robert LILLY.

No. 88 KA 1709.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

November 14, 1989.

William Campbell, Jr., New Orleans, for plaintiff-appellee.

James H. Looney, Asst. Public Defender, Covington, for defendant-appellant.

Before COVINGTON, C.J., and WATKINS and SHORTESS, JJ.

WATKINS, Judge.

Robert Lilly was indicted by the Washington Parish Grand Jury for second degree murder, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:30.1. He was tried by a jury, which returned the responsive verdict of guilty of manslaughter. The trial court imposed a sentence of eighteen years at hard labor, with fifteen years to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, as provided by LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 893.1. Defendant appealed, urging four assignments of error:

1. The trial court improperly denied defendant's motion for production of a police report used by a state witness during his testimony.

2. The evidence is insufficient.

3. The trial court erred by applying the provisions of LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 893.1.

4. The sentence is excessive.

FACTS

Defendant was charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Debra Lilly. Defendant *1037 and the victim had been separated for approximately ten days at the time of the incident. The victim was killed in the home of Kenneth "Buck" Jones, the man with whom she was then residing.

Kenneth Jones testified that, on the night of the murder, defendant came to his house to speak to the victim. A quarrel ensued, and defendant left. A short time later, Jones and the victim heard noises outside; and the victim called the police, reporting a prowler. Shortly thereafter, she made a second call, reporting that the intruder was attempting to gain entry. As she hung up the telephone and stepped outside the kitchen area, she was hit by several pellets from a shotgun blast emanating from outside the house. Jones related that he returned fire with a rifle, and the person outside again shot into the house with the shotgun. The victim died before medical assistance could be obtained.

Defendant testified on his own behalf. He related that he went to Jones's house with Jones's permission and that he intended only to speak to his wife. He was angered because Jones intervened in the discussion. After they locked him outside, defendant left. He returned a short time later and hit at the door. He and Jones again argued. As he stood outside the door, Jones fired upon him; and, thereafter, defendant returned fire. Defendant claimed that he was unaware that anyone inside the house had been hit at the time he drove off.

Defendant was arrested a few hours later in Mississippi for driving under the influence of alcohol. The arresting officer told him that he was also wanted in Louisiana for murder. He waived extradition and returned to this state to face charges.

DENIAL OF ACCESS TO POLICE REPORT

By assignment of error number one, defendant submits that the trial court erred by refusing to permit him access to a police report used by a state witness to refresh his memory. He claims he was entitled to the report because the witness, Officer Ralph Corkern, used the report on the stand. The trial court denied defendant's motion, finding that the officer's actions resulted from a ruse by defense counsel to obtain access to the report.

Police reports are considered confidential and, generally, the state may not be compelled to produce them for inspection.[1] However, when an officer's testimony at trial is the product of his past recollection recorded, rather than present memory refreshed, the trial court should require production of the report for defense inspection. State v. Franks, 363 So.2d 518 (La. 1978). The same ruling should follow where it is shown that a witness has referred to his report or notes in his possession on the witness stand, even if the notes were presumably used only to refresh his memory while testifying. State v. Franks, supra; State v. Perkins, 310 So.2d 591 (La.1975). Thus, the state is not required to produce police reports of a testifying officer unless: (1) the officer has physical possession of the report on the stand and testified from it; or (2) the officer testified exclusively from his past recollection recorded even if the officer does not have physical possession of the report on the stand; and (3) it is established that there is an inconsistency between the officer's testimony at trial and his report. State v. Latin, 412 So.2d 1357 (La.1982).

The report to which defendant sought access concerned statements made by Melissa Friloux, Jones's neighbor, to Officer Corkern concerning the time at which the incident occurred. Ms. Friloux testified that she heard gunshots "within a minute or two" of 11:30 p.m. During defendant's cross-examination of Officer Corkern, the following exchange occurred:

EXAMINATION BY MR. McKERNAN:

*1038 Q. Now, on the night of this incident, did you talk to various interested parties who may have been present? For instance, did you talk to a Melissa Frilot (sic)?

A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you obtain a statement from her?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did she advise you this incident occurred at eleven-thirty?
BY MR. MURRAY: Your Honor, Ms. Frilot (sic) has already testified. I think her testimony is the best evidence.
BY MR. McKERNAN: She's testified to that. I want to know if he was advised by her as part of his investigation.
BY THE COURT: I'm going to let him go ahead.
BY THE WITNESS: What was your question?
EXAMINATION BY MR. McKERNAN:
Q. Did she advise you that the incident had happened at eleven-thirty?
A. About eleven fifty-seven, sir.
Q. She told you?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. She told you at eleven fifty-seven?
A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you make a report of this incident on that night or shortly afterwards?

A. A report on this?
Q. Yes, sir. You have prepared a report; have you not?
A. Yes, sir.

Q. Have you reviewed that report now to help you refresh your memory?

A. Yes, sir.
Q. May I see that report, please?
BY MR. MURRAY: Your Honor, I object to that. I'm afraid we have to argue this outside the presence.
BY THE COURT: Would you take the jury out.
(AT THIS TIME, THE JURY WAS RETIRED.)
BY MR. MURRAY: Your Honor, obviously, my objection initially was to hearsay. I have no objection if he wants to ask him what he told her. Really, Ms. Frilot (sic) has already testified. The entire thing was a ruse to get the supplemental report, which he is not entitled to.
BY THE COURT: I see that now.
BY MR. McKERNAN: It is not a ruse. I don't appreciate the Court saying that. She testified at eleven-thirty. I have a right to know what she had told him. I hadn't even thought about the report until he picked out the report and started reviewing it. When he did that, I have the absolute right to it, Your Honor.
BY THE COURT: Mr.

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Related

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Bluebook (online)
552 So. 2d 1036, 1989 WL 140761, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-lilly-lactapp-1989.