State v. Marcelin

116 So. 3d 928, 2012 La.App. 4 Cir. 0645, 2013 WL 2250760, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1040
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 22, 2013
DocketNo. 2012-KA-0645
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 116 So. 3d 928 (State v. Marcelin) 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. Marcelin, 116 So. 3d 928, 2012 La.App. 4 Cir. 0645, 2013 WL 2250760, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1040 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

TERRI F. LOVE, Judge.

_L¡The defendant Wilbert Marcelin was convicted of one count of second degree murder and one count of manslaughter. On appeal, the defendant assigns as error: (1) the trial court denied him due process by excluding cross-examination of the investigating detective regarding another suspect; (2) the conviction by non-unanimous verdict violated his constitutional right to a fair trial; and (3) the trial court erred by imposing unconstitutionally excessive maximum sentences and ordering the sentences to run consecutively. We find the trial court did not err in excluding the cross-examination of the investigating detective regarding another suspect in that it was not relevant. We also find the trial court did not err in finding a non-unanimous verdict under La.C.Cr.P. Art. 782(A) constitutional as made clear by Louisiana jurisprudence. Additionally, we find no error with the trial court imposing the maximum sentence for manslaughter because it falls within the provided statutory sentencing range. However, we find that the trial court failed to articulate particular justification for running the sentences for second degree murder and manslaughter consecutively. Therefore, we affirm the conviction and sentences for second degree murder and manslaughter; however, we vacate the consecutive sentence and remand the case for resentencing.

\ .PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Wilbert Marcelin was first charged by indictment with the second degree murder of Lakeisha Taylor and the attempted second degree murder of Stanford Cain. When Mr. Cain died in July 2010, the State entered a nolle prosequi in that case. The State then charged Mr. Marcelin by indictment in the present matter with two counts of second degree murder, violations of La. R.S. 14:30.1. At arraignment, Mr. Marcelin pled not guilty. Defense counsel later filed a motion to declare La.C.Cr.P. Art. 782(A) and La. Const. Art. 1, § 17 unconstitutional, which was denied. A jury trial in this case began; however, a mistrial was granted. Subsequently, defense counsel filed a motion .to bar re-prosecution as a violation of double jeopardy, which the trial court denied.

Prior to the second trial, the trial court granted the State’s oral motion in limine to prevent defense counsel from questioning Detective Elizabeth Garcia about another suspect, Derrick Robertson.1 Defense [931]*931counsel’s oral motion to reconsider was denied. A jury was selected, and trial was held. Mr. Marcelin was found guilty as charged of second degree murder as to count one in a 10-2 vote. As to count two, the jury found Mr. Marcelin guilty of manslaughter in an 11-1 [¡¡vote. The defense filed a motion for a new trial and a motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal, which were both denied.

Thereafter, Mr. Marcelin was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence as to the second degree murder conviction and to forty years at hard labor as to the manslaughter conviction with the sentences to run consecutively. According to the sentencing transcript, Mr. Marcelin objected to the sentences and filed a motion to reconsider, which was denied.2 The trial court granted Mr. Marcelin’s motion for appeal. This appeal follows.3

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

At trial, the State introduced Stanford Cain’s videotaped deposition wherein he testified as to what happened on the night of the incident. The State also introduced Mr. Cain’s videotaped identification procedure wherein he picked out Mr. Marcelin’s photograph in a six-person photograph lineup. Both videos were played for the jury. Due to the injuries he suffered as a result of the shooting, he was on a ventilator. The following sets forth a summary of Mr. Cain’s testimony.

Stanford Cain Testimony

Stanford Cain testified that he lived with his girlfriend of eight years Lakeisha Taylor and her family. He testified that he and Ms. Taylor were together “24/7.” Mr. Cain testified that on the night of the incident, he and Ms. Taylor left |4Bourbon Street for the Iberville Project to buy heroin from Mr. Marcelin. Mr. Cain recalled that on their way into the “courtway by the graveyard”, he asked a female whom he knew as a drug user, but did not know her name, if she had seen Mr. Marcelin.

Mr. Cain testified that when they neared Mr. Marcelin’s apartment he found him. He also testified that there may have been other people outside at the time, but no one was close to them. He stated that he did not pay attention “to know if [he] recognized anyone.”

Mr. Cain further testified that Mr. Marcelin was upset with him and accused him of taking drugs. Mr. Cain testified that they had a “kind of mean” conversation and he became afraid when Mr. Marcelin pulled a gun from his waist. Mr. Cain testified that neither he nor Ms. Taylor had a weapon.

Mr. Cain stated that he was face to face with Mr. Marcelin, about two feet away. He testified that he was shot from behind but saw the shot “sort of on the side.” He testified that he was shot first and then he heard a second gun shot. Mr. Cain then stated that after he was shot he blacked out and then remembers waking up in the hospital.

[932]*932Mr. Cain testified that the first time he talked to the police was after two or three days of being in the hospital. During his deposition, Mr. Cain recalled only speaking with Detective Garcia. Mr. Cain testified that Detective Garcia asked him to identify from a photographic lineup who shot him and his girlfriend. Mr. Cain identified Mr. Marcelin as the shooter at the deposition, by photo and in | ¡¡person. During his deposition, the State asked whether he was able to identify the shooter in person that day and when Detective Garcia visited him a few days after the incident. Mr. Cain responded in the affirmative. Mr. Cain further testified that prior to the shooting Mr. Marcelin had “been to [his] house ... a few times.” Additionally, when the State asked Mr. Cain, “So you have no trouble recognizing this man,” Mr. Cain responded, “No ma’am.” Likewise, Mr. Cain indicated that he had not taken any medication in the hours leading up to the deposition and that he was able to understand everything and the questions asked of him. Mr. Cain also' testified that as a result of the shooting he was paralyzed from the neck down.

Charlotte Cain Testimony

Charlotte Cain, Stanford Cain’s mother, testified that on the night of the incident Lakeisha Taylor and her son were both shot. She testified at trial that after her son was shot he was transferred from the hospital to a nursing home where he remained until his death two years later. Charlotte Cain testified that she would visit her son at the nursing home and he was able to communicate with her, but he required a ventilator to assist his breathing. Charlotte Cain also testified that Mr. Cain was not given medication on August 5, 2009, because he was giving a deposition in relation to this case.

Officer Frank Robertson Testimony

At trial, it was stipulated that Officer Frank Robertson was the first officer at the crime scene in the 1400 block of Conti Street at 12:00 a.m., the night of the incident. He observed an unknown black female and unknown black male |f,bleeding from apparent gunshot wounds. Officer Robertson called emergency medical services, and the black male was transported to the hospital. He then called the crime lab to the scene.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
116 So. 3d 928, 2012 La.App. 4 Cir. 0645, 2013 WL 2250760, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1040, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-marcelin-lactapp-2013.