State v. Mitjans

394 N.W.2d 221, 1986 Minn. App. LEXIS 4814
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedOctober 7, 1986
DocketC4-85-2319
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 394 N.W.2d 221 (State v. Mitjans) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Mitjans, 394 N.W.2d 221, 1986 Minn. App. LEXIS 4814 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION

RANDALL, Judge.

Appellant, Luis Candalario Mitjans, was charged with second degree murder/felony murder (Minn.Stat. § 609.19(2)), second degree murder/intentional (Minn.Stat. § 609.-19(1), and second degree assault (Minn. Stat. § 609.222). (The murder charges involve the death of Mark Chapman, and the assault charge involved Chapman’s companion, Mark Froiland). Appellant asserted self-defense on the assault charge and accidental death as a defense to the homicide counts. A jury acquitted appellant of intentional murder but convicted him of felony murder and second degree assault. The appeal is from judgment of conviction. At issue are admission of a statement translated by a police officer, mistranslation of trial testimony, jury instructions, and a sentencing departure. We reverse the convictions due to the cumulative impact of trial errors and remand for trial.

FACTS

On February 27,1985, following an argument at a bar in south Minneapolis, Michael Chapman received two gunshot wounds, one to the abdomen and a second fatal wound to the head. Appellant does not dispute that he fired the shots.

Appellant is from Cuba and speaks and understands little English.

The early evening of February 27, 1985, appellant met a Cuban friend of his, Jose Monzon Lorenzo, who is known by the nickname Pelancho. They went to drink in some of the local bars in south Minneapolis. That evening, they met two friends of Pe-lancho — Deanna Dionne and Jeannie Good-thunder. They arrived at Casey’s Bar about 8:30 p.m.

Appellant lived near Casey’s Bar. After spending some time at Casey’s, he went home. While at home, he injected cocaine, got his gun, and returned to Casey’s. Appellant testified that he got his gun because he was scared. He described his fears that night by referring to three incidents: he had been assaulted from behind, had the tendons in his hand sliced, and had been robbed by three men and a woman. He returned to the bar after about half an hour. At this point in the evening, all witnesses agree that appellant had not exchanged angry words with anyone.

Upon returning to the bar, appellant played pool with Dionne and all four drank beer. The bartender testified that the four were drinking their fourth pitcher of 3.2 beer at the time of the incident. Dionne testified that she had eight beers at Casey’s, in addition to her earlier drinking. Goodthunder had about ten beers that night.

*223 Sometime between 10:00 and 10:40 p.m. Mark Howell and Greg Howell arrived at Casey’s and had their first drinks of the evening. Just after 10:45 p.m. Mike Chapman and Mark Froiland arrived. Chapman was 5'8", bearded, and weighed 158 pounds. Appellant described both men as stronger than himself. The bartender testified that Chapman and Froiland had been drinking before they came to the bar. The autopsy of Chapman showed a blood alcohol level of .20. The medical examiner testified that this was very significant intoxication.

Upon arriving, Chapman and Froiland took seats at the bar and began drinking. Appellant testified that while walking to the bathroom he had to walk past Chapman and Froiland at the bar. Appellant heard Froiland call him a “motherfucker” and “nigger” and other words which he could not understand. Froiland said these words with a “contracted face,” was angry and showed his teeth. Appellant said that he was “offended.”

Appellant called Dionne over to the bar to try to find out what the man was saying. Appellant could not understand the conversation between Dionne and Froiland, but heard “motherfucker” and “nigger.” Froi-land also moved his hands in some unspecified manner in appellant’s face, which scared appellant. Appellant took two steps backward and pulled his gun from under his belt. Appellant said he wanted to “coerce” Froiland 1 and he thought the problem was going to finish. Appellant testified that he showed the gun because he felt threatened, was afraid, and thought that this would make Froiland leave him alone and end the problem.

Appellant denied pointing the gun at Froiland’s head, but other witnesses testified that appellant touched Froiland’s head with the gun. At this point, Froiland began walking toward the adjacent pool room. A fight started between Froiland and Pelancho. Appellant testified that he remained in place with the gun pointed at the floor.

Appellant testified that Chapman then got up, put one hand on appellant’s throat and the other on the gun. The bartender testified that Chapman lunged at appellant and they struggled for the gun. While they were struggling, the gun went off. Appellant characterized it as an “accident.” Chapman then fell back onto his knees. Appellant testified that Chapman then stood up and came forward “to tackle me.” 2 Appellant demonstrated this by having his hands outstretched, his head bent and leaning forward. Appellant testified that he was “scared” and afraid that Chapman would attack him again and take the gun away. Appellant also testified that he was afraid of a “blow to my stomach that can cause me a serious problem.” Appellant has stomach cancer, for which he has undergone surgery and other treatment. Appellant fired the gun again. Chapman fell to the floor. This second shot entered his head above and behind the right ear and proved fatal. Pelancho urged appellant to leave, which he and the other three in his party did.

Other witnesses gave different accounts of the events. The bartender heard a verbal confrontation between appellant and Froiland:

[Appellant] was not understanding him, and he stood there and said, “No speak English. No, No, No.” At that point [Froiland] said, “Oh screw it. I’ve heard that line before. It’s all the same.” And he brushed him back [on appellant’s shoulder] with his hand and turned back to face the bar then.

Pelancho then stepped between Froiland and appellant, and Pelancho and Froiland pushed each other toward the game room. The bartender heard appellant say, after appellant drew his gun, “You want to be tough. I show you tough.” and described *224 the altercation between Chapman and appellant:

[Chapman] went and made a lunge for [appellant], and he grabbed him by the wrist, the upper hand and the two of them then struggled for the gun and they moved down the bar this way towards that wall.

The bartender heard two gun shots, about three seconds apart, but he did not see the shots fired.

Mark Howell testified that Froiland told appellant, “Don’t give me any of this I don’t understand English.” Pelancho tried to intervene, but was pushed aside by appellant. Appellant approached Chapman and touched the gun to his face. Froiland then ducked and knocked his hat off. Chapman and appellant then began struggling. Mark Howell heard the two shots, but did not see them fired.

Gregory Ho,well gave testimony similar to his brother’s, but added that he heard Froiland swear at appellant, saying “Stay the fuck out of my face.”

Dionne testified that appellant pointed the gun at Froiland.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Bashire
606 N.W.2d 449 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2000)
State v. Mitjans
408 N.W.2d 824 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1987)
State v. Perez
404 N.W.2d 834 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1987)
State v. Recio-Arecibia
404 N.W.2d 853 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
394 N.W.2d 221, 1986 Minn. App. LEXIS 4814, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mitjans-minnctapp-1986.