State v. Olin

648 P.2d 203, 103 Idaho 391, 1982 Ida. LEXIS 270

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: July 9, 1982
• Docket: 13080
• Status: Published

Opinions

BAKES, Chief Justice.

On October 26, 1977, the Orofino police discovered the body of Ralph Peterson at his residence in Orofino, Idaho. Peterson had been stabbed to death, and a few articles of personal property, including an automobile, had been taken from the residence. That same day, the Clearwater County sheriff learned that the deceased’s automobile was in the possession of Binkley Auto Sales in Lewiston, Idaho, and that the car had been traded to Binkley’s by the defendant Terry Olin on October 14, 1977.

Shortly following these discoveries, Olin surrendered to the Kootenai County sheriff’s office, having been informed by relatives that the police were looking for him. Olin told an investigating officer, and later testified at trial, that, immediately preceding the killing, Peterson had forced the defendant to commit an unnatural sex act at knifepoint, and that he had then killed Peterson to defend himself from a further attempted sexual assault. Olin indicated that he then took the automobile and other property only after deciding that the police would never believe his account of the incident.

In November, 1977, the defendant was charged by information with the crimes of grand larceny and first degree murder. Subsequently, he filed a notice of intent to rely upon the defense of mental disease or defect. Pursuant to this notice and defendant’s motion, the court ordered that the director of Health and Welfare appoint two psychiatrists to conduct a mental evaluation of the defendant and to submit a report. Olin was then sent to the Idaho Security Medical Facility for that purpose. An evaluation was conducted, and a report prepared which indicated that the defendant had a history of family and physical problems which inhibited his ability to learn. His verbal skills tested in the dull-normal range, I.Q. 79, but mental performance tested at high normal, I.Q. 110. The report concluded that the defendant was competent to stand trial. However, the report failed to specifically state an opinion as to Olin’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law at the time of the crime, as required under I.C. § 18-211(3)(d). There was also some question as to whether the defendant had been adequately examined by two psychiatrists as required by the trial court’s order. Consequently, after receiving a copy of the evaluation, the defendant filed a motion to contest the findings contained therein, and to exclude the report as not being in compliance with the court’s order.

A hearing was held on April 3, 1978, and Dr. Azar, a psychiatrist, and two psychologists employed by the Idaho Security Medical Facility testified at the hearing. All three of the witnesses had participated in the testing and evaluation of the defendant, and there was testimony to the effect that a second psychiatrist, Estess, had also participated in the evaluation. At the hearing, Dr. Azar testified that although the opinion concerning the defendant’s mental capacity at the time the crime was committed had been inadvertently omitted from the report, his conclusion was that the defendant in fact was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct and conform his conduct to the requirements of the law at the time of the incident involved. While criticizing a number of irregularities in the evaluation of the defendant, the court determined that the defendant had received an adequate evaluation and that the testimony of Dr. Azar cured the deficiencies in the evaluation report.

Subsequently, the defendant submitted a motion for the allowance of public funds to obtain an additional psychiatric evaluation. This motion was denied. Next, the defendant moved for the allowance of public funds to obtain a transcript of the mental evaluation hearing. Counsel for the defense argued that the transcript was essential for preparation of the defense of mental disease or defect; however, this motion was also denied. At trial the defendant did not further pursue the defense of mental disease or defect. The defendant was convicted of both grand larceny and first degree murder. The defendant appeals only his conviction for first degree murder.

I

It is first asserted on appeal that the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for the allowance of public funds to obtain another psychiatric evaluation, and to also obtain a transcript of the hearing contesting the findings of the mental evaluation. The defendant argues that the provision of public funds for these purposes is required by I.C. § 19-852(a), as well as by the due process and equal protection clauses of the fourteenth amendment.

I.C. § 19-852(a) provided the following at the time of the defendant’s trial:

“19-852. RIGHT TO COUNSEL OF NEEDY PERSON — REPRESENTATION AT ALL STAGES OF CRIMINAL AND COMMITMENT PROCEEDINGS— PAYMENT. — (a) A needy person who is being detained by a law enforcement officer, or who is under formal charge of having committed, or is being detained under a conviction of, a serious crime, is entitled:

(1) to be represented by an attorney to the same extent as a person having his own counsel is so entitled; and

(2) to be provided with the necessary services and facilities of representation (including investigation and other preparation). The attorney, services, and facilities and the court costs shall be provided at public expense to the extent that the person is, at the time the court determines need, unable to provide for their payment.”

The statute recognizes that there are cases where a criminal defendant’s right to a fair trial may be jeopardized unless there is access not only to an attorney, but also to certain specialized aid in the preparation of a defense. State v. Powers, 96 Idaho 833, 838, 537 P.2d 1369, 1374 (1975). Included within the scope of I.C. § 19-852(a) are the fourteenth amendment requirements of due process and equal protection as they apply to indigent defendants. In Britt v. North Carolina, 404 U.S. 226, 227, 92 S.Ct. 431, 433, 30 L.Ed.2d 400 (1971), the United States Supreme Court made it clear that “state[s] must, as a matter of equal protection, provide indigent prisoners with the basic tools of an adequate defense or appeal, when those tools are available for a price to other prisoners.” It is equally evident that if a defendant is denied access to the basic tools of an adequate defense, then he has also been denied his due process right of a fair trial. See Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12, 76 S.Ct. 585, 100 L.Ed. 891 (1956). However, what constitutes the basic tools or necessary services of an adequate defense has not been clearly defined, Britt v. North Carolina, supra; State v. Coronado, 98 Idaho 421, 423, 565 P.2d 1378, 1380 (1977), and may indeed vary from case to ease. See State v. Powers, 96 Idaho at 838, 537 P.2d at 1374. Consequently, in order to determine under I.C. § 19-852(a) whether the requested services in the present case were necessary in order to provide the defendant with an adequate defense, we must review the requests individually.

A. Psychiatric examination.

The constitution does not require a state to provide expert or investigative assistance merely because a defendant requests it. United States ex rel. Smith v. Baldi, 344 U.S. 561, 568, 73 S.Ct. 391, 394, 97 L.Ed. 549 (1953); Watson v. Patterson, 358 F.2d 297, 298 (10th Cir. 1966), cert. denied 385 U.S. 876, 87 S.Ct. 153, 17 L.Ed.2d 103 (1966). Rather, a defendant’s request for expert or investigative services should be reviewed in light of all the circumstances and be measured against the "standard of “fundamental fairness” embodied in the due process clause. Watson v. Patterson, supra; State v. Lee, 221 Kan. 109, 558 P.2d 1096, 1101 (1976).

In accord with these principles, we have stated in applying I.C. § 19-852(a) to expert and investigative services that

“[financial assistance is not automatically mandatory, but rather depends upon [the] needs of the defendant as revealed by the facts and circumstances of each case. Before authorizing the expenditure of public funds for a particular purpose in an indigent’s defense, the trial court must determine whether the funds are necessary in the interest of justice.” State v. Powers, 96 Idaho at 838, 537 P.2d at 1374.

See Mason v. Arizona, 504 F.2d 1345, 1352 (9th Cir. 1974) cert. denied 420 U.S. 936, 95 S.Ct. 1145, 43 L.Ed.2d 412 (1975). It is thus incumbent upon the trial court to inquire into the needs of the defendant and the circumstances of the case, and then make a determination of whether an adequate defense will be available to the defendant without the requested expert or investigative aid. . If the answer is in the negative, then the services are necessary and must be provided by the state. Such a review necessarily involves the exercise of the sound discretion of the trial court. Griffin v. State, 415 N.E.2d 60 (Ind.1981); State v. Burnett, 222 Kan. 162, 563 P.2d 451, 454 (1977); see Annot., 34 A.L.R.3d 1256, 1269-72 (1970); cf. State v. Kerrigan, 98 Idaho 701, 571 P.2d 762 (1977) (preliminary matter of application for bail addressed to the sound discretion of the court). Consequently, a denial of a request for expert or investigative assistance will not be disturbed absent a showing that the trial court abused its discretion by rendering a decision which is clearly erroneous and unsupported by the circumstances of the case.

In the case at bar, the defendant requested financial assistance to obtain another mental examination by a psychiatrist. Most significant is that this request was in addition to the psychiatric examination mandated and obtained under I.C. § 18— 211.¹ In fact, the trial court had ordered that the defendant be examined by two psychiatrists, rather than just one as required under I.C. § 18-211.² While there was some question below as to the adequacy of one of these examinations and the procedures involved, the trial court determined, after a hearing, that notwithstanding some apparent irregularities in preparing and filing the evaluation report, the defendant had received an examination sufficient to meet the requirements of I.C. § 18-211 and the trial court’s order. The correctness of that ruling is not specifically raised as an issue on appeal, and we see nothing in the record to merit disturbing the trial court’s ruling on that matter. Consequently, since the defendant had already received an adequate examination at state expense, we hold that the trial court did not err in exercising its discretion to deny the defendant funds for an additional psychiatric examination. Accord: State v. Gretzler, 126 Ariz. 60, 612 P.2d 1023, 1053-54 (1980); Leggett v. State, 244 Ga. 226, 259 S.E.2d 476 (1979); Griffin v. State, 415 N.E.2d 60 (Ind.1981); State v. Burnett, 222 Kan. 162, 563 P.2d 451 (1977); Justus v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 971, 266 S.E.2d 87 (1980); see United States ex rel. Smith v. Baldi, 344 U.S. 561, 568, 73 S.Ct. 391, 394, 97 L.Ed. 549 (1953); Satterfield v. Zahradnick, 572 F.2d 443 (4th Cir. 1978), cert. denied 436 U.S. 920, 98 S.Ct. 2270, 56 L.Ed.2d 762 (1978); McGarty v. O’Brien, 188 F.2d 151 (1st Cir. 1951), cert. denied 339 U.S. 966, 70 S.Ct. 1002, 94 L.Ed. 1375 (1951); see also Annot., 34 A.L.R.3d 1256, 1275-86 (1970 & supp.).

In the same context the defendant also claims error in the court’s denial of his request for an independent psychiatric examination based upon I.C. § 18-213(2) and the equal protection clause. I.C. § 18-213(2) states as follows:

“18-213. ACQUITTAL ON GROUND OF MENTAL ILLNESS — EXAMINATION BY PSYCHIATRIST AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS OF DEFENDANT’S CHOICE — PSYCHIATRISTS AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS AS WITNESSES.— ...

“(2) When, notwithstanding the report filed pursuant to section 18-211, Idaho Code, the defendant wishes to be examined by a qualified psychiatrist or other expert of his own choice, such examiner shall be permitted to have reasonable access to the defendant for the purpose of such examination.”

It is argued that I.C. § 18-213(2) grants a defendant the right to be examined by a psychiatrist of his own choice, and that that right should not be denied simply because a defendant is unable to afford a private psychiatrist. However, as discussed previously, the equal protection clause only requires a state to provide a defendant with “the basic tools of an adequate defense or appeal, when those tools are available for a price to others.” Britt v. North Carolina, 404 U.S. at 227, 92 S.Ct. at 433. It does not require a state to provide a defendant with anything that he might desire for his defense merely because it may be obtained by a more financially solvent defendant. The psychiatric examinations available to a defendant under I.C. §§ 18-211 and 19-852(a) are sufficient to enable him to evaluate an asserted insanity defense, and are likewise sufficient to satisfy the constitutional demands of fundamental fairness. Consequently, we find that I.C. § 18-213(2) does not support the defendant’s claim of entitlement to state funds for the procurement of an additional psychiatric examination.

B. Transcript.

While the need for expert and investigative assistance by indigent defendants may vary greatly from case to case, the same does not necessarily hold true in the instance of indigent defendants’ requests for transcripts.³ It can ordinarily be assumed that a transcript of a prior proceeding arising out of the same prosecution will be valuable to a defendant “in at least two ways: as a discovery device in preparation for trial, and as a tool at the trial itself for the impeachment of prosecution witnesses.” Britt v. North Carolina, 404 U.S. at 228, 92 S.Ct. at 434.

Nevertheless, the fact that the Britt court stated that the value of a transcript to a defendant may “ordinarily be assumed,” indicates that there may arise certain cases in which such an assumption is not warranted by the particular facts and circumstances involved. The case at bar presents such an exception. The basis for assuming that a transcript of a prior proceeding is valuable to a defendant in preparing his defense is, as stated previously, that the transcript may be used for discovery or impeachment purposes. Britt v. North Carolina, 404 U.S. at 228, 92 S.Ct. at 434. In the present case, the only purpose of the April 3, 1978, hearing was to probe the work and conclusions of the evaluating psychiatrists and psychologists. The testimony adduced at the hearing would have no relevance at trial unless the work and conclusions of the psychiatrists and psychologists were specifically placed at issue at trial. The record discloses that the prosecution did not call and never intended to call any of the psychiatrists or psychologists to testify at trial. Their names are not contained on the state’s list of witnesses, and there is nothing else in the record to indicate that they would be called to testify at trial.

Appellant’s brief on appeal does not point out how the transcript of the testimony taken at the competency hearing would have been of any use or value in presenting his defense, but merely argues the equal protection claim that “had appellant the financial means to do so the transcript could have been obtained,” and therefore, “the state cannot deny to an indigent defendant those ‘basic tools of an adequate defense or appeal, when those tools are available for a price to others.’ ” In making the motion for the transcript, trial counsel stated, “It is essential that defendant have a transcript of the April 3, 1978, hearing insofar as the testimony adduced thereat forms the very root and essence of the foundation for the psychiatric and psychological opinions which defendant must utilize at trial.” However, the transcript of that hearing, which is now a part of the record on appeal, shows that the only expert opinion rendered at the April 3, 1978, hearing was by Dr. Azar, the psychiatrist who had submitted the written report in association with Dr. Estess, another psychiatrist.⁴ Dr. Azar testified that in his professional opinion the defendant had both the capacity to understand the wrongfulness of his conduct and the ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law at the time the victim was killed. Dr. Azar testified that he had arrived at that opinion after consulting with the psychologists who had given and evaluated the psychological tests, and after consulting with Dr. Estess and other medical personnel. Although extensively cross examined, Dr. Azar’s opinion was unqualified. Thus, in the absence of a showing that Dr. Azar subsequently changed his opinion, a transcript of the mental competency hearing would not have provided “the foundation for the psychiatric and psychological opinions which defendant must utilize at trial.”

A review of the numerous recorded cases from other jurisdictions requiring the state to provide a defendant with a transcript of a prior proceeding in aid of his defense discloses that those prior proceedings involved mistrials, preliminary hearings and suppression hearings, which by their nature concerned the examination of state witnesses against the defendant who were at least reasonably certain to appear at trial in the prosecution’s behalf. We have found no cases and are cited to none addressing the type of prior proceeding with which we are concerned in this case. Here, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the prosecution intended to call the psychiatrists or psychologists as witnesses or that the witnesses had any testimony favorable to the defense so that the defendant might want to call them. Had the defendant intended for some reason to call them as hostile witnesses, such should have been made known to the trial court. Absent communication of such an intent, there was little reason for the court to consider the transcript of the prior proceeding to have any relevance at trial. Consequently, the factors which support the assumption that ordinarily a transcript of a prior proceeding is valuable to a defendant are lacking in the present case. We therefore conclude that the defendant was not prejudiced by the court’s denial of his request, and that the trial court did not commit reversible error in denying that request.⁵

II

INSTRUCTION

In addition, the defendant claims error in the court’s instruction to the jury concerning felony murder. At the time of trial in this case, I.C.R. 30 provided that “[n]o party may assign as error any portion of the charge or omission therefrom unless he objects thereto prior to the time that the jury is charged.” No objection was made at trial in regard to the instruction; and consequently, we do not address the issue. I.C.R. 30; State v. Owens, 101 Idaho 632, 640, 619 P.2d 787, 795 (1980); State v. McCurdy, 100 Idaho 683, 686, 603 P.2d 1017, 1020 (1979).

III

SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

The defendant also asserts that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction of first degree murder. It is argued that the killing was justifiable, or at least sufficiently provoked to bring it within the definition of voluntary manslaughter, and that in any event there was no evidence of either malice aforethought or deliberation and premeditation. The jury, however, was instructed upon the applicable law concerning these points, and from the evidence determined that the defendant was guilty of first degree murder. It is well established that a jury verdict supported by substantial competent evidence will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Gerdau, 96 Idaho 516, 518, 531 P.2d 1161, 1163 (1975). Malice may be implied when the circumstances attending the killing show an abandoned and malignant heart. I.C. § 18-4002. Certainly, the fact that the victim in this case was stabbed 33 times is sufficient to meet that standard and support the jury’s conclusion that the killing was done with malice.

Similarly, the elements of deliberation and premeditation need not be proved by direct evidence, but may be inferred from the facts and circumstances of the killing, State v. Foley, 95 Idaho 222, 223-24, 506 P.2d 119, 120-21 (1973). Premeditation does not require an appreciable space of time between the intention to kill and the killing; rather, it may be as instantaneous as two successive thoughts of the mind. Carey v. State, 91 Idaho 706, 710, 429 P.2d 836, 840 (1967). The facts of the present case show that the victim had a history of being a homosexual, and that the defendant had a great aversion to such people. The defendant at one point in the trial admitted that he had responded to a homosexual advance of another person by chasing and attempting to “knock the soup out of” that other person with a crowbar. The defendant claims that the victim made a homosexual advance toward him on the night of the killing. Certainly the jury was entitled to reject the defendant’s story of self defense in light of his feelings concerning homosexuals, and in view of the fact that the defendant had initially given the police a substantially different account of events than the one he later relied on. “It is within the province of the jury [in a criminal case] to believe or to disbelieve the testimony of any witness, or any portion of such testimony, .... ” State v. Cacavas, 55 Idaho 538, 540, 44 P.2d 1110 (1935). The jury could also have properly considered the fact that the defendant took and sold some of the victim’s property as further circumstantial evidence supporting the charge and rebutting the defendant’s claim of self defense. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of malice and premeditation, and the matter was therefore properly within the exclusive province of the jury. State v. Gerdau, supra.

IV

JUROR MISCONDUCT

Finally, it is argued that the trial court erred in denying a motion for a new trial based upon one juror’s communications with a third party who was a cousin of the defendant. Upon motion of a defendant, a new trial is to be granted “if required in the interests of justice.” I.C.R. 34. However, the question of whether the interests of justice require a new trial under the circumstances of a particular case is directed to the sound discretion of the trial court; and the trial court’s decision thereon will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. Powers, 100 Idaho 290, 291-2, 596 P.2d 802, 803-4 (1979); State v. McConville, 82 Idaho 47, 52, 349 P.2d 114, 116 (1960).

In the present case, the court held a two hour hearing on the matter. The record discloses that the particular conversation lasted from fifteen to twenty minutes; however, only two or three minutes were spent discussing the defendant. The juror and the defendant’s cousin were good friends, and the discussion took place while the cousin was repairing a flat tire for the juror. The relevant two to three minutes of conversation concerned the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the defendant’s upbringing and family life. In denying the motion for a new trial, the judge stated the following:

“Well, this is a very serious matter.... However, listening to all of the evidence in this matter — it’s obvious that a conversation took place. It’s also obvious that nothing was said in that conversation that was in any way prejudicial to the defense or to the defendant; that any comments that the juror, Bonner, may have made were sympathetic to the position of the defendant.”

In light of the circumstances surrounding the conversation and the fact that the conversation was sympathetic toward the defendant, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying a new trial. The conviction is affirmed.

DONALDSON and SHEPARD, JJ., concur.

1 . “18-211. EXAMINATION OF DEFENDANT-APPOINTMENT OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS — HOSPITALIZATION — REPORT.—(1) Whenever the defendant has filed a notice of intention to rely on the defense of mental disease or defect excluding responsibility, or there is reason to doubt his fitness to proceed as set forth in this section, or reason to believe that mental disease or defect of the defendant will otherwise become an issue in the cause, the court shall appoint at least one (1) qualified psychiatrist or licensed psychologist or shall request the director of the department of health and welfare to designate at least one (1) qualified psychiatrist or licensed psychologist to examine and report upon the mental condition of the defendant. The court may order the defendant to be committed to a hospital or other suitable facility for the purpose of the examination for a period of not exceeding sixty (60) days or such longer period as the court determines to be necessary for the purpose and may direct that a qualified psychiatrist or licensed psychologist retained by the defendant be permitted to witness and participate in the examination.

2 . As noted previously, the examinations also involved testing and evaluations performed by two psychologists.

3 . In State v. Coronado, 98 Idaho 421, 423, 565 P.2d 1378, 1380 (1977), we held that “a transcript of the preliminary hearing, when alleged to be necessary to the defense, must certainly be included among those services and facilities provided by the state under [I.C. § 19-852].” (Emphasis added.) Such an absolute rule in regard to preliminary hearing transcripts was made due to the requirements of I.C.R. 5.1 as it existed at that time. That same rule was also applicable to the present case. However, I.C.R. 5.1 did not address the provision of transcripts of proceedings of the type involved in the present case. Consequently, rules of a more general nature, as discussed below, form the basis of the present opinion. But see I.C.R. 5.2 (effective as amended July 1, 1981).

4 . Dr. Azar and Dr. Estess were private psychiatrists practicing in Boise, Idaho, who, by agreement with the State of Idaho, provided psychiatric services on an individual case basis. Neither were employees of the State of Idaho, nor did their agreement call for their providing all necessary psychiatric services for a lump sum.

5 . We note, however, that it is probably the more prudent policy to allow the defendant a transcript under such circumstances. A denial will generally lead to a greater expenditure of public funds than would granting the request. As evidenced by this case, an appeal of such a denial will require not only preparation of the transcript originally requested, but will also require the expenditure of additional funds to pay for costs otherwise associated with the appeal.