State v. Pizzuto

778 P.2d 42, 55 Wash. App. 421, 1989 Wash. App. LEXIS 292
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedAugust 28, 1989
Docket21429-2-I; 21445-4-I
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 778 P.2d 42 (State v. Pizzuto) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Pizzuto, 778 P.2d 42, 55 Wash. App. 421, 1989 Wash. App. LEXIS 292 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

Forrest, J.

On April 9, 1985, Gerald Pizzuto, Jr., and John Rodewald were charged by information with first degree felony murder in the death on March 16 or 17 of Rita Drury. On May 8, 1985, Pizzuto was charged by information with first degree murder in the death on March 30 of John Jones. 1 Pizzuto did not appear for his arraignments and warrants for his arrest remained outstanding. He was apprehended in August 1985 in Great Falls, Montana. He was held on arrest warrants from both Washington and Idaho.

Pizzuto was interviewed in Montana on August 18, 1985, by Detective Davis of the Seattle Police Department. He expressed concern about the prospect of receiving the death penalty in Idaho and a desire to face trial in Washington if promised the prosecutor would not recommend the death penalty. Davis informed him he had no power to make such *424 an agreement. Davis spoke with appellant's sister later that day. He told her he could not promise Pizzuto would not receive the death penalty in Washington. She reported this information to Pizzuto.

On August 19, 1985, Detective Davis conducted a second interview with Pizzuto. He told Pizzuto he had communicated his request for a promise that the King County Prosecutor would not recommend the death penalty. Davis reiterated he had no authority to make such an agreement. Nonetheless, Pizzuto admitted he was involved in the allegedly accidental shooting of John Jones. He also stated he was present during the robbery and murder of Rita Drury. On August 20, Davis taped Pizzuto's statement after advising him that King County had told him it would not promise Pizzuto would not receive the death penalty in Washington. While giving his statement, Pizzuto acknowledged Davis had made no promises nor threats. He again admitted accidentally shooting Jones. He also admitted to being in Rita Drury's apartment when she was killed.

On May 23, 1986, Detective Richardson received a collect call from Pizzuto, who asked for Detective Davis. Davis was not available. Pizzuto told Richardson he and John Rode-wald were equally guilty in the robbery and homicide of Rita Drury. He called Richardson again on January 23, 1987, reiterating that Rodewald was equally guilty in the Drury case and stating that the Jones homicide was an accident. In a telephone conversation with Detective Gruber on December 19, 1986, Pizzuto stated he was equally guilty in the Drury homicide and that he shot John Jones. Counsel for Pizzuto objected to admission of the taped statement and statements made by Pizzuto during his telephone calls. The court, however, ruled them admissible.

Pizzuto waived extradition to Washington on August 12, 1985. He waived extradition to Idaho on August 26, 1985. Officials from Washington agreed to subordinate their extradition request for Pizzuto to Idaho's request. Upon transfer of appellant to Idaho's custody, Washington placed *425 a hold on Pizzuto which would be activated if he were released from custody or if found not guilty after trial in Idaho. Pizzuto was convicted in Idaho of robbery, grand theft and two counts of first degree murder. On May 23, 1986, he was sentenced to death for each murder charge, received a life sentence for the robbery charge and 14 years for grand theft.

Upon inquiring when Pizzuto would be available to Washington, officials were advised that the defendant's presence was required in Idaho until posttrial motions were heard. Throughout the remainder of 1986 and during early 1987, state officials continued to advise Idaho of their desire that Pizzuto stand trial for the charges still pending in Washington. On February 4, 1987, after continued communication regarding Pizzuto between Washington and Idaho officials, the King County Prosecutor's office lodged a detainer against the defendant with the Idaho State Correctional Institution indicating its intent to return Pizzuto to King County. On March 24, 1987, Pizzuto was transported from Idaho to the King County Jail.

Upon Pizzuto's return to King County, trial dates were scheduled for July 10, 1987, for the Jones case and July 13, 1987, for the Drury case. The appellant waived his right to speedy trial in both cases after 16 days in the custody of King County. He subsequently signed additional waivers for both cases prior to any further expiration of the 60-day limit. A bench trial commenced in the Jones case on September 11, 1987. Pizzuto was found guilty as charged. A jury trial commenced in the Drury case on October 14, 1987. Pizzuto was found guilty as charged.

Speedy Trial Issue

Pizzuto first claims that the State breached the speedy trial requirements of CrR 3.3 and CrR 4.1 by agreeing to allow Idaho to proceed first on its charges, resulting in a 2-year delay for his arraignment. He argues the informations must be dismissed because of the delay. The State claims that the delay in this case is excluded under CrR 3.3(g). It *426 further asserts it met any duty of good faith and due diligence that may exist.

CrR 3.3 provides in pertinent part:

(g) Excluded Periods. The following periods shall be excluded in computing the time for arraignment and the time for trial:
(2) Preliminary proceedings and trial on another charge except as otherwise provided by CrR 3.3(c)(5) [relating to rearraignment];
(6) The time during which a defendant is detained in jail or prison outside the state of Washington or in a federal jail or prison and the time during which a defendant is subjected to conditions of release not imposed by a court of the State of Washington;

From the time the State filed the information until Piz-zuto's arrest in Montana, Pizzuto was a fugitive. He concedes this period is excluded from speedy trial calculations. Whether he was involved in "preliminary proceedings and trial" during the remainder of time before arraignment in Washington, however, depends on the meaning given to "trial" in CrR 3.3(g)(2).

A. Meaning of "Preliminary Proceedings and Trial".

In State v. Bernhard, 2 the court held that CrR 3.3(g)(2) excluded from speedy trial calculations the entire period that a defendant is involved in a trial on another matter. 3 Bernhard did not decide, however, whether "preliminary proceedings and trial" can be excluded beyond the time of the guilty plea. 4

*427 Here, Pizzuto was held in Idaho for many months after the jury verdict and before imposition of the death sentence. Pizzuto was required to remain in Idaho for completion of all posttrial motions before an appeal of his sentence could be initiated. Because of various continuances, approximately 10 months elapsed before all relevant motions had been heard. We interpret "trial" as used in CrR 3.3(g)(2) to encompass sentencing and posttrial motions regardless of the order in which they occur.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
778 P.2d 42, 55 Wash. App. 421, 1989 Wash. App. LEXIS 292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-pizzuto-washctapp-1989.