State v. Rook

511 P.2d 1245, 14 Or. App. 211, 1973 Ore. App. LEXIS 893
Court of Appeals of Oregon·Decided July 16, 1973·No. 37465 and 37466·Published·Cited by 18 cases

Opinions

FOBT, J.

Defendant was separately indicted and jointly tried and convicted on two charges of first degree murder. Former OBS 163.010 (1). He appeals. Prior to this trial he was indicted, tried and convicted of first degree murder arising out of a killing occurring at approximately the same time and place. His conviction thereon was affirmed by this court in State v. Rook, 10 Or App 367, 499 P2d 830, Sup Ct review denied (1972).

There we said:

“In this case defendant was separately charged [213] and convicted of the first degree murder of one Sharon Williams. The evidence was that defendant and a companion, who were fugitives from a jailbreak, murdered Sharon Williams and her parents in their home in a remote area of Douglas County-while committing an armed robbery. Other charges against defendant and his accomplice were in separate indictments. The murders were brutal and the evidence of defendant’s guilt was overwhelming.” 10 Or App at 368.

The two indictments here involved charged the defendant with the murders of Mabel Williams and Edward Lyman Williams, the parents of Sharon Williams, 1'eferred to in the above quotation.

In this appeal, however, the principal contention urged is the denial of defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal based upon his plea of former jeopardy. Reliance is placed primarily upon State v. Brown, 262 Or 442, 497 P2d 1191 (1972), which was decided after the defendant was convicted and sentenced upon the charge of killing Sharon Williams. Although our Supreme Court in State v. Fair, 263 Or 383, 502 P2d 1150 (1972), held that State v. Brown, supra, was not to be applied retroactively, defendant contends that Fair was in effect overruled by Robinson v. Neil, 409 US 505, 93 S Ct 876, 35 L Ed 2d 29 (1973), which holds that Waller v. Florida, 397 US 387, 90 S Ct 1184, 25 L Ed 2d 435 (1970), is fully retroactive. Waller barred on the ground of double jeopardy two prosecutions, state and municipal, based upon the same act or offense. See also: Ashe v. Swenson, 397 US 436, 90 S Ct 1189, 25 L Ed 2d 469 (1970).

Defendant now contends that in State v. Brown, supra, the court abandoned the historic “same evi[214] dence” test as the standard for determining when the double jeopardy clause applies. There the court said:

“* * * We hold, therefore, that under Article I, Section 12, of our constitution, a second prosecution is for the ‘same offense’ and is prohibited if (1) the charges arise out of the same act or transaction, and (2) the charges could have been tried in the same court, and (3) the prosecutor knew or reasonably should have known of the facts relevant to the second charge at the time of the original prosecution.” 262 Or at 457-58.

Defendant contends first that the two murders for which he was here convicted arose “out of the same act or transaction” within the meaning of Brown as did the murder of Sharon Williams for which he was first tried and convicted.

He then urges that it follows from Robinson v. Neil, supra, that since the double jeopardy provision (Oregon Constitution, Art I, § 12) now applies retroactively under the Fifth Amendment, his plea of double jeopardy should here have been allowed and that these convictions must be vacated. For reasons hereinafter stated we need not decide that question.

In State v. Gratz, 254 Or 474, 461 P2d 829 (1969), the Supreme Court considered whether a person could be charged in separate counts in one indictment for the armed robbery of two separate persons committed at the same time and place and as a part of the same transaction. The court said:

“The defendant relies upon State v. Clark, 46 Or 140, 80 P 101, wherein this court held that the stealing of several articles belonging to more than one person at the same time and place by one act constitutes but a single offense. This holding is in accord 'with the weight of authority and is based [215] on the reasoning that, since there was but one overt act (the theft), a rule to the contrary would lead to incongruous and inhumane results. Anno. 28 ALB 2d 1187, § 3.
“However, in the cases dealing with armed robbery, where the gravamen of the offense is an assault upon and a theft from the person, OBS 163.280, the courts hold that each assault and theft from a different person, although occurring at the same time and place, is a separate crime. * * *
“With few exceptions, not here pertinent, in crimes against the person when contrasted with crimes against property there are as many offenses as individuals affected. And, while it may be said that in armed robbery a single act may put several persons in fear, yet, in order to consummate the crime, that act must be followed by the act of taking from each person money or personal goods. Thus the taking of money or personal goods from one person does not constitute an integral part of the crime committed against another person. * * *” 254 Or at 476-77.

Accordingly, we conclude that the murders of Sharon, Mabel and Edward Lyman Williams each constitute a separate offense. The gravamen of each of the crimes of murder here charged was the deliberate, intentional and unlawful killing of a particular individual. Former OBS 163.010 (1).

Defendant contends, however, that under State v. Brown, supra, it was incumbent upon the state to consolidate all three cases for trial, since all three were part of the same transaction, and that its failure to do so entitles him to invoke the double jeopardy rule. (Oregon Constitution, Art I, § 12.)

Consideration of this question requires an understanding of the background out of which it arises.

[216] On November 17, 1971, three separate first degree murder indictments were returned against Eook by the Douglas County G-rand Jury. Each indictment charged defendant Eook with the murder of a separate member of the Williams family. The trial court sought to have all three of the murder indictments against defendant Eook, together with a like three brought at the same time against his alleged accomplice, Harnden, consolidated to be tried at the same time. Hearings were held for this purpose and on December 1, 1971, at 9 am., defendant Eook and codefendant Harnden were present together with respective counsel before the court. The court announced its desire that all the cases be consolidated for trial. Then

“THE COUET: I assume in the event the plea is entered in Eook, the matter of setting for trial can be argued on both of these cases. What is your pleasure on the order of hearing these cases? Perhaps I should hear argument on the consolidation for trial, first.

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State v. Rook, 511 P.2d 1245, 14 Or. App. 211, 1973 Ore. App. LEXIS 893 (Or. Ct. App. 1973).

511 P.2d 1245 (State v. Rook) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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