State v. Torres

393 S.E.2d 535, 99 N.C. App. 364, 1990 N.C. App. LEXIS 530

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: July 17, 1990
• Docket: 892SC510
• Status: Published

Opinions

JOHNSON, Judge.

The State’s evidence tended to show that Sheriff Joe Sykes was called to the home of Tino and Georgia Torres at approximately 6:30 p.m. on 28 February 1988 to investigate a shooting. Upon arrival, Sheriff Sykes found the victim, Tino Torres, in the living room lying on his back. Shortly thereafter, the rescue squad arrived, placed Mr. Torres on a stretcher and transported him to the emergency room of the Beaufort County Hospital. Mr. Torres, however, died some time later.

Defendant, Georgia Torres, was transferred to the Sheriff’s Department for purposes of investigation, but was not under arrest. When she asked whether she needed an attorney, she was told that “she did not need one at that time.” Defendant then awaited questioning in a conference room with two of her daughters and two family friends. Just prior to being questioned by the investigating officers, defendant was advised of her Miranda rights, as prescribed by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), asked if she wanted an attorney present and informed that she could stop answering questions whenever she desired. Defendant indicated that she understood her rights and that she did not want an attorney present. Irrespective of the fact that no promises or assurances were made, defendant made a statement. Georgia Torres was later charged with second-degree murder.

An autopsy subsequently performed by Dr. Stan Harris revealed that Mr. Torres had been shot five times. Gunshot entrances were observed to the left upper arm, the front left chest, the right chest, the left lower abdomen and just below the rib cage. Based upon the paths of the bullets, it was concluded that the bullet to the victim’s left upper arm shattered a bone thereby making it doubtful that he (Mr. Torres) could have used his arm after receiving that particular gunshot wound and that the fatal shot could have been fired while Mr. Torres was on the floor. Since the autopsy did not reveal evidence of powder residue on the wounds, it was further concluded that the shots were fired some distance away from victim. The results of a blood alcohol test suggested that Mr. Torres was intoxicated during the altercation.

Defendant’s account of the events of 28 February was wholly contradictory to that of the State’s and tended to show the following. Defendant, after marrying Tino Torres in October, 1986, became a victim of his long history of drinking and abusive behavior. On the night prior to the shooting, defendant and Mr. Torres drove to a Beaufort County bar where the couple got into a verbal disagreement and physical fight. The police were summoned by the bartender and Mr. Torres went to a friend’s house, leaving defendant at the bar.

On 28 February, Mr. Torres arrived at defendant’s house at approximately 6:15 p.m. to pick up his belongings. Upon his arrival, an argument between defendant and Torres started and moments later a fight ensued. Defendant, allegedly concerned about her safety and the safety of her family, picked up a rifle and shot her husband three times. (Contrary to the defendant’s assertion that she only shot her husband three times, medical reports conclusively establish that Mr. Torres was, in fact, shot five times.) Defendant alleges that her actions were not premeditated and deliberated and that she shot her husband in self-defense.

On appeal, defendant brings forth nine questions for this Court’s review. By Assignment of Error number one, defendant contends that the trial court erroneously denied her motion to suppress statements that were obtained in violation of her constitutional rights. Defendant bases her contention on the fact that she believes that she was in custody once the officers transported her from her house to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department and that the officers interrogated her without the presence of counsel. Following a careful review of the evidence, we conclude defendant’s constitutional rights were not violated.

Unquestionably, a suspect in custody must be informed of his constitutional rights before being questioned by law enforcement officers. State v. Braswell, 312 N.C. 553, 324 S.E.2d 241 (1985). Where “an accused requests the presence of counsel, he may not be subjected to further interrogation by the police until counsel has been made available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further communication with the officers.” State v. Ladd, 308 N.C. 272, 285, 302 S.E.2d 164, 173 (1983). If, however, an accused merely makes an inquiry as to whether he needs an attorney, he has not invoked his constitutional privilege to counsel. See State v. McQueen, 324 N.C. 118, 377 S.E.2d 38 (1989) (Defendant plainly invoked the right to counsel when he unequivocally stated, “I want my lawyer.”); State v. Ladd, supra. (Defendant undeniably invoked his right to counsel when he stated “I will tell you where the rest of the money is after I talk to my lawyer.”) The warnings required by Miranda v. Arizona, supra, are not necessary where a person is not in custody or not being questioned. State v. Braswell, supra. On appeal, the reviewing court must first determine whether the person was in custody at the time of questioning and then whether the person was, in fact, interrogated for Miranda purposes. If it is concluded that the person was not in custody during the time of questioning, any confession made will be admissible. State v. Davis, 305 N.C. 400, 290 S.E.2d 574 (1982). The reviewing court must utilize

an objective test of whether a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would believe that he had been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way or, to the contrary, would believe that he was free to go at will.

Id. at 410, 290 S.E.2d at 581. See also Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 97 S.Ct. 711, 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977).

The record in the case sub judice indicates that: (1) a voir dire hearing was conducted on the admissibility of defendant’s confession; (2) findings of fact and conclusions of law were made by the trial court; and (3) the motion to suppress defendant’s statements was thereafter denied. If supported by competent evidence in the record, the trial court’s findings of fact following a voir dire hearing on the voluntariness of a confession are conclusive on appeal and may not be modified or set aside by the reviewing court. State v. Rook, 304 N.C. 201, 283 S.E.2d 732 (1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1038 (1982).

Inasmuch as we are bound by the record, we are unable to adopt defendant’s position that she would have been detained had she chosen to get up and leave the Sheriff’s Department prior to the time she gave her statement. Testimonial evidence suggests that defendant would have only been detained after she was advised of her Miranda rights, asked if she wanted an attorney present and informed that she could stop answering questions whenever she desired. For it was at this point that she was considered “in custody,” despite defendant’s assertions that she was under arrest when she was transported to the Sheriff’s Department; during the time she waited in the conference room with her daughters and family friends; and during the time she asked if she needed an attorney present. Furthermore, defendant’s reliance upon State v. Ladd, supra, and State v. Fincher, 309 N.C. 1, 305 S.E.2d 685 (1983), is misplaced since in both instances the defendant clearly indicated his decision to invoke his right to counsel. Here, defendant merely inquired as to whether she needed an attorney present. Thus, defendant’s constitutional rights were not violated and the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law on the volun-tariness of defendant’s statements were not in error. This assignment of error is overruled.

Defendant next contends that the second-degree murder conviction must be vacated since there was insufficient evidence of malice and since she acted in imperfect self-defense. We disagree.

North Carolina recognizes that under certain circumstances, the right to kill becomes an inherent right of natural law, but that such recourse is only justifiable where there is a real or apparent necessity. It is further recognized that

a defendant is entitled to have the jury consider acquittal by reason of perfect self-defense when the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant, tends to show that at the time of the killing it appeared to the defendant and she believed it to be necessary to kill the decedent to save herself from imminent death or great bodily harm.

State v. Norman, 324 N.C. 253, 259, 378 S.E.2d 8, 12 (1989). However, if the defendant is the initial aggressor, but is without intent to kill or seriously injure the decedent, and the decedent intensifies the confrontation to the point where it is reasonable for the defendant to believe that she must kill the decedent to save herself from imminent death or great bodily harm, such defendant is not justified in the killing, but is guilty of a lesser charge. Id.

In the present case, no evidence was introduced necessitating a jury instruction on imperfect self-defense. The evidence instead tended to show that the victim was intoxicated at the time of the altercation, unarmed and posed no immediate harm to the defendant or any member of her family. Thus, the trial court’s instruction to the jury on self-defense was proper.

Second-degree murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice, but without evidence of premeditation and deliberation. State v. Jenkins, 300 N.C. 578, 268 S.E.2d 458 (1980). The element of malice may be either expressed or implied. As a general rule, malice exists as a matter of law whenever there has been an unlawful and intentional homicide without an excuse or mitigating factors. State v. Moore, 275 N.C. 198, 166 S.E.2d 652 (1969). Malice, nonetheless, may be implied from the use of a deadly weapon, individual circumstances, or the actions of the defendant. State v. Mapp, 45 N.C. App. 574, 264 S.E.2d 348 (1980).

In light of the fact that the evidence presented at the sentencing hearing shows defendant, without a justifiable excuse or mitigating factors, shot Mr. Torres five times at some distance away with a rifle, we remain unpersuaded that the defendant shot her husband with anything less than malice and therefore overrule this assignment of error.

By Assignment of Error number three, defendant contends that the trial court erred by overruling her objections to the testimony of Dr. Harris, an expert in pathology, that one of the shots could have been fired while the victim was on the floor. Defendant argues that Dr. Harris expressed an opinion on issues to be decided by the jury. We disagree.

In considering defendant’s contention, we must apply the general guidelines enunciated in State v. Saunders, 317 N.C. 308, 345 S.E.2d 212 (1986), and State v. Wilkerson, 295 N.C. 559, 247 S.E.2d 905 (1978). As articulated in both cases, “[t]he admissibility of expert opinion depends not on whether it would invade the jury’s province, but rather on ‘whether the witness ... is in a better position to have an opinion . . . than is the trier of fact.’ ” State v. Saunders, supra at 314, 345 S.E.2d at 216, quoting State v. Wilkerson, supra at 568-69, 247 S.E.2d at 911.

Here, Dr. Harris’ testimony was properly admitted pursuant to G.S. § 8C-1, Rule 702 which provides that:

If scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion.

His opinion as to the positioning and path of the bullets was based upon his examination of the bullet entrances during an autopsy. Clearly, as the pathologist who performed the autopsy of the victim, Dr. Harris was in the best position to assist the jury in understanding the characteristics of the victim’s wounds and determining whether the defendant acted in self-defense when she shot her husband. Thus, the trial court did not err in allowing Dr. Harris to testify that in his opinion one of the shots could have entered the victim while the victim was on the floor. This assignment of error is overruled.

By Assignments of Error five and six, defendant challenges the trial court’s consideration of premeditation, deliberation and the victim’s mental state as aggravating factors in her sentencing.

As previously stated by this Court and our Supreme Court,

[t]he primary purposes of sentencing a person convicted of a crime are to impose a punishment commensurate with the injury the offense has caused, taking into account factors that may diminish or increase the offender’s culpability; to protect the public by restraining offenders; to assist the offender toward rehabilitation and restoration to the community as a lawful citizen; and to provide a general deterrent to criminal behavior.

G.S. § 15A-1340.3; see also State v. Melton, 307 N.C. 370, 298 S.E.2d 673 (1983), and State v. Hough, 61 N.C. App. 132, 300 S.E.2d 409 (1983). Where, as here, the preponderance of the evidence shows that the victim was intoxicated and the defendant knew it, the trial court must find that the victim was mentally infirmed at the time he was killed. See State v. Potts, 65 N.C. App. 101, 308 S.E.2d 754 (1983), disc. rev. denied, 311 N.C. 406, 319 S.E.2d 278 (1984).

We do not believe that the prosecutor’s election to charge defendant with second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder prevented the trial court from finding that the defendant acted with premeditation and deliberation. We also do not believe that the preponderance of the evidence establishes something less than premeditation and deliberation. Accordingly, the trial court properly found as aggravating factors that the defendant’s actions were both premeditated and deliberated and that the victim was mentally infirméd at the time he was killed.

Defendant’s next two Assignments of Error challenge the trial court’s failure to find as mitigating factors defendant’s good standing in the community and her alleged mental condition that significantly reduced her culpability.

At a sentencing hearing, a defendant bears the burden of persuasion on the issue of mitigating factors. He, in essence, is asking the court to find that “the evidence so clearly establishes the fact in issue that no reasonable inferences to the contrary can be drawn.” State v. Taylor, 309 N.C. 570, 577, 308 S.E.2d 302, 307 (1983), quoting North Carolina National Bank v. Burnette, 297 N.C. 524, 536-37, 256 S.E.2d 388, 395 (1979). As defined by statute, the mitigating factor of good character refers to the defendant’s good character and reputation in the community in which he lives. See G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(2)m. We note that

[determining the credibility of evidence is at the heart of the fact-finding function. Nevertheless, ... we must find the sentencing judge in error if he fails to find a statutory factor when evidence of its existence is both uncontradicted and manifestly credible.

State v. Jones, 309 N.C. 214, 220, 306 S.E.2d 451, 456 (1983).

In the case under discussion, defendant’s evidence of her good character and reputation is uncontradicted, however, it is not manifestly credible. With the exclusion of one witness, the other witnesses were acquaintances from work and had no knowledge of defendant’s character and reputation in the community in which she lived. The only defense witness that could express an opinion as to defendant’s reputation in the community testified that defendant “enjoys having a good time.” Such testimony is not overwhelmingly persuasive on the question of defendant’s good character or good reputation in the community where she lives. We therefore conclude that the testimony is not manifestly credible.

Defendant further contends that the testimony of Dr. Sharon Willingham concerning the “battered wife syndrome” required the sentencing judge to find, as a mitigating factor, that she suffered from a mental condition as provided in G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(2)d. While we note that the term “mental condition” pursuant to G.S. § 15A-1340.4(a)(2)d has been held to include the abused spouse syndrome, we also note that a “[failure to find a nonstatutory mitigating factor, even when it is supported by uncontradicted, substantial, and manifestly credible evidence, will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion.” State v. Holden, 321 N.C. 689, 697, 365 S.E.2d 626, 630 (1988). We have reviewed the evidence, but detect no abuse of the trial judge’s discretion.

Finally, we have considered, but find it unnecessary to discuss defendant’s last Assignment of Error that the trial court erred by failing to find, as mitigating factors, that defendant acted under strong provocation or that her relationship with her husband was extenuating. Suffice it to say that “[ujncontradicted, quantitatively substantial, and credible evidence may simply fail to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, any given factor in aggravation or mitigation.” State v. Michael, 311 N.C. 214, 219-20, 316 S.E.2d 276, 280 (1984), quoting State v. Blackwelder, 309 N.C. 410, 419, 306 S.E.2d 783, 789 (1983). This assignment of error is overruled.

We conclude that defendant received a fair trial, free of prejudicial error, and that the sentence imposed on her conviction was proper.

No error.

Judge PARKER concurs in the result. Judge Greene dissents.