State v. Townsend

142 Wash. 2d 838

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: January 4, 2001
• Docket: No. 68337-9
• Status: Published

Opinions

Madsen, J.

— Petitioner seeks review of a Court of Appeals decision affirming his first degree murder conviction and rejecting his contention that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel when he failed to object to the oral instructions to the jury during voir dire that the present charges did not involve the death penalty. Additionally, the petitioner argues that the court erred when it found sufficient evidence to support premeditation. We hold that it is error to inform the jury during voir dire in a noncapital case that the case is not a death penalty case. However, under the facts of this case, we find the error harmless and affirm the Court of Appeals.

FACTS

On November, 1, 1996, Roy Townsend, Jack Jellison and the victim, Gerald Harkins, attended a party at Mike Brock’s home. Several hours prior to the party, Brock mentioned to Townsend that he was angry at Harkins for spreading rumors about Brock’s sister. After hearing the rumors, Townsend replied “either you can deal with it or I can deal with it.” Verbatim Report of Proceedings (RP) at 95.

Brock suggested a hunting trip, at which time Brock would confront Harkins about the rumors. Brock later decided to not go hunting. Harkins, however, left the party in his pickup truck with Townsend and Jellison to go hunting. On the way, they stopped at Townsend’s house where they picked up a spotlight and Townsend changed clothes. After the stop, Harkins drove while Townsend sat in the passenger seat, using a spotlight to search for deer and occasionally taking shots at road signs with his .45 caliber pistol.

Eventually, Harkins turned the truck onto a road which was blocked by a locked gate that prevented further access to the road. Townsend exited the vehicle and shot the lock several times but was unsuccessful in opening the gate. Townsend then got into the back of the pickup truck and Harkins turned the truck around. Later, Harkins turned onto a side road in another attempt to get up into the mountains. This road, too, was impassable, blocked by a large mound of dirt. As Harkins began backing up to go back down the hill, Jellison, then sitting in the passenger seat, heard a shot from the rear of the truck. Turning around, Jellison saw that Townsend had fallen out of the truck and lay on the ground many feet away from the truck. Townsend then asked “[a]re you guys okay?” RP at 127. Jellison replied that they were fine, but then Harkins slumped over his arm and Jellison realized that Harkins had been shot. Jellison jumped out of the truck and yelled to Townsend “[0]h my God, you shot him. What the hell are you doing?” RP at 128. Townsend said that it was an accident.

Townsend asked if Harkins was still alive. Jellison noticed that Harkins was still breathing and that his eyes were open, staring at him. They argued about taking Harkins to the hospital but Townsend insisted that they could not do so since the police would never believe that the shooting was an accident. Jellison asked why the police would not believe them if it was an accident and Townsend reminded Jellison of their prior criminal histories.¹ Townsend then approached the driver’s side of the truck, looked inside, and raised the gun up to “the general area where the head was laying . . . .” RP at 130. Townsend said “God forgive me,” and pulled the trigger again. Id.

Townsend moved Harkins’ body over to the passenger seat and Jellison drove the truck back to the gate where Townsend dumped the body nearby in the dense woods. Jellison and Townsend drove back to Townsend’s house and told Townsend’s roommate, Mike Drury, that Harkins had been accidentally shot. Later, Townsend moved Harkins’ truck and burned it. He took the gun with him to Yakima.

Several days after Harkins’ death, Yakima police arrested Townsend for armed robbery and placed him in the Yakima County jail. While in custody, Townsend contacted Harkins’ father and told him that he had information regarding his 18-year-old son’s death. In exchange for a promise of “help” with his armed robbery charges, Townsend provided substantial information, including the general location of Harkins’ body.

The State charged Townsend with first degree murder, second degree murder, second degree arson, and first degree theft. At a pretrial hearing, and again during voir dire, there were references to the death penalty. The first discussion occurred during a motion in limine.

[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I have one [motion in limine]. I think it’s important and typically on first degree murder cases, the Court has done this in the past, that the Court inform the jury that this is not a death penalty case.

[COURT]: I will....

RP at 11.

Another reference to the death penalty occurred in the presence of the jury at the outset of voir dire.

[PROSECUTOR]: Alright. You understand this is a criminal case, a very serious criminal case. And I’ll indicate to you right now ... I would ask the Court’s indulgence. This is a first degree murder case. This case does not involve the death penalty. I think it’s important that all the jurors understand that at this point in time.

THE COURT: Thank you ... I had intended to let the jury know that I’d forgotten to indicate because when you do hear the term first degree murder, a lot of people think automatically about a death penalty This is not a case in which the death penalty is involved and will not be a consideration for the jury.

[PROSECUTOR]: Okay, so that concept of anxiety or anticipation is not involved in this particular case. Matter of fact, under the laws of the State of Washington, the only type of murder case that involves the death penalty is aggravated first degree murder. This is not an aggravated first degree murder. This is first degree murder.

Suppl. Partial Report of Proceedings at 2. Defense counsel did not object to any of the comments.

At the conclusion of trial, the jury found the petitioner guilty of first degree murder, second degree arson, and first degree theft. The trial judge imposed an exceptional sentence of 800 months, approximately one and one-half times the standard range. On appeal, the petitioner principally asserted that his counsel was ineffective when he failed to object to statements about the death penalty. The Court of Appeals, Division Two, found that the statements were not erroneous, rejecting a contrary holding in a recent case from Division One, State v. Murphy, 86 Wn. App. 667, 937 P.2d 1173 (1997), review denied, 134 Wn.2d 1002 (1998).² We accepted review to settle the conflict.

DISCUSSION

As a general rule, in any claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the “[c]ourts engage in a strong presumption counsel’s representation was effective.” State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995); State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816 (1987). “Competency of counsel is determined based upon the entire record below.” McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 335. To establish ineffective assistance of counsel a defendant must prove deficient performance and resulting prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); In re Personal Restraint of Rice, 118 Wn.2d 876, 888, 828 P.2d 1086, cert. denied, 506 U.S. 958 (1992). To prove deficient performance, a defendant must demonstrate that the representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under professional norms and that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result would have been different. Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 888-89.

Under the first prong of the Strickland test, we begin by determining whether instructions to the jury regarding punishment is erroneous in a noncapital trial. Townsend argues that his trial counsel should have objected to the jury instructions because they were erroneous in citing the Division One decision in State v. Murphy, 86 Wn. App. 667. In Murphy, the prosecution charged the defendant with first-degree and second-degree murder. During voir dire, the judge attempted to allay potential juror fears and added an additional instruction to the usual instruction found in Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal (WPIC) 1.02 (2d ed. 1994).

I would advise you that this case does not involve a death penalty. You have nothing whatever to do, however, with any punishment that may be imposed in case of a violation of the law. The fact that punishment may follow conviction cannot be considered by you except insofar as it may tend to make you careful.

Id. at 669; see WPIC 1.02.

On appeal, Murphy argued that since the jury is not to consider punishment, an instruction to the jury regarding the death penalty was error. Division One agreed. Acknowledging that other jurisdictions have allowed the jury to be informed that the death penalty is not involved in a case, see State ex rel. Schiff v. Madrid, 101 N.M. 153, 679 P.2d 821 (1984), the court nevertheless was persuaded that in Washington “punishment is irrelevant to the jury’s task.” Murphy, 86 Wn. App. at 670 (citing State v. Todd, 78 Wn.2d 362, 474 P.2d 542 (1970)); State v. Forbes, 43 Wn. App. 793, 795, 719 P.2d 941 (1986). Relying on language from Todd, which held that when a judge places “undue emphasis” on certain factors, including sentencing considerations, the jury will most likely take them into account, the court concluded that the judge’s instructions were erroneous. Todd, 78 Wn.2d at 376. Nevertheless the court upheld the verdict, finding the error harmless. Because the jury had found the defendant guilty only of the lesser charge, the court reasoned that the jury was not likely influenced by the death penalty instruction in reaching its verdict. Murphy, 86 Wn. App. at 673.

Division Two in this case disagreed with Murphy, finding that the court’s instruction was not error. The court reasoned:

[W]e believe that Murphy extends Todd too far in holding that the trial court is prohibited from simply advising prospective jurors that they will not be asked to deal with the death penalty. In our view, such a statement at the outset of voir dire in a first degree murder case does not place “undue emphasis" on sentencing considerations.

State v. Townsend, 97 Wn. App. 25, 31, 979 P.2d 453 (1999) (citing Todd, 78 Wn.2d at 376).

We might agree with Division Two if Todd were the only support for Division One’s position. Todd involved the propriety of certain instructions in a death penalty case. Therefore, its discussion regarding “undue emphasis” on sentencing considerations is inapplicable here.

In Todd, the prosecution charged the defendant with capital murder. The defendant objected to an instruction which informed the jury that if it did not impose the death penalty the defendant would receive life imprisonment. The instruction went further and explained the parole process and that the defendant could possibly be eligible for parole in thirteen and two-thirds years. See Todd, 78 Wn.2d at 373. The instructions did not explain in any detail the parole board determination process or how it selects inmates for release into the community. The court found this type of instruction dangerous since “it sets a standard where none has been set by the legislature and thus places undue emphasis upon one factor which the jury, whether or not it should do so, is bound to take into account.” Id. at 376. The “undue emphasis” referred to in Todd involved a charged capital crime where the jury has an active part in determining whether the defendant should receive punishment by death.

While Todd is inapplicable, overwhelming authority supports the Murphy court’s assertion that the jury in a noncapital case may not be informed about the penalty for the charged crime. The United States Supreme Court noted that “[i]t is well established that when a jury has no sentencing function, it should be admonished to ‘reach its verdict without regard to what sentence might be imposed.’ ” Shannon v. United States, 512 U.S. 573, 579, 114 S. Ct. 2419, 129 L. Ed. 2d 459 (1994) (footnote omitted) (quoting Rogers v. United States, 422 U.S. 35, 40, 95 S. Ct. 2091, 45 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1975)). The law of Washington holds the same: “The question of the sentence to be imposed by the court is never a proper issue for the jury’s deliberation, except in capital cases.” State v. Bowman, 57 Wn.2d 266, 271, 356 P.2d 999, 1002 (1960)); see Todd, 78 Wn.2d at 375 (“[plunishment is a question of legislative policy; the jury’s function is to find the facts”); cf. State v. Reece, 79 Wn.2d 453, 457, 486 P.2d 1088 (1971) (“rehabilitation is a vital concern of the state; it is not a concern of the jury while it ponders the sole question of guilt or innocence.”). This is not a capital case, and the State provides no authority in Washington that allows the jury to hear about the potential punishment in a noncapital trial.

This strict prohibition against informing the jury of sentencing considerations ensures impartial juries and prevents unfair influence on a jury’s deliberations. The only exception that allows juries to know about sentencing consequences is in a death penalty trial, and even then the jury is to consider the penalty only after a determination of guilt.

The State argues, however, that a failure to inform the jury that the death penalty is not involved will unfairly prejudice the prosecution since some jurors may always vote to acquit or opt out if they fear the death penalty may be involved. The converse could also be argued just as well: if jurors know that the death penalty is not involved, they may be less attentive during trial, less deliberative in their assessment of the evidence, and less inclined to hold out if they know that execution is not a possibility. Rather than giving jurors information about the penalty in a noncapital case, we believe that voir dire should be used to screen out jurors who would allow punishment to influence their determination of guilt or innocence and then, through instructions, jurors should be advised that they are to disregard punishment. This process should satisfy the concerns raised by the State. We see no reason to create an exception for noncapital murder cases.

Considering the long-standing rule that no mention may be made of sentencing in noncapital cases we conclude that counsel’s failure to object to the instruction fell below prevailing professional norms.

The first prong of the Strickland test is not satisfied, however, if counsel’s performance is the result of legitimate trial strategies or tactics. State v. McDonald, 138 Wn.2d 680, 697, 981 P.2d 443 (1999); McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 336. There was no possible advantage to be gained by defense counsel’s failures to object to the comments regarding the death penalty. On the contrary, such instructions, if anything, would only increase the likelihood of a juror convicting the petitioner. Petitioner has carried his burden of establishing deficient performance. We next consider the second prong of the Strickland test: whether the error was prejudicial.

Under the second prong, a defendant must demonstrate that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense such that there is “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” State v. Lord, 117 Wn.2d 829, 883-84, 822 P.2d 177 (1991) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). In Murphy, the court stated:

We are, however, persuaded that the erroneous instruction did not prejudicially affect the jury’s deliberations in this case, only because the jury acquitted Murphy on the charge of first degree murder. The danger presented by the instruction was its tendency to influence deliberations on the first degree murder charge.

Murphy, 86 Wn. App. at 672-73. The petitioner reasons that since, unlike in Murphy, he was convicted of the greater of the two charges, prejudice is established.

Counsel’s deficient performance is the failure to object to erroneous oral instructions to the jury. Under Washington law, when assessing the impact of an instructional error, reversal is automatic unless the error is “ ‘is trivial, or formal, or merely academic, and was not prejudicial to the substantial rights of the party assigning it, and in no way affected the final outcome of the case.’ ” State v. Golladay, 78 Wn.2d 121, 139, 470 P.2d 191 (1970) (quoting State v. Britton, 27 Wn.2d 336, 341, 178 P.2d 341 (1947)); accord State v. Walden, 131 Wn.2d 469, 478, 932 P.2d 1237 (1997). Petitioner does not suggest that the jury would have acquitted him (nor does he challenge the arson and theft charges). Instead, the petitioner contends that the interference in the jury’s deliberations led to his conviction of first degree murder rather than second degree murder.

Premeditation is “ ‘the deliberate formation of and reflection upon the intent to take a human life’ ” and involves “ ‘the mental process of thinking beforehand, deliberation, reflection, weighing or reasoning for a period of time, however short.’ ” State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 597-98, 888 P.2d 1105 (1995) (quoting State v. Ollens, 107 Wn.2d 848, 850, 733 P.2d 984 (1987)).

There was ample evidence of premeditation. Townsend brought a gun and had spoken with Mike Brock about “taking care of’ Harkins. After shooting Harkins the first time, which may have been accidental, Jellison told Townsend that Harkins was still breathing and alive. Jellison recommended that they take Harkins to the hospital. Townsend declined, telling Jellison that no one would believe that the shooting was an accident since they both had criminal records. After that, Townsend went to the window of Harkins’ truck, raised the pistol, said “God forgive me,” and shot Harkins in the head, killing him. The evidence overwhelmingly supports a finding of premeditation.

Accordingly, counsel’s failure to object to the statements informing the jury that this was not a capital case in no way affected the outcome. The petitioner has failed to show that he was prejudiced in any way. It follows that he has failed to satisfy the second prong of the Strickland test, which requires a showing of prejudice resulting from counsel’s deficient performance.

The conviction is affirmed.

Smith, Johnson, Alexander, and Sanders, JJ., concur.

1 Townsend had prior adult convictions for burglary, possession of stolen property, unlawful possession of a firearm, and robbery. The trial court record reveals only that Jellison was convicted as an adult for “felony eluding.”

2 Murphy was published on June 9, 1997, which fell on the last day of Townsend’s trial, which went from June 2 to June 9, 1997.