Strobbe v. State

752 S.W.2d 29, 296 Ark. 74, 1988 Ark. LEXIS 288

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: June 20, 1988
• Docket: CR 87-143
• Status: Published

Opinions

Jack Holt, Jr., Chief Justice.

David Strobbe was convicted of the murder of Marian Mullins and was sentenced to life in prison. Mullins was brutally beaten and run over by a vehicle on May 15, 1986, near West Memphis, Arkansas. The only eye witness to the murder (Michael Phillips) was the State’s main witness. His testimony played a major part in the State’s case.

Strobbe was arrested and charged with first degree murder on May 15,1986. The charge was then changed to capital murder with the underlying felony of rape. Before the case was submitted to the jury, the State reduced the underlying felony to attempted rape. The jury convicted Strobbe of first degree murder. His conviction must be reversed because the State withheld material evidence until after trial, which misled the defendant and the court.

Phillips, who was also arrested for the murder, made three pretrial written or recorded statements. At first, he denied knowing anything of the murder. Later the same day he admitted he was there, but denied he participated in any way. In a statement given the next day, he elaborated and said he watched Strobbe beat and rape Mrs. Mullins and then kill her by running over her with a vehicle. There was no indication in any of Phillips’ statements that he participated in the murder, and apparently he was never formally charged by the prosecuting attorney.

On the first or second day of the nine-day trial, during voir dire, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Fogleman and Deputy Sheriff Charles Walker interviewed Phillips and learned that he had helped place Mrs. Mullins in front of the vehicle before Strobbe ran over her. This information was not disclosed to the defense. Throughout the State’s voir dire, its questions implied that its main witness, Phillips, saw the crime but did not try to stop it or report it. The State did not indicate in any way that Phillips actually participated in the commission of the crime. While on the witness stand, Phillips testified that he helped place Mrs. Mullins in front of the vehicle so that Strobbe could run over her. This was the first time the defense learned that Phillips had changed his story. However, it was not until after trial that the defense learned that the State knew that Phillips had changed his story on the first or second day of voir dire, but that the State failed to disclose this fact to the defense.

During the discussion of instructions in chambers, a question arose about whether Phillips was an accomplice. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Fogleman had this to say:

Your Honor, the State could not reasonably anticipate that the witness, Michael Phillips, who at no time before had admitted that he had helped put the body in front of the car would take the stand and admit on the stand that he in fact did help put the body in front of the car making him an accomplice.

The trial judge said:

Well, the Court’s going to give an instruction as a matter of law based upon his testimony that he is an accomplice, and that’s based upon his testimony before the Court that he assisted in placing the victim’s person before the left front wheel of the vehicle and based upon the medical examiner’s testimony. . . that she was alive at the time she was passed over by the vehicle ....

During closing arguments, Mr. Fogleman stated at one point:

Michael Phillips, by his own testimony, made himself an accomplice when he took that witness stand and admitted under oath on direct examination that he helped put the body in front of the car ....

Now as Officer Walker testified, that was not something that he had told before. He hadn’t told that before, and he got up here on the stand under oath and made himself an accomplice.

During his portion of the closing argument, Prosecuting Attorney Scott Hunter said:

Mr. Rubens said that what he got out of Michael Phillips about Michael Phillips placing Marian Mullins body in front of the car before being run over .... But the only evidence about that came out in this trial. It’s not on any of those previous statements, and it was brought out on direct examination. It was not brought out by Mr. Rubens [defense counsel] on cross examination.

After trial, the State admitted it had prior information as to Phillips’ participation in the crime charged as the deputy prosecuting attorney and the deputy sheriff had heard Phillips change his story on the first or second day of voir dire examination. The prosecuting attorney said he personally had not been aware of this fact when he conducted the voir dire and that Mr. Fogleman apparently had not thought it significant enough to tell him. However, the fact that the prosecutor himself did not know it is immaterial; what his deputy and the police officer knew were attributable to the State. Williams v. State, 267 Ark. 527, 593 S.W.2d 8 (1979); Pridgeon v. State, 262 Ark. 428, 559 S.W.2d 4 (1977).

The trial judge ruled that because the information came out during trial and the defense could cross-examine Phillips, there had been no prejudice. The defense argues that it was denied the right to properly voir dire the jury and prepare its case, and that the State was guilty of prosecutorial misconduct. The defense contended all along that Phillips was the one who should have been charged with the crime and that Phillips had been promised immunity of some kind in return for his testimony. The State denied any deals or promises were made, but Phillips testified he thought he had a “free ride.”

The State first argues it was not required to produce the statement under A.R.Cr.P. Rule 17; second, that the court order was to furnish all written and recorded statements, and this was only an oral statement. The State also contends that the evidence was not exculpatory in nature and, therefore, did not have to be disclosed according to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 220 (1963). Finally, the State argues that the defense had not demonstrated a reasonable probability that the result would have been different had the defense had the information, which is required under United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667 (1985). We disagree.

Strobbe filed a formal motion for discovery with the trial court which provided in part:

P. Copies of all documents, statements, and any other evidence including, but not limited to, a written summary of all oral evidence and statements, now known to the prosecution or which through due diligence may be learned from the investigating agents or witnesses in this case or persons interviewed in connection with the investigation, which is exculpatory in nature or which may lead to material which is exculpatory, or which tends to negate or mitigate the guilt of defendant or which would tend to reduce punishment therefor. In connection with the foregoing request defendant requests the prosecution to provide him with the names and current addresses of persons who possess or can provide such information together with any written or recorded statement or the substance of any oral statement by any person expected to give evidence at the trial and any other evidence now known or which through the exercise of due diligence could be learned by the prosecution which otherwise reflects upon the credibility, competency, bias or motive of the prosecution’s witnesses. [Emphasis added.]

In a hearing on the motion, with particular reference to paragraph “P,” Deputy Prosecutor Fogleman stated: “Anything that negates or mitigates, we will provide that. . . . [T] hat’s exculpatory materials. And we will do our duty in that regard, your Honor.” During the course of the same hearing, Strobbe called the court’s attention to paragraph “Z” of his motion, which stated:

Z. Defendant requests that each of the above be considered to be a continuing request and demand and that the prosecution, after complying with any Order or directive for discovery made or entered herein, be directed to promptly notify the defendant’s attorney of any additional documents, transcripts, reports, records, statements, property, tapes, physical evidence, identities or witnesses or any other evidence, items or information relevant, pertinent or material to the matters embraced within the four corners of the subject information, discovered by the prosecution in the time prior to the conclusion of this case, which is subject to or covered by the Order or directives of this Court.

The court responded to paragraph Z by stating: “Now Z, of course, the Court will treat these as a continuing request.” Deputy Prosecutor Fogleman responded, “Any information that we develop that’s subject to discovery will be provided to the defendant,” to which the court stated, “Alright.”

In short, the court noted that appellant’s motion for discovery would be treated as a continuing request, and the court accepted the prosecuting attorney’s assurance that any new information subject to discovery would be provided to the appellant. Certainly the impeachment evidence that Phillips was in fact a participant in the crime falls within the realm of information subject to discovery and the rule enunicated in Brady and Bagley, supra.

In a case similar to this one, the prosecuting attorney assured the trial judge that an offer of immunity had not been made to several witnesses when in fact his deputy prosecuting attorney had made such an offer. Pridgeon v. State, supra. When the truth came out during trial, a mistrial was requested and denied. We reversed, stating that even though the matter came out during trial and the witnesses could be cross-examined,

[A] ppellee overlooks the fact that appellant was denied the opportunity to pose questions to prospective jurors regarding whether they would consider offers of immunity in determining the witnesses’ credibility and, thereby, prevented effective use of that information in exercising his peremptory challenges, [citation omitted] Here the prejudice is heightened by the fact that the court, in the belief that no offer of immunity existed, had instructed the jury that no offers of immunity had been made, [citation omitted] ‘Fairness is a requirement of due process.’ [citation omitted]

Strobbe was similarly prejudiced in this case. From the very beginning of the trial, it was critical for the defense to know whether Phillips participated in the murder. During voir dire, both sides focused on the fact that the State’s case was based on the testimony of Phillips. The State knew its case rested primarily on this one witness, and they represented that he was merely there — that he only saw the crime. The defense was based on destroying the credibility of Phillips, and the State’s investigation was under attack before, during, and after the trial. Questions were raised about the failure to investigate or formally charge Phillips. The trial judge might have ruled differently in several instances if the truth had been known.

The State’s arguments pale when one considers the duty of Fogleman and Hunter as officers of the State and the court to come forth with critical evidence. Phillips’ statement was significant because it changed his role from that of a bystander to a participant and ultimately resulted in his being declared an accomplice to the murder as a matter of law. See David v. State, 295 Ark. 131, 748 S.W.2d 117 (1988). The information should have been made available as soon as it was known. The error consisted of the withholding of significant evidence which denied Strobbe a fair trial. For that reason the case is reversed and remanded for a new trial.

Several other issues are raised which might arise upon retrial. One witness for the State mentioned that Strobbe asked for a lawyer when he was questioned. Although a pretrial order prohibited the disclosure of this information, the State failed to tell its witnesses not to mention this fact during their testimony. Undoubtedly, this will not reoccur at a new trial.

The State introduced many photographs of the scene and the victim. Some, notably those taken at the autopsy of the victim’s head and parts of her body, are exceptionally grisly and sickening, which no ordinary person can view without being repulsed. It was not necessary that all these photographs be introduced into evidence. One photograph alone would have demonstrated that the victim’s head had been crushed. See Berry v. State, 290 Ark. 223, 718 S.W.2d 447 (1986). Upon retrial, the court should exclude exhibits 103, 104, 105, 106, 108 and 109.

Strobbe contends his statement should have been suppressed. We find that the statement was voluntary, and the rights form given complies with the requirements of Mayfield v. State, 293 Ark. 216, 736 S.W.2d 12 (1987).

Finally, Strobbe argues that there was no substantial evidence to support his conviction. This argument is meritless. See Surridge v. State, 279 Ark. 183, 650 S.W.2d 561 (1983).

Reversed and remanded.

Purtle, J., not participating. Hickman, Hays, Newbern, and Glaze, JJ., concur.