Summary
allowing wider latitude in asking leading questions of children
Summary of this case from People v. RaehalOpinion
No. 16,203.
Decided September 18, 1950. Rehearing denied November 13, 1950.
Plaintiff in error was convicted of murder of the first degree, and the death penalty imposed.
Affirmed.
1. EVIDENCE — Direct and Circumstantial. "Generally it may be said that direct evidence is such as establishes the existence of a material fact without indulging in any inferences or presumption. The determination of whether evidence is direct or circumstantial is exclusive a prerogative of the court, while the weight to be given such evidence is likewise an exclusive prerogative of the jury."
2. WITNESS — Children — Competency — Appeal and Error. In a homicide case, it is held, under the circumstances presented by the record, that the trial court committed no error in permitting a young boy, seven and one-half years of age, to testify; "that his evidence was direct, and upon it the jury might properly base its verdict, with the death penalty attached."
3. Children — Leading Questions — Court Discretion. "It is * * * a universal rule that whether leading question should be permitted is largely within the discretion of the trial court, and only in clear cases of abuse of that discretion of the trial court, and only in clear cases of abuse of that direction will such permission be held to be reversible error."
4. CRIMINAL LAW — Murder — Circumstantial Evidence. "In the trial of a murder case it is the duty of the trial judge to determine, as a matter of law, whether there is direct evidence supporting the charge, and when, and only when, the criminal responsibility is based on circumstantial evidence alone, does it become the duty of the trial court to instruct the jury that the death penalty cannot be imposed."
5. Murder — Instructions. "In the trial of any murder case, where the prosecution relies in whole or in part on circumstantial evidence, if defendant's counsel desires an instruction on such evidence, it is his duty to prepare and tender such, and its refusal may constitute error."
6. EVIDENCE. In a homicide case in which it appeared from the record that the murdered man habitually and brutally beat the defendant, his wife, it is held; "Evidence of these acts of cruelty was admissible for the purpose of showing motive and malice; the remoteness thereof does not destroy its admissibility and competency as evidence, but may tend to weaken its weight and effect in the jury's consideration."
7. CRIMINAL LAW — Insanity of Defendant. "When it is judicially determined that a man was insane at the time of the commission of an offense, he is not accountable under the law, and is not criminally responsible."
8. Defense of Insanity — Evidence. In a murder case in which defendant interposes the defense of insanity. "The question to be determined is not whether defendant was insane, but whether the homicidal act was committed with deliberation and premeditation. The evidence offered as to insanity may or may not be relevant to that issue."
9. Trial — Evidence — Letters. On the trial of an action it is held that a letter offered in evidence was hearsay, "and could only be used, if at all, for the purpose of impeachment."
10. Witnesses — Cross-examination. "Before one may cross-examine his own witness there must be a definite showing of surprise."
11. CRIMINAL LAW — Manslaughter — Instructions. In a homicide case where "there is not a scintilla of evidence in the entire record which would have supported a verdict of guilty of voluntary manslaughter, * * * the court was not obligated to instruct thereon."
12. Trial — Instructions — Appeal and Error. In a homicide case, where no instruction on voluntary manslaughter was tendered or requested, even if such an instruction was proper, mere non-direction would not constitute error.
13. Murder — Death Penalty — Statutes. It is the law in Colorado that one who commits murder must suffer the death penalty if imposed by a jury, and so long as this law remains on the statute books, it must, and will, be enforced.
Error to the District Court of the City and County of Denver, Hon. James N. Noland, Judge.
Mr. ISAAC MELLMAN, for plaintiff in error.
Mr. JOHN W. METZGER, Attorney General, Mr. JOSEPH E. NEWMAN, Deputy, Mr. RAYMOND B. DANKS, Assistant, for the people.
JOHN J. BERGER, JR. was charged with murder of the first degree. The jury found him guilty of that offense and imposed the death penalty. He was sentenced accordingly, and is here by writ of error seeking a reversal of the judgment.
In the information it was charged that on January 27, 1948, in the City and County of Denver and state, of Colorado, defendant did unlawfully, feloniously, wilfully and deliberately, and of his premeditated malice aforethought, kill and murder one Josephine Berger.
Upon arraignment of February 10, 1948, defendant entered a plea of not guilty and by reason of insanity at the time of the offense, since and now. On May 10, 1948, he withdrew his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity therefore entered, and on June 21, 1948, trial was begun on his plea of not guilty only. It was concluded June 30, 1948, and on the afternoon of said day the jury returned its verdict.
The undisputed evidence is that defendant and deceased were married on January 29, 1940, and, as the issue of this marriage, four children were born. Robert, the eldest, was seven and one half years old at the time of the trial. Prior to moving to Denver and subsequent to their marriage, deceased and defendant resided near Brighton, Colorado, on a farm. In June, 1947, defendant was sentenced to a term in the state penitentiary upon his conviction of fourth degree arson, and it appears from the record that at the time he was being taken to the penitentiary, when told that on good behavior his sentence would be shortened and he would again be at liberty, he stated that in such event he would only be out for a short period because it was his intention, upon his release, to kill his wife and his mother. He was released from the penitentiary on the morning of January 26, 1948, and en route purchased liquor, some of which he had in his possession when he arrived at his residence in Denver. The murder was perpetrated at sometime between the hours of 11:30 P.M., on January 26, 1948, and 3:00 A.M. on January 27, 1948.
The domestic life of defendant and deceased was marked by frequent quarrels, many of which resulted in defendant striking and brutally beating the deceased. Either at the time of the death of the deceased or prior thereto, a divorce action was pending. Defendant accused his wife of infidelity, and on at least one occasion brutally beat her and her alleged paramour.
Defendant arrived home after the evening meal and while his wife was washing the dishes. After the dishes has been washed, defendant and his wife were "fussing," and defendant then stated that he could get a better wife than was the deceased. After the children had gone to bed and before defendant and his wife retired, defendant drank some of the liquor remaining in the bottle which he had in his possession on arrival. At sometime during the night, and as definitely as is fixed by the evidence, at about 12:30 A.M., there was some commotion in the bed occupied by defendant and his wife, and he was seen choking her. Shortly thereafter defendant arose and poured some whiskey on his wife's face while she remained perfectly still and silent. Defendant again retired, and in the early morning awakened the children, stating that they were to go to Brighton to visit his father. At the time the children arose, their mother was still in bed, her face was bloody, and apparently she had not moved. Defendant and the children missed the bus, and returned to their home, the mother being still on the bed and apparently lifeless. One of the younger brothers, at the suggestion of Robert, accosted a passerby and asked him to notify the police. In the meanwhile defendant had left home and was not there when the police arrived at about 8 o'clock and found the mother dead. Defendant was arrested at about 11 o'clock that morning and subsequently charged with murder and tried, the trial resulting as hereinbefore indicated.
On the discovery that Mrs. Berger was dead, the coroner was called, took charge of the remains, and also took some of the bedclothing which was stained by blood or other substance. An autopsy was performed and finding made that the death of deceased was due to asphyxia, resulting mainly from strangulation, was not due to natural causes, and was not self-inflicted. The coroner took stain specimens from defendant's clothing. An analysis of these stain specimens, as well as the blood and other substances found on the bedding, disclosed them to be the same as deceased's blood type, and wholly different from defendant's, a specimen of which he had voluntarily given and which had likewise been analyzed. While the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was before the court, defendant was sent to the Colorado Psychopathic Hospital for observation, and, according to the testimony of a psychologist from that hospital, found to the sane. He was un-co-operative with the physicians there, and was sullen, bitter, antagonistic, hostile and mean. While at the hospital he denied that he had killed his wife, but stated that he felt that she was being unfaithful to him, and for this he had beaten her, and he thought that she deserved to be killed; that he felt neither sorrow nor remorse, but elation because of her death.
It is disclosed by the evidence that when defendant was drinking he was mean, brutal and pugilistic, as well as highly quarrelsome. He was frequently arrested because of treatment of his wife and others; served some short jail sentences; paid fines for this; and on two occasions prior to 1948, because of his excessive use of alcoholic liquors, was sent to the Colorado Psychopathic Hospital for observation. At sometime prior to his conviction of fourth degree arson, and while employed, he sustained a back injury for which he received a considerable sum of money as damages, part of which, at least, he shared with his wife. So far as the record here reveals, this injury was very remotely, if at all, accountable for defendant's disposition. While he was serving his sentence in the Colorado Penitentiary, this back injury resulted in his being relieved of heavy work and light duties were assigned to him.
When defendant was questioned by the officers, after his arrest, he stated that his wife had helped dress the children for their visit to their grandfather, and the upon his return, after missing the bus, he found her gone from the home.
After the officers arrived at the home and found the murdered wife, a broadcast for defendant's arrest was made, and while he was at a bar he heard two officers inquire about a man whose description corresponded with his; thereupon he removed his jacket and an extra pair of trousers and left the bar, passing the officers, who did not recognize him as the man wanted. Prior to the incident just related, defendant had given his watch to a bartender for a pint of Whiskey.
It is seriously contended that prejudicial error was committed in permitting Robert, the eldest son, to testify as to the occurrences in their home at the time of the homicide, from the time defendant returned thereto until the following morning. When Robert was called as a witness, and no objection by defendant's counsel, the court, out of the presence of the jury, made an extended examination as to Robert's competency as a witness, and both counsel were given full opportunity to question him. In addition to the interrogation by court and counsel, a psychologist in the Mental Hygiene Clinic of the Colorado Psychopathic Hospital testified at length as to Robert's mental condition, and from her extended examination, reached the conclusion that Robert was competent to testify. The court, as a preliminary matter, determined accordingly, and he was permitted to testify. During his examination as a witness he was so interrogated by counsel for both the People and defendant that the jury had a fair and reasonable opportunity to judge as to his competency as well as his ability to accurately relate the incidents occurring in the home at the time of his mother's death, and while there were some discrepancies in his testimony, they may be characterized as trivial, and, considering his age, reflect truthfulness rather than the contrary.
Defendant did not testify; however his counsel called several witnesses for the purpose of establishing a mental derangement in order to enable the jury to determine, in the exercise of its discretion, whether to fix the penalty at death or imprisonment for life should its verdict be guilty of murder of the first degree. Generally the witness testified that while defendant was not as quick and alert mentally as some other persons, nevertheless he could distinguish, right from wrong, and, having made such distinction, was mentally capable of adhering to the right and refraining from the wrong. Other witness for defendant testified negatively that they had never seen defendant beat, strike or otherwise abuse his wife.
At the conclusion of all of the evidence, the court denied defendant's motion, which was: "If the Court please, the defendant desire to move at this time, at the conclusion of the evidence of all parties in this case, that the Court withdraw from the consideration of the Jury any question of death penalty herein, and that a verdict for such penalty be not submitted to the Jury. And as grounds for this motion, that no confession or admission by the defendant of the killing of the deceased Pauline Berger has been offered or admitted in evidence; and that the only evidence of an alleged eye witness to the said killing was the witness Robert Berger, the seven year old son of the defendant, who was incompetent to testify as a witness at all, and whose testimony was so confused and contained so many statements in contradiction of all of the physical facts of the case as to be improper for consideration of the Jury, and insufficient upon which the Jury might base a penalty of death, and cannot find a conviction of first degree murder."
The record discloses the court's instructions were presented to counsel for examination and objections, if such there were, prior to instructing the jury, after which defendant's counsel stated, "At this time the defendant has no objection to the proposed instructions to be submitted to the Jury, no exceptions to the instructions to be submitted or offered."
After the receipt of the verdict, defendant filed his motion for a new trial, which was denied, and sentence was pronounced on the verdict.
The assignments of error are eighteen in number, but defendant's counsel had properly consolidated them, and they are presented under the following: 1. The verdict; 2. testimony of Robert Berger; 3. evidence of remote quarrels; 4. denial of right of cross-examination; 5. failure to instruct on voluntary manslaughter; 6. failure to instruct on mitigating circumstances.
1. and 2. It is the position of counsel for defendant that error was committed in the failure of the court to instruct the jury on circumstantial evidence, although admittedly no instruction on the feature was tendered or requested. He bases his contention on the statute (section 32, chapter 48, '35 C.S.A.) which concludes with the following proviso: "provided, that no person shall suffer the death penalty, who at the time of conviction, was under the age of eighteen(18) years; nor shall any person suffer the death penalty who shall have been convicted on circumstantial evidence alone." (Italics ours)
This section 32 was section 2 of the amendatory act of 1901 (S.L. '01, p. 154), the only substantial change in the prior law being the proviso above quoted, for prior to the amendatory act the death penalty could be inflicted either upon direct or circumstantial evidence. We have examined the record in many of the first degree murder cases determined by our court since the effective date of the amendatory act of 1901, and except as hereinafter noted, have found none in which the jury was specifically advised that the death penalty might not be imposed. It is contended here for the first time, notwithstanding the fact that defendant's counsel expressly approved the instructions given the jury, and neither tendered nor requested others, and notwithstanding the motion for new trial did not include it, that the court's instruction defining murder in the first degree did not include the proviso, "that no person shall suffer the death penalty * * * who shall have been convicted on circumstantial evidence alone." and that this failure constitutes reversible error. It also should be remembered that no instruction on circumstantial evidence was given, tendered or requested; nevertheless it is here contended that the failure to give such an instruction constituted reversible error. Were it not for the seriousness of the case, and our imperative duty to safeguard the rights of every defendant, we might content ourselves by the statement that these questions are not properly before us, and, therefore, should be entirely disregarded.
The contention of counsel for defendant with reference to the instruction on murder and the necessity for an instruction on circumstantial evidence in every case is unique and one of first impression in this court. If counsel is correct, it follows that eminent counsel for defendant in criminal cases in this state have overlooked the point since the amendatory act of 1901; eminent trial judges have failed, for a period of fifty years, to properly instruct juries, and those of us now on this court, as well as others who have occupied that position since 1901, have failed to discover error and so determine. Many death sentences have been imposed where the circumstances of the case would appeal to one's sympathy and fairness to a much grater extent than the facts in the present case warrant; nevertheless these considerations, collectively and separately, should not influence us in the discharge of our duty.
In the case of Ausmus and Moon v. people, 47 Colo. 167, 107 Pac. 204, the charge was murder of the first degree; the evidence was circumstantial only; there the verdict was guilty; and the jury fixed the penalty at life imprisonment. The record discloses that the court there instructed the jury, inter alia: "Under the law and the evidence no sentence of death could be inflicted in this case, and you are instructed that in the event you find either of the defendants guilty of murder in the first degree your verdict should fix the punishment to be inflicted at imprisonment for life. * * *" It there further instructed the jury on circumstantial evidence.
In Bosko v. People, 68 Colo. 256, 188 Pac. 743, George and Tom Bosko, brother, the former over, and the latter under, the age of eighteen years, pled guilty to a two-count information in one of which they were charged with murder of one Hunter, and in the other with the murder of one Parks. A jury was impaneled as provided in section 32, supra, and before it there was direct evidence linking both defendants with the murder of Hunter. The jury returned its verdict of guilty, fixing the death penalty as to George, and as it was instructed to do in event of a first degree murder verdict against Tom, fixed the penalty as to him at life imprisonment, the statute so providing on account of his age. The only evidence linking defendants with the murder of Parks, as charged in the second count, as concededly circumstantial, and as to this count the court properly instructed the jury: "At the outset of your deliberations the Court instructs you that the People rely for convictions upon circumstantial evidence as to the killing, set out in the second count, to-wit: the killing of Elton C. Parks, and for that reason you cannot assess the death penalty under this count even though you may find the defendants guilty of murder in the first degree." The court there also instructed on circumstantial evidence.
So far as our search has disclosed, there is no decision of this court to be found where there was both direct and circumstantial evidence before the jury with an instruction defining murder in the first degree and containing the proviso, supra, nor where there was direct evidence has there been an instruction also on circumstantial evidence in a first-degree murder case.
The decisions of this court disclose that in the following cases, covering two decades, we affirmed the judgment of the district court in death penalty cases, and in none thereof was any instruction advising the jury that the death penalty could not be inflicted if the conviction was based on circumstantial evidence alone. Shank v. People, 79 Colo. 576, 247 Pac. 559; Maestas v. People, 91 Colo. 36, 11 P.2d 227; Catalina v. People, 104 Colo. 585, 93 P.2d 897; Pacheco v. People, 96 Colo. 401, 43 P.2d 165; Leopold v. People, 105 Colo. 147, 95 P.2d 811; Coates v. People, 106 Colo. 483, 106 P.2d 354; Martz v. People, 114 Colo. 278, 162 P.2d 408; Smith v. People, 120 Colo. 39, 206 P.2d 826.
It is not intended by the citation of this list of our decisions to even suggest that if error was committed by us, we should continue therein; we should be the first to correct our mistakes, if such there be; the law should be settled and new construction should be made cautiously, and only after careful thought and mature deliberation. Our purpose in citing these decisions — and we could have extended the list over a period of fifty years — is to show an unbroken line of adjudications therein; no modification or deviation therefrom, and that therefore, we should change this long and well understood line of decisions only when we are convinced of our mistakes and make public acknowledgment thereof. Until such conviction the rule of stare decisis should be followed.
If defendant's contention is correct, it would mean that every instruction on first degree murder must contain the proviso, supra, and the jury must be informed that even though there is no question about age and it is admitted that the defendant is over the age of eighteen, nevertheless it must be instructed that if the defendant is under that age the death penalty cannot be imposed and likewise it must be told in every instruction defining first degree murder that a verdict finding the defendant guilty and fixing the death penalty cannot be returned where the evidence is circumstantial alone. As we have said, so far as we have learned from an examination of the records in many of the decisions of this court in the last fifty years, and since the enactment of section 32, supra, the proviso therein, with reference to age and circumstantial evidence, had not been included in the instruction defining murder in the first degree.
Robert's testimony was that of an eyewitness and was direct, as distinguished from circumstantial, evidence. Generally it may be said that direct evidence is such as establishes the existence of a material fact without indulging in any inferences or presumption. The determination as to whether evidence is direct or circumstantial is exclusively a prerogative of the court, while the weight to be given such evidence is likewise an exclusive prerogative of the jury. Mitchell v. People, 76 Colo. 346, 232 Pac. 685.
It, therefore must be admitted that Robert's testimony was direct evidence. Nevertheless it is here contended that he was, on account of nonage, incompetent as a witness, and further that his testimony was susceptible of a construction that made it circumstantial evidence. With this last contention we cannot agree. We have examined the statutes on murder in every state in the United States, as well as the federal statute, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a statute similar to ours might be found, and, if so, the construction given it. As a result of our search we found that the murder statute in Georgia was the only one that provided for a different penalty when the evidence was circumstantial alone. The Georgia statute provides: "The punishment for persons convicted of murder shall be death, but may be confinement in the penitentiary for life in the following cases: if the jury trying the case shall so recommend, or if the conviction is founded solely on circumstantial testimony, the presiding judge may sentence to confinement in the penitentiary for life." 6 Parks Annotated Code of Georgia, 4th Div. Art. 1, Sec. 63.
In Shaw v. State, 60 Ga. 246, defendant was found guilty of murdering his wife, and the death sentence imposed. It was there contended that the conviction rested upon circumstantial evidence which would authorize the court to modify the judgment to confinement in the penitentiary for life, but in the instructions to the jury it was said: "* * * That if they believed from the evidence the defendant was guilty, he was guilty of murder, and no recommendation from them would be regarded, and that it could not affect the judgment of the court." It was therein stated that the only witness testifying to direct evidence was an ignorant, simple, weak-minded colored man who had made contradictory statements with reference to the facts on other occasions and when under oath. The syllabus, supported by the opinion, reads: "Where there was direct evidence of defendant's guilt, even though the witness who gave it was ignorant and weak-minded, and admitted to having previously made contradictory statements under the influence of fear, the court did not err in charging the jury that a recommendation to mercy would be of no avail."
It may be said that the present Georgia statute was amendatory of a previous statute, and the trial in Show v. State, supra, was before the enactment of the present statute. Granted this to be true, the previous statute and the present statute are very similar, and the amendatory statute changed provisions not important here.
As is indicated by the quoted motion of defendant's counsel, at the conclusion of all of the evidence, it is his contention that Robert's testimony should be wholly disregarded, and it is here now contended that it is susceptible of a construction as circumstantial, rather than direct, evidence. It should be noted that Robert's testimony was corroborated in every material respect. Robert said his father choked his mother; the coroner found that her death was occasioned by asphyxia due to strangulation. Robert said that his mother lay still and lifeless after the choking, and that the choking occurred about midnight; the coroner testified that the death occurred sometime between 11 P.M., on January 26, 1948, and 3 A.M., on January 27, 1948. Robert testified that when he and the other children and his father went to the bus, the mother was on the bed, still and lifeless, and when he returned she was still in the same position and condition. In our opinion there never has been a case brought to our attention where the circumstantial evidence was more persuasive and tended stronger to support the erect testimony than in the instant case.
We gather from the record that the objection to Robert's competency as a witness is base upon his youthfulness rather than his intelligence. Our stature provides in effect that children under ten ears of age, who appear incapable of receiving just impressions of facts respecting which they are to be examined or who are incapable of truthfully relating these facts, shall not be witnesses. Section 8, chapter 177, '35 C.S.A. We have called attention to the fact that after an extensive examination out of the presence of the jury, with full opportunity given counsel to interrogate him, the court determined that Robert was competent and was capable of receiving just impressions of fact and truthfully relating the same. After the examination of Robert, in the absence of the jury, and with reference to his competency and qualification as a witness, the court said:
"The Court is of the opinion that the particular child is certainly capable of receiving impressions and communicating them in a fair and accurate manner. As to his credibility that correctly is, of course, a matter for the jury to decide, and the Jury will, of course, be instructed on that particular matter as is the case with all witnesses.
"So far as the capacity to take an oath and to have a proper understanding of that, the Court is impressed with the opinion that this child probably possesses more than the average ability of a child of that age, and has perception of the difference between telling a lie and telling the truth. His answers to some of the questions were better answers than many of us adults might give.
"On that basis the Court finds that Robert Berger, offered as a witness for the State, age seven and a half years, is capable from the standpoint of observation, recollection and ability to communicate his thoughts, and of receiving just and accurate impressions, also competent from the standpoint of understanding the meaning and obligation of an oath, of knowing the difference between right and wrong, the obligation to state the truth as against a lie. On these findings the objections of the defense will be overruled, and the boy will be permitted to be sworn and to testify."
Objections similar to the one here interposed to Robert's testimony have been made and overruled in City of Victor v. Smilanich, 54 Colo. 479, 131 Pac. 392; Holm v. People, 72 Colo. 257, 210 Pac. 698; Brasher v. People, 81 Colo. 113, 253 Pac. 827; Pillod v. People, 119 Colo. 116, 200 P.2d 919; Warren v. People, 121 Colo. 118, 213 P.2d 381.
We conclude that no error was committed in permitting Robert to testify; that his evidence was direct, and upon it the jury might properly base its verdict, with the death penalty attached.
Defendant's counsel's further contention is that error was committed in permitting leading question to be propounded to Robert. This point apparently was urged rather strongly at the time of the hearing on defendant's motion for a new trial, and with reference thereto the trial court stated:
"As to leading questions, we have a number of decisions, and it seems to be the general rule that a child witness may be led to a limited extend. The Court was careful not to permit that to go any further than was necessary. The questions put by Mr. Danks, to which exceptions and objections were made and referred to in the motion for a new trial, were, in the opinion of the Court not without the proper scope of such examination, that the child was properly led to that extent; and that there again the answers which he gave were for the Jury to consider.
"The Court also was impressed with the other testimony brought out concerning the same point on cross examination. Some time had elapsed between the time of the direct examination, in which he referred to the choking, and between the cross examination by Mr. Wettengel, and there the witness reiterated and emphasized the statements which he had made on direct examination concerning his recollection of what had occurred, especially with regard to the choking of the deceased.
"It appears to me that he whole question of the boy's testimony boils down to the wright; and view of the verdict of the jury, apparently, the Jury decided he was telling the truth and that he remembered what had actually happened. For that reason the Court cannot consider the objections raised to any part of the testimony of the boy Robert Berger.
"I should add now, after hearing the testimony of the boy, the Court was more convinced than ever, the ruling on his competency to testify had been correctly made. That was the general impression I received from the testimony given by this boy witness."
In Warren v. People, supra, where it was urged that the district attorney committed error in directing leading questions to children who were witness, we said: "But in cases like the instant one [indecent liberties] we have recognized a wider latitude in asking leading question — both because of the youth of the witness and the intimate nature of the questions. Wills v. People, 100 Colo. 127, 66 P.2d 329."
It is, so far as we have found a universal rule that whether leading questions should be permitted is largely within the discretion of the trial court and only in clear cases of abuse of that discretion will such permission be held to be reversible error.
[4,5] We conclude that in the trial of a murder case it is the duty of the trial judge to determine, as a matter of law, whether there is direct evidence supporting the charge, and when, and only when, the criminal responsibility is based on circumstantial evidence alone, does it become the duty of the trial court to instruct the jury that the death penalty cannot be imposed. In the trial of any murder case, where the prosecution relies in whole or in part on circumstantial evidence, if defendant's counsel desire an instruction on such evidence, it is his duty to prepare and tender such, and its refusal may constitute error. There was sufficient direct and competent evidence which would justify the verdict herein; Robert was a competent, qualified witness, the weight to be given his testimony being for the jury's determination, and the court did not commit error in permitting the prosecution to propound leading questions to the witness.
3. The court permitted the introduction of evidence as to threats and other acts of violence directed towards deceased. To this evidence an objection was interposed on the grounds of its remoteness and prejudicialness. According to the record and evidence, the first act of violence occurred in September, 1943, at which time defendant called the deceased opprobrious names and struck her, and as a result of this altercation, the officers were called. There is testimony of another act of violence occurring in April, 1944, two days before a child was born to deceased, when defendant cursed and swore at deceased and had beaten her so that she was "bruised very badly, one eye black, nose swollen, ear partly jerked off on one side, had a big mark upon her neck." and the same witness testified that on January 26, 1946, defendant chased deceased out of their home at two o'clock in the morning, with snow on the ground, and that he was armed with a butcher knife which he threw at deceased as she entered the home of the witness, at which time defendant threatened both deceased and the person whose home she had entered.
There was testimony that in 1944 defendant, with no apparent provocation, cursed and struck deceased while she was seeking harbor in a neighbor's house. In November, 1945, a roomer in the Berger home heard deceased and her little son scream for help, and when she entered the room she found deceased on the floor and defendant beating her in the face; that shortly prior thereto, on another occasion, he swore and cursed decedent. One of decedent's sisters testified that in 1945 defendant struck decedent, whereupon one of her brothers came to decedent's rescue.
In July, 1946, a neighbor heard loud talking and saw defendant standing in the doorway of his home, his wife and three boys being outside, and that defendant had a knife in his hand and was threatening deceased and the children with it; that defendant started toward the wife and children, and chased them down the alley. There was testimony concerning other quarrels and altercations, with results similar to those above, all disclosing an intense animosity and hatred on defendant's part toward decedent. It also should be remembered that in June, 1947, when defendant was being transported to the state penitentiary, he remarked, when told that good behavior would shorten the time necessarily spent there. "If I get out I will be back in 30 days." and when asked, What do you mean?" he replied, "The first thing I do when I get out, get that wife of mine. * * * The second thing I do, get my mother." and when asked further what he meant by that statement, he replied, "I will kill them."
It should also be borne in mind that defendant stated to one of the witnesses that he wanted to be free from deceased and wanted to divorce him, and to the same witness he stated that he thought the killing was a good thing; it was what she deserved, and he was not at all sorry about it, but rather glad that she was gone.
It is contended here, but with no authorities cited in support of the contention, that the admission of this evidence was prejudicial and was immaterial because too remote, but the following authorities from our own jurisdiction demonstrate conclusively that this contention is erroneous. Davidson v. people, 4 Colo. 145; Babcock v. People, 13 Colo. 515, 22 Pac. 817; Van Wyk v. People, 45 Colo. 1, 99 Pac. 1009; Weiss v. People, 87 Colo. 44, 285 Pac. 162.
In the present case the undisputed evidence discloses that defendant, from 1943 until January 26, 1948, continually and habitually mistreated the deceased, and according to the evidence, it was his habit to brutally beat her whenever it pleased his fancy to do so. Evidence of these acts of cruelty was admissible for the purpose of showing motive and malice; the remoteness thereof does not destroy its admissibility and competency as evidence, but may tend to weaken its weight and effect in the jury's consideration.
[7,8] 4. Under this assignment defendant takes the position that the court denied him the right of cross-examination of his own witness and refused to admit certain exhibits. It will be remembered that defendant, prior to the trial, withdrew his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity prior to, at the time of, and subsequent to the offense charged. We are aware that, under our decision in Ingles v. People, 92 Colo. 518, 22 P.2d 1109, evidence of insanity or mental derangement short of insanity is admissible, not for the purpose of acquittal, but to reduce the grade of the offense from murder of the first to second degree. It should be observed that the rule therein announced has been qualified, modified and somewhat limited by our opinion in Battalino v. People, 118 Colo. 587, 199 P.2d 897. Therein we clearly pointed out that under a plea of not guilty defendant might not raise the issue of insanity for the purpose of securing his acquittal of the charge, nor can the jury render a verdict finding defendant not guilty by reason of insanity. If it is determined in a proper proceeding, under a proper plea, that defendant was insane prior to and at the time of the commission of the offense, he cannot be tried for murder because he lacks the mentality to form an intent and purpose, and there would then be an absence of malice, premeditation, wilfulness and deliberation necessary in a first degree murder case, and insanity subsequent to the commission of the offense and at the time of the trial would deprive him of his God-given faculties with which to prepare and present his defense. When it is judicially determined that a man was insane at the time of the commission of an offense, he is not accountable under the law, and is not criminally responsible. In Ingles v. People, supra it was held, and we so construed it in Battalino v. People, supra, that evidence of any mental ailment, abnormality or deficiency may be material to establish that defendant was incapable of forming and executing a purpose or executing an act with malice, deliberation and premeditation, without which a verdict of murder of the first degree could not be sustained. To make our position clear, we quote from Battalino v. People, supra: "In attempting to find a common thread of reason in these cases we reach the conclusion that the basis of admissibility of evidence as to insanity on the issue of the degree of homicide is not dependent on its relevancy to insanity as such, but rather on its relevancy to wilfulness and deliberation in the killing. The question to be determined is not whether defendant was insane, but whether the homicidal act was committed with deliberation and premeditation. The evidence offered as to insanity may or may not be relevant to that issue."
After the defense had rested, the People called a Dr. Hirschberg, who had examined the defendant while he was under observation at the Colorado Psychopathic Hospital from February 16, 1948, to February 27, 1948 which it will be noted, was subsequent to the commission of the offense charged. Dr. Hirschberg testified in part: "In our examinations of him [defendant], I feel there is no doubt whatsoever, as the result of our examinations, and as a result of our observations, Berger can tell the right from the wrong, he is able to adhere to the right and refrain from doing the wrong, and he is legally sane."
[9,10] Upon cross-examination defendant's counsel interrogated with reference to a recommendation by Dr. Busse, a physician at the Psychopathic Hospital, that defendant be sent to the insane asylum, and then on redirect examination it developed that his recommendation was based upon an examination of defendant in 1947, prior to being sent to the State Penitentiary on the fourth degree arson charge. Further interrogation elicited an answer that Dr. Busse's recommendation made in 1947, was based upon chronic alcoholism. Dr. Busse was under a subpoena duces tecum issued on behalf of defendant, and was present in the courtroom part, if not all, of the time during the trial. After the people had completed their rebuttal evidence and rested, defendant's counsel called Dr. Busse as a witness for his client, and then interrogated him with reference to his examination of defendant in May, 1947, and because counsel claimed a surprise at his witness' testimony, he asked permission to cross-examine him. The surprise claimed by defendant's counsel arose in connection with the following letter, on the letterhead of the University of Colorado, under date of May 23, 1947, and reading:
"Honorable R. Boyd Garrison Adams County Judge Brighton, Colo.
In re: John Berger
Your Honor:
The above named patient was admitted to this hospital 5-13-47 on a complaint from Adams County. The patient was previously in this hospital in 1944 at which time the final diagnosis was chronic alcoholism. Patient was taken from this hospital by his family against the advice of the hospital physicians.
During his present hospitalization, he has been very difficult to handle. He is uncooperative, has become belligerent and has attempted to escape from the hospital. We feel that he will not benefit by treatment in this hospital and that he will only get into more difficulty if released. We therefore have no other alternative but to recommend that he be placed before a lunacy commission and transferred to the State Hospital at Pueblo." This alleged surprise occurred because of the following questions during Mr. Wettengel's direct examination: "Q. Independent of that letter, or with that letter, Doctor, can you state to us at this time whether or not you recommended to the Judge of the County Court of Adams County, in May, 1947, that this defendant be placed before a lunacy Commission and committed to the State Hospital at Pueblo, as a chronic alcoholic? A. That was my recommendation. Q. That was your recommendation? A. Yes, sir."
The letter of May 23, 1947, was then offered as an exhibit, counsel stating that the offer was for the purpose of impeachment. On objection the offer was refused, the court stating that his refusal was based upon the fact that "no surprise was occasioned which would warrant cross-examination * * * and for the further reason it was improper surrebuttal testimony." In this we believe the court's ruling was correct. The letter of May 23, 1947, was hearsay and could only be used, if at all, for the purpose of impeachment. Pomeroy v. People, 116 Colo. 518, 182 P.2d 139. We also have held that before one may cross-examine his own witness there must be a definite showing of surprise ( Ware v. People, 76 Colo. 38, 230 Pac. 123), and the record here utterly fails to disclose wherein defendant's counsel was surprised. If counsel desired to extend his direct examination and have the witness base his recommendation that defendant be sent to the hospital at Pueblo for other and additional grounds than chronic alcoholism, he made no such offer of proof, and the court had no occasion to pass upon the propriety of so doing. The court held the evidence improper in surrebuttal, and such holding was correct. Turley v. People, 73 Colo. 518, 216 Pac. 536.
[11,12] 5. It is urged that under the evidence the court should have given an instruction on voluntary manslaughter and submitted a form of verdict which would have permitted the jury to find defendant guilty thereof.
"Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice, express or implied, and without any mixture of deliberation whatever. It must be voluntary, upon a sudden heat of passion caused by a provocation apparently sufficient to make the passion irresistible, or involuntary, in the commission of an unlawful act, or a lawful act without due caution or circumspection. "Sec. 33, c. 48, '35 C.S.A.
"In cases of voluntary manslaughter there must be a serious and highly provoking injury inflicted upon the person killing, sufficient to excite an irresistible passion in a reasonable person, or an attempt by the person killed to commit a serious personal injury on the person killing. "Sec. 34, c. 48, '35 C.S.A.
The most careful reading and consideration of this record fails utterly to disclose a scintilla of evidence which would remotely warrant the submission of an instruction to the jury on voluntary manslaughter; furthermore voluntary manslaughter is entirely contra to the theory upon which the defense relied. The defense here was not guilty, by which the defendant specifically denied that he had committed the act of which he was accused, and the evidence clearly points to him as the perpetrator of a murder. Evidence also was introduced on behalf defendant by which it was sought to have the grade of the offense lessened, and the death penalty avoided, the evidence relating to defendant's excessive use of alcohol, and also evidence that his mentality and criminal responsibility might be lessened because of an injury which he had sustained prior to the commission of the crime. As we have said, there is not a scintilla of evidence in the entire record which would have supported a verdict of guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and, under these circumstances, the court was not obligated to instruct thereon. Jones v. People, 93 Colo. 282, 26 P.2d 103; furthermore no instruction on voluntary manslaughter was tendered or requested, and, under such circumstances, even if such an instruction was proper, mere nondirection would not constitute error. Winbern v. People, 116 Colo. 136, 180 P.2d 516.
6. Defendant's counsel complaints that the court failed to instruct the jury that it might consider all the evidence, including any mitigating circumstances, in arriving at its verdict. Under the record herein, it is impossible for us to find any evidence of any circumstances which might have been considered by the jury in mitigation of this offense.
The record consists of 1137 folios; the trial was begun on the 21st day of June, 1948 and concluded June 30, 1948; the jury deliberated less than three hours, found defendant guilty of first degree murder, and fixed the penalty at death. The cause came at issue in this court on the 27th day of March 1950, and was assigned to the author about July 10, 1950.
The record considered, we are convinced that the defendant had a fair and impartial trial and was properly convicted of the crime of murder upon evidence which established, beyond any doubt, his guilt. The trial judge was fair, impartial and careful in his rulings; the instructions given were expressly approved by defendant's counsel, and no others were tendered, or requested and refused, and the given instructions are not vulnerable to attack here for any cause. The attorney representing defendant in the trial court safeguarded his client's every right, but was woefully negligent in the discharge of his duties in this court, and, at our suggestion that other counsel be appointed, the trial court appointed Mr. Mellman to represent defendant on this review, and he had made every possible effort in his client's behalf by briefs which evidence careful and diligent study, thought and research. We have not been technical in our consideration of the record in this case, and have given it painstaking study and careful and deliberate though not only for the purpose of protecting the rights of defendant, as well as those of the public, but also that we might be conscious of the fact that our duty in the premises has been faithfully discharged. The situation in which defendant finds himself is one due entirely to his deliberate wrong-doing, and for which he had no one to blame except himself. It is the law that one who commits murder as did defendant herein must suffer the death penalty if imposed by a jury, and so long as this law remains on our statute books, it must, and will, be enforced.
The judgment is affirmed, and, since the week fixed by trial court during which it was to be executed has long since expired, this court now directs that the judgment be executed within the week ending November 18, 1950.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HILLIARD, MR. JUSTICE MOORE and MR. JUSTICE HOLLAND dissent.