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Opinion
Supreme Court of Missouri
Case Style: State
of Missouri, Respondent, v. Jeffrey W. Gardner, Appellant.
Case Number: SC81611
Handdown Date: 12/07/99
Appeal From: Circuit
Court of Cass County, Hon. Joseph P. Dandurand
Counsel for Appellant: Kent
E. Gipson
Counsel for Respondent: Philip
M. Koppe
Opinion Summary:
Jeffrey Gardner shot and killed Carol
Drummond's husband. Gardner claimed the husband was wielding a knife and making
threats. A grand jury returned a "no true bill." Four years later, a
prosecutor charged Gardner with voluntary manslaughter, but the statute of
limitations had run, so the prosecutor increased the charge to second degree
murder. The jury convicted Gardner. He appealed.
AFFIRMED.
Court en banc holds:
(1) Gardner has not presented evidence
that the prosecutor upgraded the charge to punish Gardner for invoking the
statute of limitations. Because voluntary manslaughter was no longer an option,
the state charged an offense covering Gardner's conduct, which fit the statutory
definition of second degree murder. Gardner failed to show any reasonable
likelihood of prosecutorial vindictiveness.
(2) In Missouri, if a witness is sworn and
gives some evidence, however formal or unimportant, the witness may be
cross-examined as to all matters in the case. The defense called Drummond who
stated her name, the length of time she had been at court, and that the
prosecutor subpoenaed her. Because this was some evidence, the state was
entitled to cross-examine her. Section 491.070 authorizes examination on the
entire case.
(3) The defense called Drummond, and the
state cross-examined her. Because she was the defendant's witness, the state
could present evidence--six witnesses--to rebut her testimony.
(4) Gardner made an offer of proof that a
gun had been discharged in the room before the victim was killed, to rebut
inferences from finding bullets under the body. The offer of proof was vague and
inconclusive as to the testimony itself. Gardner did not carry his burden that
the witness would testify to facts that would counteract any unfavorable
inferences.
(5) The lesser included offense of
voluntary manslaughter incorrectly listed the range of punishment, and Gardner
reasons that the jury would have convicted him of voluntary manslaughter if the
sentence were 5 to 15 years. The jury was instructed properly on second-degree
murder's punishment--10 to 30 years. The jury chose 20 years. This option is not
within the range of punishment for voluntary manslaughter.
(6) Amid deliberations, the judge recalled
the jury and read a corrected instruction, inserting the paragraphs and
definition regarding sudden passion in the second degree murder verdict
director. The judge's corrective action cured any prejudice.
Citation:
Opinion Author: Duane Benton, Judge
Opinion Vote: AFFIRMED.
All concur.
Opinion:
Opinion modified by Court's own motion on January 11, 2000.
This substitution does not constitute a new opinion.
Defendant Jeffrey W. Gardner was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder,
and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. After opinion by the Court of Appeals,
this Court granted transfer. Mo. Const., art. V, sec. 10. Affirmed.
I.
Defendant lived with Phillip Hancock and Carol Drummond, a married couple,
and their daughter. On March 7, 1992, defendant shot and killed Hancock. The
State presented the case to a grand jury, which returned a "no true
bill." Four years later, a newly elected prosecuting attorney charged
defendant with voluntary manslaughter. Because of the three-year statute of
limitations on voluntary manslaughter, the State amended the complaint to
second-degree murder.
In November 1991, Drummond asked Mark Lassince to shoot her husband while they
were deer hunting, and make it look like an accident.
In December 1991, Hancock pushed Drummond, breaking her collar bone. Defendant
witnessed the incident. Hancock pled guilty to assault, received probation, and
was subject to an order of protection. In January 1992, however, Hancock moved
back into the house, at Drummond's request.
Sometime in January 1992, Drummond told Phillip Gill that her husband was not
going to get away with breaking her collar bone, "If we have to, we're
going to blow his fucking head off, put a gun or knife in his hand where it
looks like self defense where we were being threatened, and call 911."
One week before the shooting, Drummond talked with Andre Lassince about
self-defense statutes and said that Hancock was being abusive. Drummond asked if
he would still be her friend if she killed Hancock in self-defense.
On March, 6, 1992, Drummond told her sister, Carla Corum, that she was planning
to kill her husband and asked Corum to baby-sit her daughter while she committed
the crime. Corum added that she did not believe Drummond was serious.
The next day, March 7, 1992, Drummond paged defendant, indicating she was in
trouble. Defendant drove to her house, although he stopped to buy cigarettes on
the way. Arriving, he found Drummond outside with her daughter and a neighbor.
Drummond told defendant that Hancock was upset because someone said something
about the relationship between Drummond and defendant. After discussions at the
neighbor's house, Drummond and defendant decided that she would return home to
talk to Hancock. According to defendant, they agreed that defendant would move
out; he returned to the house to pack his clothes. (During questioning by the
police, however, defendant did not say that he had decided to move out or pack
his clothes.)
Defendant claimed that, once in the house, he heard Drummond ask Hancock
"What are you going to do with the knife," and Hancock threaten to
"field-dress" her like a deer. Defendant testified that he felt that
there was a threat to Drummond's life, and that he could not just stand by and
"see what happened next." Defendant went to his bedroom to get his
handgun.
Defendant testified that, approaching the master bedroom, he saw Hancock
standing at the foot of the bed flailing a knife around in his hand. Defendant
said that Hancock's eyes were bloodshot, and he continued to yell at Drummond.
Defendant claimed that as he stood in the doorway, Hancock said, "[Y]ou
better stay out of this or I'm going to kill you, too." According to
defendant, Hancock was 12 to 13 feet away from him. Defendant said something
about calling the police, and then Hancock started moving toward him.
Defendant testified that he raised the gun, cocked it, pointed it at Hancock,
and said, "This is not -- not a good idea." Defendant claimed he shot
one round, but could not remember it because of the adrenaline rush. According
to defendant, Hancock kept advancing and defendant fired off two or three more
rounds.
Defendant continued firing until the gun jammed. Defendant insisted that he did
not fire after Hancock dropped the knife. Defendant said he turned around,
walked away, and did not look at Hancock anymore.
Defendant admitted, however, that he may have fired a couple of shots into
Hancock as he lay on the floor. Defendant said he then checked on Drummond,
telling her to call 911. He next went to the kitchen and disassembled the gun.
Defendant claims he sat on the couch and cried until he felt sick and went to
the bathroom. Drummond then called 911, said there was a "party armed with
a knife," but did not say anyone had been shot. When police arrived,
Drummond told them that her husband had gone crazy and had a knife. Again, she
did not mention he had been shot.
Discovering Hancock's body, the police asked Drummond who shot him. Pointing at
defendant, Drummond said, "He did." Defendant responded, "I shot
him." One police officer heard defendant say, "What was I supposed to
do? He had a knife." The police found a knife on the bedroom floor, wrapped
in a pair of men's undershorts.
Hancock was shot three times. John Cayton, a ballistics expert, testified that
the wound to Hancock's back was consistent with the bullet shoring the skin as
it exited against something hard. The other exit wound was irregularly shaped,
with some tearing. Cayton concluded that Hancock may have been "just up off
the floor" when the two shots were fired.
Two slugs were under Hancock's body. One was underneath his back. The other was
lodged between the carpet and the concrete floor, near Hancock's head.
Defendant maintained that all the shots after the first one were accidental.
Cayton testified that the gun required eight pounds of pressure to trigger each
shot, more than twice the average single-action semi-automatic handgun.
Defendant's gun was a 9-millimeter German Luger, World War II vintage, with a
heavier trigger to prevent accidental discharge.
On March 12, 1992, while being interviewed by the police, Drummond told
Detective Lance Cull that if her husband ever attacked her with a weapon, she
would have blown his head off.
II.
Defendant asserts that the trial court should have sustained his motion to
dismiss, due to prosecutorial vindictiveness. During informal conversations
before trial, the State conceded that the statute of limitations for voluntary
manslaughter had run, and requested defendant to waive the defense. Defendant
refused. The State then upgraded the complaint to second-degree murder --
section 565.021.1. (FN1)
Defendant then moved to dismiss, but was overruled. Defendant argues that the
new prosecutor upgraded the charge from voluntary manslaughter to second-degree
murder, in retaliation for defendant's (successful) statute of limitations
defense.
A prosecutor has broad discretion whether to prosecute -- a decision seldom
subject to judicial review. State v. Massey, 763 S.W.2d 181, 183 (Mo.
App. 1988). A prosecutor does not have to file all possible charges in an
initial indictment. Massey, at 183. A prosecutor may hold some charges in
abeyance, for strategic use. Id.
The test for prosecutorial vindictiveness is whether the facts show a realistic
likelihood of vindictiveness in the prosecutor's augmentation of charges. Id.
Two factors are weighed: (1) the prosecutor's stake in deterring the exercise of
some right, and (2) the prosecutor's conduct. Id. The burden to disprove
the charge (through objective on-the-record explanations) does not shift to the
prosecutor unless a realistic likelihood of vindictiveness is found. Id.
Defendant has not presented any evidence that the prosecutor upgraded the charge
to second-degree murder in order to punish him for successfully invoking the
statute of limitations. To the contrary, the prosecutor acted within his
discretion, because defendant's conduct fit the statutory definition of the
crime. In this case, because voluntary manslaughter was no longer an option, the
State charged an offense covering his conduct. Defendant has failed to show any
reasonable likelihood of prosecutorial vindictiveness.
III.
Defendant claims that the trial court should have barred the State's
cross-examination of Drummond, as beyond the scope of direct examination.
After subpoenaing Drummond, the State rested its case-in-chief without calling
her to testify. Defendant called Drummond as his first witness:
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Tell the jury your name, please.
DRUMMOND: Carol Drummond.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: I know the man in the last row did not even hear
her say her name, so you need to speak up.
DRUMMOND: Carol Drummond.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Okay. How long have you been here today?
DRUMMOND: Hmmm, since 9:00 a.m.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: And why did you come here today?
DRUMMOND: I was subpoenaed by the prosecuting attorney.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: I have no further questions.
This testimony produced less than a page of transcript. The prosecutor then
cross-examined Drummond (for 31 transcript pages) about Hancock's death, her
relationships with Hancock and defendant, her statements to investigators, and
her statements about killing her husband (which Drummond generally denied).
Drummond did not directly implicate defendant. Defense counsel objected twice
that the questioning exceeded the scope of direct examination. The judge
overruled both objections.
There are two different rules on the scope of cross-examination. First, the
English rule:
When a witness has been sworn in chief, the opposite party may
not only cross-examine him in relation to the point which he was
called to prove, but he may examine him as to any matter embraced
in the issue. He may establish his defence by him without calling
any other witness. If he is a competent witness to the jury for
any purpose, he is so for all purposes.
Fulton Bank v. Stafford, 2 Wend. 483, 485 (N.Y. 1829).
More restrictive is the Federal rule:
[A] party has no right to cross-examine any witness except as
to facts and circumstances connected with the matters stated in
his direct examination. If he wishes to examine him to other
matters, he must do so by making the witness his own, and calling
him as such in the subsequent progress of the cause.
Philadelphia & Trenton R.R. Co. v. Stimpson, 39 U.S. 448, 461 (1840).
Most states follow the Federal rule, which is codified in the Federal Rules of
Evidence. 6 Wigmore on Evidence Sec. 1890 (1976) (Supp. 1999); Fed. R.
Evid. 611(b).
Missouri follows the Federal rule only on cross-examination of a criminal
defendant (and spouse). Section 546.260; State v. Worthington,
___S.W.3d___ (Mo. banc 1999) (No. SC81356, decided December 7, 1999). However,
the Federal rule does not apply to any other witnesses. State v. West,
161 S.W.2d 966, 967 (Mo. 1942).
The English rule -- followed by a third of the states -- thus remains the law in
Missouri. 6 Wigmore on Evidence Sec. 1890 (1976) (Supp. 1999). By the
pure English rule, when a competent witness is called and sworn, the opposing
party may cross-examine even if the calling party does not conduct direct
examination, unless the witness was called by mistake. Harris v. Quincy,
O.& K.C. Ry. Co., 91 S.W. 1010, 1010 (K.C. Ct. App. 1905), citing
Phillips v. Eamer, 170 Eng. Rep. 383 (K.B. 1795). Missouri modifies this
rule to: If a witness is sworn and gives "some evidence," however
formal or unimportant, the witness may be cross-examined as to all matters in
the case. Id. at 1011.
Since 1840, this Court has enforced the modified English rule. See cases
cited in the appendix to this opinion. In 1905 the legislature codified the
case law. State v. Roe, 180 S.W. 881, 885 (Mo. 1915).
A party to a cause, civil or criminal, against whom a witness
has been called and given some evidence, shall be entitled
to cross-examine said witness (except where a defendant in a
criminal case is testifying in his own behalf) on the entire case
. . .
Section 491.070, originally enacted as 1905 Mo. Laws 307 (H.B.
166 ) (emphasis added).
The issue is whether Drummond's testimony was "some evidence." A
witness may be examined on any issue in the case as long as the witness gives
some evidence, however formal, trivial or unimportant. St. Louis & Iron
Mountain R.R. Co. v. Silver, 56 Mo. 265, 266 (1874); State v. Soper,
49 S.W. 1007, 1010 (Mo. 1899). The threshold can be merely a "single
isolated fact." Brown v. Burrus, 8 Mo. 26, 29 (1843) (¶ 30).
In this case, Drummond stated her name, the length of time she had been at
court, and that she was under subpoena by the prosecutor. Because this was
"some evidence," the State was entitled to cross-examine her.
Defendant further argues that the trial court allowed excessive
cross-examination of Drummond. Section 491.070 authorizes examination on the
"entire case." This means the whole case and nothing less. State v.
Murphy, 90 S.W.2d 103, 109 (Mo. 1936).
The trial court has broad discretion over the extent of cross-examination,
especially in criminal cases. State v. Taylor, 944 S.W.2d 925 (Mo. banc
1997); State v. Murphy, 90 S.W.2d 103, 110 (Mo. 1936). Cross-examination
tests a witness' accuracy, veracity and credibility. Blake v. Keiser, 267
S.W. 94, 97 (St. L. Ct. App. 1924). Therefore, cross-examination is not
necessarily limited to those matters that tend to prove the issues on trial. State
v. Mosier, 102 S.W.2d 620, 625 (Mo. 1937). True, cross-examination may not
encompass incompetent, irrelevant, or immaterial matters. State v. Mull,
300 S.W. 511, 514 (Mo. 1927). However, questions of relevancy are for the trial
court, whose ruling will be disturbed only for abuse of discretion. State v.
Wood, 596 S.W.2d 394, 402 (Mo. banc 1980). In this case, the circuit court
did not abuse discretion in permitting the cross-examination of Drummond.
IV.
Defendant asserts that the trial court should have excluded the rebuttal
testimony of six witnesses: John Cayton, Phillip Gill, Carla Corum, Andre
Lassince, Mark Lassince, and Lance Crull. In a continuing objection, defendant
claimed that their testimony was irrelevant, prejudicial, and beyond the scope
of rebuttal. Defendant suggests that the six witnesses were called, not to rebut
his testimony, but to rebut Drummond's.
The trial judge determines the scope of rebuttal testimony, subject to review
for abuse of discretion. State v. Leisure, 749 S.W.2d 366, 380 (Mo. banc
1988). "Any competent testimony that tends to explain, counteract, repel or
disprove evidence offered by defendant may be offered in rebuttal of the
defendant's testimony or evidence." State v. Peterson, 518 S.W.2d 1,
3 (Mo. banc 1974).
Defendant called Drummond as a witness, and the State cross-examined her. The
State then called the six witnesses to rebut Drummond's testimony. Because
Drummond was the defendant's witness, the State could present rebuttal evidence
to her testimony. The circuit judge did not abuse discretion in permitting the
rebuttal testimony.
V.
Defendant asserts that the trial court should have permitted Drummond to
testify on redirect examination that Hancock had fired defendant's gun in the
bedroom, two weeks before the shooting. The offer of proof was:
THE COURT: So my understanding is your offer of proof would be
before this incident happened, which caused the death of the
victim, sometime before that the victim fired the gun in that room
once or more than once?
DEFENSE COUNSEL: That's correct.
THE COURT: Do you agree that's what she would testify to?
PROSECUTOR: I agree that's what she would testify to, your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. The offer of proof is denied.
According to defendant, the trial court erred because the offered testimony
might counter the "incriminating inferences that could be drawn" from
the two bullets found under Hancock's body.
On redirect examination, a witness may testify to any matter that tends to
refute, weaken or remove unfavorable inferences in the testimony on
cross-examination. State v. Vitale, 801 S.W.2d 451, 455 (Mo.App. 1990),
citing State v. Lingar, 726 S.W.2d 728, 734 (Mo.banc 1987), cert.
denied, 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 206, 98 L.Ed.2d 157 (1987). The trial court
has discretion to determine the extent of rehabilitation. Vitale, at 455.
Unless the record shows an abuse of discretion and a real probability of injury
to the complaining party, an appellate court will not interfere with the
discretion of the trial court on the scope of redirect examination. State v.
Young, 701 S.W.2d 429, 432 (Mo. banc 1985).
Judicial discretion is abused when the trial court's ruling is
clearly against the logic of the circumstances then before the
court and is so arbitrary and unreasonable as to shock the sense
of justice and indicate a lack of careful consideration; if
reasonable persons can differ about the propriety of the action
taken by the trial court, then it cannot be said that the trial
court abused its discretion.
Anglim v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., 832 S.W.2d 298, 303 (Mo. banc 1992).
In sustaining the State's objection, the trial judge acted within his
discretion. The offer of proof was vague and inconclusive as to the testimony
itself. Defendant did not carry his burden that Drummond would testify to facts
that would counteract any unfavorable inferences.
VI.
Defendant contends that the trial court erred in submitting instruction No. 9
on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. (FN2)
The instruction should have listed the range of punishment for a Class B felony
-- 5 to 15 years' imprisonment. Section 558.011.1(2). Instead, it
erroneously listed the range of punishment for a Class C felony -- one day in
the county jail to seven years' imprisonment. Section 558.011.1(3); 558.011.2.
Defendant claims manifest injustice, which precluded a fair trial.
Neither party objected at trial. Review is for plain error. Rule 30.20.
Defendant asserts a reasonable probability that the jury rejected the lesser
included offense, because it was instructed on the (lesser) range of punishment
of a Class C felony. He reasons that the jury would likely have convicted him of
voluntary manslaughter if the sentence were 5 to 15 years.
The jury was instructed properly on the punishment for second-degree murder --
10 to 30 years. The jury chose 20 years. This option is not within the range of
punishment for voluntary manslaughter -- 5 to 15 years. In this case, no plain
error occurred.
VII.
Attacking another jury instruction, defendant notes that the verdict director
for second-degree murder omitted the paragraph and definition regarding
"sudden passion," and did not conform with MAI-CR 3d 313.04. Defendant
argues that this eliminated any difference between the charged offense of
first-degree murder, and the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter.
Defendant did not object to this instruction. Review is for plain error. Rule
30.20. Defendant advised the trial judge of the erroneous instruction --
after the jury deliberated for two hours. The judge recalled the jury, read a
correct instruction, and directed them to resume deliberations. Once again,
defendant did not object. The jury returned the guilty verdict 82 minutes later.
When an MAI-CR instruction is not given in accordance with the Notes on Use, it
is error, with prejudice to be judicially determined. State v. Richardson,
923 S.W.2d 301, 318 (Mo. banc 1996); Rule 70.02(c). A defendant is
prejudiced by an erroneous instruction if the jury was adversely influenced. Id.
at 319.
Defendant asserts prejudice because he could not argue "sudden
passion" in closing arguments. The judge's corrective action cured any
prejudice. The jury's deliberation (for 82 minutes after receiving the proper
instruction) indicates that it was not adversely influenced by the first,
erroneous instruction.
VIII.
Finally, defendant contends that the trial court should have sustained his
motion for a new trial because the cumulative errors prejudiced him.
None of defendant's other six points is reversible error. No amount of non-error
adds up to error; nor do the non-prejudicial errors in this case constitute
reversible error. State v. Gray, 887 S.W.2d 369, 390 (Mo. banc 1994), cert.
denied, 514 U.S. 1042, 115 S.Ct. 1414, 131 L.Ed.2d 299 (1995).
The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
All concur.
Footnotes:
FN1. All statutory citations are to
RSMo 1994.
FN2. At trial, defendant did not
request an instruction on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter,
but did not object when the trial court submitted it on its own motion.
Defendant noted, on the record, that he did not believe that the trial court had
jurisdiction to sentence him for voluntary manslaughter if the jury returned
that verdict.
APPENDIX
MISSOURI CASES FOLLOWING
THE MODIFIED ENGLISH RULE OF CROSS-EXAMINATION
Page v. Kankey, 6 Mo. 227, 228 (1840) (¶ 433)
Brown v. Burrus, 8 Mo. 26, 29 (1843) (¶ 30)
St. Louis & Iron Mountain R.R. Co. v. Silver, 56 Mo. 265, 266 (1874)
State v. Sayers, 58 Mo. 585, 586 (1875)
State v. Brady, 87 Mo. 142, 145 (Mo. 1885)
Jones v. Roberts, 37 Mo. App. 163, 176-77 (St. L. Ct. App. 1889)
Walter v. Hoeffner, 51 Mo. App. 46, 50 (St. L. Ct.App. 1892)
Diel v. Stegner, 56 Mo. App. 535, 540 (K.C. Ct. App. 1894)
State v. Soper, 49 S.W. 1007, 1010 (Mo. 1899)
Ayers v. Wabash R.R., 88 S.W. 608, 609 (Mo. 1905)
Harris v. Quincy, O.& K.C. Ry. Co., 91 S.W. 1010, 1010 (K.C. Ct. App.
1905)
Reding v. Reding., 127 S.W. 936, 940 (Spr. Ct. App. 1910)
Conway v. Metropolitan St. Ry. Co., 142 S.W. 1101, 1102-03 (K.C. Ct. App.
1912)
State v. Roe, 180 S.W. 881, 885 (Mo. 1915)
Blake v. Keiser, 267 S.W. 94, 97 (St. L. Ct. App. 1924)
State v. Hersh, 296 S.W. 433, 436 (Mo. 1927)
State v. Murphy, 90 S.W.2d 103, 107 (Mo. 1936)
Massman v. Muehlebach, 95 S.W.2d 808, 813 (K.C. Ct. App. 1936)
State v. West, 161 S.W.2d 966, 967 (Mo. 1942)
State v. Neal, 169 S.W.2d 686, 697 (Mo. 1943)
Arnold v. Manzella, 186 S.W.2d 882, 895 (K.C. Ct. App. 1945)
State v. Parker, 543 S.W.2d 236, 243 (Mo. App. 1976)
State v. Taylor, 745 S.W.2d 173, 175 (Mo. App. 1987)
D.K.L. by K.L. v. H.P.M., 763 S.W.2d 212, 219 (Mo. App. 1988)
Loyd v. Cooper, 899 S.W.2d 907, 908 (Mo. App. 1995)
Separate Opinion:
None
This slip opinion is subject to
revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.
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