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In Gillogly, the Court of Criminal Appeals found that it was error for the trial court to have denied the defendant's motion, citing Husch v. State, 211 Ala. 274, 100 So. 321 (1924), Strange v. State, 43 Ala. App. 599, 197 So.2d 437 (1966), and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963).
Summary of this case from Pate v. StateOpinion
I Div. 480.
Argued March 18, 1975.
Rehearing Denied April 22, 1975.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Hubert P. Robertson, J.
M. A. Marsal and B. Nicholas Kearney, Mobile, for appellant.
When it is stipulated by the district attorney that he is in possession of a prior, written, signed statement of an accomplice, and there is substantial evidence which tends to show inconsistencies and contradictions between that prior, written, signed statement and the accomplice's testimony given before the jury, there arises a constitutional mandate, pursuant to due process of law, that the defendant be granted a request for its production so that evidence, favorable to the accused, may be demonstrated to the jury where such evidence relates to the impeachment and credibility of the witness on cross-examination rendering the evidence necessarily material either to guilt or punishment, irrespective of the good or bad faith of the prosecution. Brady v. State of Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215.
William J. Baxley, Atty. Gen., and David W. Clark, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
It is within the discretion of the trial court whether or not to grant defense counsel's motion for production of statements of witnesses in the hands of the prosecuting attorney. Vaughn v. State, 25 Ala. App. 204, 143 So. 211 (1932); Mabry v. State, 40 Ala. App. 129, 110 So.2d 250 (1959); Bellew v. State, 238 Miss. 734, 106 So.2d 146 (1958); Davidson v. State, 48 Ala. App. 446, 265 So.2d 888 (1971); Cooks v. State, 50 Ala. App. 49, 276 So.2d 634 (1973); Daniels v. State, 50 Ala. App. 88, 277 So.2d 364 (1973); McKenzie v. State, 236 Md. 597, 204 A.2d 678 (1964); State v. Aubuchon, Mo., 381 S.W.2d 807 (1963). Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963) is applicable only where there is some suppression, nondisclosure or deception on part of the prosecuting attorney and does not apply to instances where a motion to produce is made and denied for known statements in the prosecuting attorneys possession. Mabry v. State, 40 Ala. App. 129, 110 So.2d 250 (1959), supra; Thigpen v. State, 49 Ala. App. 233, 270 So.2d 666 (1972); Sanders v. State, 278 Ala. 453, 179 So.2d 35 (1965). The production of a statement of a witness in the hands of a prosecuting attorney is required only when without it the defendant's trial would be fundamentally unfair. Cooks v. State, 50 Ala. App. 49, 276 So.2d 634 (1973), supra; Davidson v. State, 48 Ala. App. 446, 265 So.2d 888 (1971), supra; Daniels v. State, 50 Ala. App. 88, 277 So.2d 364, supra; State v. Gilman, 384 P.2d 369 (1963); State v. Aubuchon, Mo., 381 S.W.2d 807 (1963), supra.
Murder in the first degree: sentence, life imprisonment.
The prosecution's main witness was an accomplice, Melvin Summerlin. During his cross-examination counsel for the defendant asked of Summerlin, as follows:
"Q * * *. Have you ever signed a statement as to what you have just testified?
"A Yes, sir.
"Q You have?
"A Yes.
"Q And who was the Officer that copied it down?
"A I don't know. I don't remember who copied it down. Some lady.
"Q Some lady? And when was this?
"A This was awhile back.
"Q Uh huh. How long ago?
"A I don't remember the date.
"Q Well, how long ago? You said some while back. Two months ago, three months ago, what month was it?
"A It was in January.
"Q In January. So, in January your conscience told you to testify in this case, is that right?
"A Yes, sir.
"Q Yes, sir. And not when you got the subpoena like you just told this jury?
"A You asked me did I — when did I decide to — I said my conscience told me to do it all along. I decided to do it when this subpoena came. In other words, what I am saying is my final decision is in.
"Q All right. At the time you gave a statement in January, tell us the names of the law enforcement officers that were there?
"A Ralph Jordan.
"Q Uh huh.
"A Obie Singletary; one of the Florida men.
"Q One of the Florida men?
"A The D.A., Mr. Graddick.
"Q Uh huh. And whom else?
"A And Captain Kater Williams.
"Q And do you have a copy of that statement?
"A Do I have a copy of it?
"Q Yes, sir.
"A No, sir.
"MR. MARSAL: All right. Now, I now ask the Court to ask the district attorney's office to furnish me with a copy of that statement.
"MR. GRADDICK: Judge, I object to it. It's a Court's investigation. It's privileged communication between the police officer and the district attorney; it's part of our work product, and it may involve some other crime that may have been committed in the investigation, and no proper predicate has been laid in order to produce that statement.
"MR. MARSAL: If the Court pleases, it's elementary that I have a copy of any statement that any witness has made."
After extended argument the trial court, at R. 330, denied defense motion. In Husch v. State, 211 Ala. 274, 100 So. 321, the court observed:
" * * *, if the solicitor had had such a statement in his possession, defendant could have required its production by a rule of the court if he thought it was favorable to him."
In Strange v. State, 43 Ala. App. 599, 197 So.2d 437, we approved the lower court's ordering the prosecution to furnish a statement made by an accomplice to a state agent, one Sims. We there cited, with approval, Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215.
On authority of Brady, supra, it is necessary for us to reverse the trial court below for the refusal of the statement which was obviously given to the state agents in this case.
In view of the need for a new trial we consider that with respect to the defendant's own inculpatory statement, which was admitted into evidence through the testimony of state witness, Riddle, there should be a closer scrutiny as to whether the Miranda warnings given by other police officers were of recent enough origin to have a continuing effect upon the defendant at the time he made the inculpatory statement to witness Riddle.
For the error pointed out above the judgment below is reversed and cause is remanded for trial de novo.
Reversed and remanded.
TYSON, DeCARLO and BOOKOUT, JJ., concur.
HARRIS, J., concurs in result.