ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
MONICA FOSTER STEVE CARTER
RHONDA LONG-SHARP Attorney General of Indiana
Foster & Long-Sharp
Indianapolis, Indiana JAMES B. MARTIN
Deputy Attorney General
BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE Indianapolis, Indiana
COMMISSION ON SOCIAL
ACTION OF REFORM JUDAISM:
KENNETH J. FALK
Indiana Civil Liberties Union
Indianapolis, Indiana
MARSHALL L. DAYAN
Durham, North Carolina
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIANA
WAYNE KUBSCH, )
)
Appellant (Defendant), )
) Supreme Court Cause Number
v. ) 71S00-9904-DP-239
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee (Plaintiff). )
APPEAL FROM THE ST. JOSEPH SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Jerome Frese, Judge
Cause No. 71D02-9812-CF-592
On Direct Appeal
March 14, 2003
RUCKER, Justice
Case Summary
After a trial by jury, Wayne Kubsch was convicted of three counts of
murder in the shooting and stabbing deaths of his wife Beth Kubsch, Beth’s
ex-husband Rick Milewski, and Beth’s eleven-year-old son, Aaron Milewski.
Following the jury’s recommendation, the trial court sentenced Kubsch to
death. In this direct appeal Kubsch raises eighteen issues for review,
which include whether the trial court erred in admitting Kubsch’s entire
videotaped interrogation into evidence. This issue is dispositive. We
therefore reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this cause for a
new trial. However, because several issues are likely to arise on retrial,
we address them as well. Restated the issues are: (1) did the trial court
err by allowing into evidence items seized from Kubsch’s truck; (2) was
inadmissible hearsay allowed into evidence; (3) did the trial court err by
allowing opinion testimony into evidence; (4) did the trial court err by
allowing certain photographs into evidence; and (5) was Kubsch denied the
opportunity to present a meaningful defense.
Facts and Procedural History
Wayne and Beth Kubsch dated several years before getting married in
November 1997. At the time of their marriage, Beth was the mother of two
sons from a previous marriage: eleven-year-old Aaron Milewski, and twelve-
year-old Anthony Earley. Aaron lived in South Bend with his father Rick
Milewski, and Anthony lived with Kubsch and Beth in their Mishawaka home.
In addition to the house in Mishawaka, Kubsch owned eleven rental
properties throughout St. Joseph County with mortgages totaling over
$456,000. By 1998, Kubsch had amassed considerable personal debt. In
March 1998, Kubsch refinanced four of his rental properties to pay off
credit card debt exceeding $16,000. Despite paying off this debt, by
August 1998 Kubsch had accumulated another $23,000 in credit card debt.
And by September 1998, Kubsch was falling behind on some of his mortgage
payments, and the taxes on his rental properties were so delinquent that he
was in danger of losing them in a tax sale.
In the midst of these financial problems, Kubsch purchased a life
insurance policy on his wife Beth, and listed himself as the sole
beneficiary. The policy was issued July 27, 1998, and paid $575,000 upon
the death of the insured.
On September 18, 1998, Beth was scheduled to retrieve Anthony from a
school dance at 4:45 p.m. When she failed to show, Anthony received a ride
home from a friend. Arriving at the house at approximately 5:30 p.m.,
Anthony saw the cars of both Beth and Rick parked in the driveway. When he
entered the house, however, no one appeared to be home. While searching
the house, Anthony noticed blood on the floor in his mother’s bedroom as
well as signs of a struggle. He then checked the basement, where he found
the bodies of Rick and Aaron. Rick had been shot in the head, and a knife
was protruding from his chest. A later autopsy revealed that Aaron also
had been shot in the head and stabbed twenty-two times. Unable to find the
telephone, Anthony ran to the house of a neighbor, who called 911.
When Kubsch arrived home around 6:45 p.m., his house was closed off
with crime scene tape. After being told that Rick and Aaron were dead and
that his wife’s whereabouts were unknown, Kubsch accompanied police to the
Special Crimes Unit in South Bend for routine questioning. Michael Samp
and Mark Reihl, both detectives with the Special Crimes Unit, videotaped
and audio taped the questioning. Although Detective Samp informed Kubsch
that he was not under arrest, he nevertheless read Kubsch Miranda warnings.
Kubsch signed a waiver of rights form and proceeded to answer the
detectives’ questions concerning his whereabouts that day. Kubsch told
police that he had not seen Beth since he left for work around 6:00 a.m.
that morning and that he had just returned from Three Rivers, Michigan
where he had picked up his son. Eventually Kubsch said, “I don’t wanna
talk anymore . . . .” R. at 914. When the detectives began asking
additional questions, Kubsch again said, “I don’t want to go [talk]
anymore” and left the interview room. R. at 914.
Around 9:00 p.m., police discovered Beth’s body in the basement. It
was hidden in a “fort” that Anthony had built underneath the basement
steps. R. at 3359. Beth had been “hog-tied” with duct tape, and her head
was encased in duct tape. R. at 3359-60. She had been stabbed eleven
times. A pair of sunglasses belonging to Kubsch was lying beside her left
knee.
After learning that Beth’s body had been found, Detective Samp
instructed an officer to bring Kubsch back to the Special Crimes Unit.
Detective Samp wanted to ask Kubsch a few more questions, seek permission
to search his vehicle, and inform him that his wife was dead. This second
round of questioning was also audio taped and videotaped. Upon entering
the interview room, Kubsch said “I really don’t want to answer anymore . .
. questions . . . [b]ecause if I was you . . . I would look at me as a
prime suspect and I . . . really don’t want to answer any questions.” R.
at 914-15. Detective Samp then asked Kubsch for permission to search his
vehicle, and Kubsch signed a consent form permitting officers to do so. At
that point, Detective Reihl asked Kubsch “[w]hat happened at the house?”
R. at 917. When Kubsch did not answer, Detective Reihl informed him that
Beth was dead. Kubsch’s reaction was “[that] was fairly obvious.” R. at
917. Detective Reihl then asked Kubsch again what happened at the house,
to which Kubsch responded, “I don’t want to answer anymore questions.” R.
at 917. Detective Reihl replied, “Exactly what do you mean when you say
you don’t want to talk to us?” R. at 917. Kubsch elaborated, “I don’t
want to talk without an attorney.” R. at 917-18. The questioning was
discontinued.
From September to December 1998, no one was arrested or charged in
connection with the three deaths. However, on December 18, 1998, a person
by the name of Tashana Penn told police that during the first week of
December she and her boyfriend were present at a restaurant in Mishawaka.
According to Penn, when her boyfriend left the table to go to the restroom,
she overheard a conversation between two men who were seated in a booth
directly behind her. Penn told police that one of the men said he had hurt
a little boy and although he did not like the little boy, he never meant to
hurt him. According to Penn, the man also admitted hurting the little boy
the most severely and predicted that he would never get caught. Penn later
identified Kubsch from a photo array as the man talking in the restaurant.
On December 22, 1998, the State charged Kubsch with three counts of
murder. And on April 7, 1999, the State filed its notice of intent to seek
the death penalty. The trial was held June 1-15, 2000. The State’s theory
at trial was that Kubsch’s financial difficulties spawned the purchase of
the life insurance policy and the plot to kill Beth. The State argued that
the murders were committed between 1:53 and 2:51 p.m. primarily based on
Kubsch’s cellular phone records. The State contended that Kubsch first
killed Beth, was surprised by Rick and Aaron’s arrival, and then was forced
to kill them. The defense theory at trial was that Kubsch was in Michigan
picking up his son at the time of the murders and that Brad Hardy, a
lifelong friend of Kubsch, committed the murders.[1] In support of its
theory, the State presented evidence that Kubsch’s cellular phone records
placed him near his home in Mishawaka, when he claimed to be present in
Michigan. The State also presented evidence that duct tape packaging was
found during the search of Kubsch’s vehicle. And despite Kubsch’s claim
that he had not seen Beth since 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the crimes, the
State presented evidence that a bank receipt stamped 11:13 a.m. on
September 18 with Beth’s fingerprints on it had also been found during the
search of Kubsch’s vehicle.
The jury found Kubsch guilty as charged. The penalty phase of trial
was held on June 16, 2000, and the jury returned a recommendation of death.
Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the death penalty
in a one-page sentencing order dated September 1, 2000. Kubsch appealed to
this Court raising eighteen issues, one of which was that the sentencing
order was deficient. The State conceded this point, and we remanded this
cause to the trial court for a new sentencing order. On January 11, 2002,
the trial court issued a new sentencing order once again imposing the death
penalty. Kubsch now appeals. In addition to the seventeen issues
initially raised, Kubsch also contends that the new sentencing order is
again deficient.[2]
Discussion
I.
Doyle Violation
During its case in chief, the State played the videotape showing both
rounds of Kubsch’s questioning. Kubsch objected to those portions of the
videotape showing him invoking his right to silence. Overruling the
objection, the trial court played the videotape in its entirety. During
deliberations, the jury requested to view the videotape again. Over
Kubsch’s objection, the trial court replayed the entire videotape. Kubsch
contends that the trial court erred in admitting those portions of the
videotape showing him invoking his right to silence because it violates
Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610 (1976).
In Doyle, the Supreme Court held, “[T]he use for impeachment purposes
of petitioners’ silence, at the time of arrest and after receiving Miranda
warnings, violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
Id. at 619. The Court explained, “[W]hile it is true that the Miranda
warnings contain no express assurance that silence will carry no penalty,
such assurance is implicit to any person who receives the warnings.” Id.
at 618. “Silence” does not mean only muteness; it includes the statement
of a desire to remain silent as well as a desire to remain silent until an
attorney has been consulted. Wainwright v. Greenfield, 474 U.S. 284, 295
n.13 (1986). Further, Doyle is not limited solely to “the use for
impeachment purposes” of a defendant’s silence. Id. at 292. Rather, it
also applies to the use of a defendant’s silence as affirmative proof in
the State’s case in chief. Id.
The State does not seriously dispute that it used Kubsch’s silence in
the face of Miranda warnings as affirmative proof in its case in chief.
Rather, the State contends that because Kubsch was not in custody [3] at
the time of the questioning, Doyle does not apply. Br. of Appellee at 13-
14. It is true that Doyle refers to the use of a defendant’s silence “at
the time of arrest.” However, the critical holding in Doyle was the
“implicit assurance contained in the Miranda warnings ‘that silence will
carry no penalty.’” Wainwright, 474 U.S. at 290. As the Supreme Court has
also declared “Miranda warnings inform a person of his right to remain
silent and assure him, at least implicitly, that his silence will not be
used against him. Doyle bars the use against a criminal defendant of
silence maintained after receipt of governmental assurances.” Anderson v.
Charles, 447 U.S. 404, 407-08 (1980) (citations omitted). It is apparent
that a defendant’s prearrest, post-Miranda silence enjoys the same
protection as a defendant’s postarrest, post-Miranda silence. See, e.g.,
Kappos v. Hanks, 54 F.3d 365, 368-69 (7th Cir. 1995) (“[T]he fact that an
arrest had not yet occurred does not render Doyle inapplicable. Although
[the defendant’s] comments about his refusal to answer more questions
occurred prior to his arrest, they were made after he had been given his
Miranda warnings. It is then that the promise contained in the statement
of Miranda rights precludes the prosecutor from commenting on the
defendant’s silence.”); United States v. Rivera, 944 F.2d 1563, 1568 n.12
(11th Cir. 1991) (“[T]he vital distinction for our purposes . . . is not
when [the defendant] was arrested or technically in custody, but when she
was given her Miranda warnings and thereby given the implicit assurance
that her silence would not be used against her.”). In this case, by using
Kubsch’s silence in the face of Miranda warnings as affirmative proof of
his guilt, the State violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment as articulated in Doyle. The trial court thus erred in admitting
an unredacted version of the videotape into evidence.
Apparently anticipating the foregoing conclusion, the State contends
that any error in admitting those portions of the videotape showing Kubsch
invoking his right to silence is harmless. A constitutional error may be
harmless if it is clear beyond a reasonable
doubt that the error did not contribute to the defendant’s conviction.
Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24 (1967). In analyzing whether a
Doyle violation is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, this Court examines
five factors: (1) the use to which the prosecution puts the post-arrest
silence; (2) who elected to pursue the line of questioning; (3) the quantum
of other evidence indicative of guilt; (4) the intensity and frequency of
the reference; and (5) the availability to the trial court of an
opportunity to grant a motion for mistrial or give a curative instruction.
Robinette v. State, 741 N.E.2d 1162, 1165 (Ind. 2001).
In response to these factors, the State argues that the “few”
references to Kubsch’s invocation of his right to silence coupled with the
independent evidence of his guilt points to the conclusion that the error
is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Br. of Appellee at 23. We
disagree. The use to which the State, in its case in chief, put those
portions of the videotape showing Kubsch invoking his right to silence is
rather apparent: Kubsch was unwilling to talk with police even though his
wife and step-son had just been killed, giving the impression that Kubsch
had something to hide or else he would assist in locating their killers.
And although the amount of other evidence indicative of Kubsch’s guilt as
set forth in the “Facts” section of this opinion is sufficient to sustain
the convictions, that evidence is circumstantial and was fiercely contested
at trial.[4]
Regarding the frequency and intensity of the references to Kubsch’s
silence, the videotape itself, which was played to the jury twice, showed
Kubsch invoking his right to silence six times. In addition, during his
opening statement, the prosecutor made the following reference:
Then the defendant said I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I don’t
want to talk to you anymore because if I were you, I would consider me
as the prime suspect. The officers urged him, look, we are only
trying to find out what happened here. Nope. And he walks out.
R. at 3107-08. And on direct examination, Detective Samp made at least
three references to Kubsch’s invocation of his right to silence. One of
these references was particularly instructive:
So then I explained to [Kubsch] the fact that Beth had been found
dead, and knowing that, did that change anything, did he still not
want to talk to us, and he said, yes, he didn’t want to talk to us, so
at that point he was free to leave.
R. at 839-40.
As for the trial court’s opportunity to grant a motion for mistrial
or give a curative instruction, when the trial court overruled Kubsch’s
objection to the videotape, Kubsch asked the trial court to give a limiting
instruction. The limiting instruction would have provided that a
defendant’s silence in the face of Miranda warnings is inherently ambiguous
and cannot be used against him. The court said that it would give a
limiting instruction, but that the instruction would provide that a person
has the right to invoke the Fifth Amendment and to change his mind
regarding that invocation. Ultimately, no limiting instruction was given.
In addition to the five factors, we find particularly relevant the
timing of the jury’s verdict. On June 15, 2000, the last day of trial, the
jury retired for deliberations at 2:15 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., the jury sent a
note to the trial court requesting to view the videotape again. After a
hearing outside the presence of the jury and over Kubsch’s objection, the
trial court replayed the entire videotape. It is not clear from the record
what time the videotape was replayed. However, at 10:37 p.m., the jury
reached a verdict. In light of the five factors and the fact that the jury
finally reached a verdict just shortly after watching the videotape for a
second time, we conclude that the State has not carried its burden in
demonstrating that the references to Kubsch repeatedly invoking his right
to silence are harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we reverse
the trial court on this issue and remand this cause for a new trial. We
now address those issues likely to arise on retrial.
II.
Search of the Truck
Kubsch complains the trial court erred by admitting into evidence
over his continuing objection various items seized from his truck,
including a cellular telephone, a package of duct tape, and a receipt from
a Meijer department store. Acknowledging the items were seized as the
result of a consent to search, Kubsch contends the search was not valid and
even if valid the search exceeded the scope of the consent. Also,
insisting that he was in custody at the time the consent was given, Kubsch
argues the police failed to “scrupulously honor” his invocation of his
right to remain silent under Miranda. Thus, the argument continues, any
evidence seized was the “fruit of the poisonous tree” and should not have
been admitted at trial.
A. Custodial interrogation
The record shows that Kubsch talked to police on two separate
occasions on the day the bodies were discovered. On the first occasion
Kubsch was advised that his home was a crime scene and was asked to
accompany police to the Special Crimes Unit to answer routine questions.
Upon arrival, Kubsch was seated in the lobby. At the time, police had
discovered only two bodies at Kubsch’s home: Rick and Aaron Milewski.
Detective Michael Samp testified, “at that point I needed to ask some
questions and try to ascertain what was going on.” R. at 830. Although
not under arrest, Kubsch was advised of his Miranda rights. R. at 844.
However, Detective Samp was clear that Kubsch “wasn’t a suspect. He wasn’t
under arrest.” R. at 846. During the course of the subsequent interview,
Kubsch told Detective Samp that he wanted to talk with his wife’s mother.
At that point Detective Samp testified, “I said that was fine, that he
wasn’t under arrest, that he could go ahead and go. And he got up, and I
opened the door for him, and he walked out.” R. at 831.
About an hour after Kubsch left the interview room, police were
informed that the body of Kubsch’s wife had also been discovered in the
parties’ home. Deciding to let Kubsch know about the discovery, Detective
Samp directed another officer, Detective Mark Reihl, to find Kubsch and
escort him back to the station. He did so, and upon entering the interview
room, Kubsch was advised that the officers wanted to ask some more
questions. In response Kubsch replied, “Can I tell you this one thing [] I
know this is routine for you guys but at this point I really don’t want to
answer anymore questions.” R. at 914. Detective Reihl then asked for
permission to search Kubsch’s truck. Kubsch agreed and signed a consent to
search form. The following colloquy describes the events occurring
thereafter:
Q. [Prosecutor] After you had him complete [the consent to search]
form, what happens with Mr. Kubsch?
* * *
A. [Detective Samp] So then I explain to him the fact that Beth had
been found dead, and knowing that, did that change anything, did he
want to talk to us, and he said, yes, he didn’t want to talk to us,
so at that point he was free to leave.
Q. [Prosecutor] In fact did he leave?
A. [Detective Samp] Yes.
R. at 839-840.
Under Miranda “‘interrogation must cease’ when the person in custody
indicates that ‘he wishes to remain silent.’” Michigan v. Mosley, 423 U.S.
96, 101 (1975) (quoting Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 474 (1966)).
Also, under the Indiana Constitution “a person in custody must be informed
of the right to consult with counsel about the possibility of consenting to
a search before a valid consent can be given.” Jones v. State, 655 N.E.2d
49, 54 (Ind. 1995).[5] However, these Miranda safeguards do not attach
unless “there has been such a restriction on a person’s freedom as to
render him ‘in custody.’” Loving v. State, 647 N.E.2d 1123, 1125 (Ind.
1995) (quoting Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495 (1977)). Here,
focusing on the fact that he was initially driven to the police station in
the back of a locked squad car and that he was returned to the station for
a second interview after invoking his right to remain silent, Kubsch
contends he was in custody during the time he was questioned by the
officers. These facts are not controlling. Rather, to determine whether a
defendant is in custody “we apply an objective test asking whether a
reasonable person under the same circumstances would believe themselves to
be under arrest or not free to resist the entreaties of the police.”
Torres v. State, 673 N.E.2d 472, 474 (Ind. 1996) (quotation omitted).
Further, a person is not in custody where he is “unrestrained and ha[s] no
reason to believe he could not leave.” Huspon v. State, 545 N.E.2d 1078,
1081 (Ind. 1989). We conclude that no reasonable person in Kubsch’s
position would have believed that he was under arrest. Not only did he
have reason to believe he could leave, he was unrestrained and actually did
leave, after both the first and second interview. Despite Kubsch’s
arguments to the contrary, he was not in custody when he gave police
consent to search his truck.
B. Voluntariness of consent
Pointing to his allegedly “vulnerable” mental state, stating he had no
prior experience with police, and alleging “subtly coercive police
questions,” along with asserting “trickery, deceit and misrepresentation,”
Kubsch contends that his consent was not voluntary. Br. of Appellant at 27-
29. Generally, a search warrant is a prerequisite to a constitutionally
proper search and seizure. Perry v. State, 638 N.E.2d 1236, 1240 (Ind.
1994). In cases involving a warrantless search the State bears the burden
of proving an exception to the warrant requirement. Short v. State, 443
N.E. 2d 298, 303 (Ind. 1982). A valid consent is such an exception. In
turn, a consent to search is valid except where procured by fraud, duress,
fear or intimidation or where it is merely a submission to the supremacy of
the law. Martin v. State, 490 N.E.2d 309, 313 (Ind. 1986). Despite
Kubsch’s assertions to the contrary, the record before us simply does not
support the view that the consent Kubsch gave police was the product of
fraud, duress, fear or intimidation. Further, Kubsch makes no claim that
he was merely submitting to the supremacy of the law when he consented to
the search of his truck. Accordingly, we conclude that Kubsch’s consent
was freely and voluntarily given.
C. Scope of consent
Relying on the police request to “look inside” his truck, and
his response “yes- over at the house,” R. at 915, Kubsch contends that even
if his consent to search were voluntarily given, the evidence seized as a
result still should have been suppressed because the search exceeded the
scope of the consent. According to Kubsch: (i) the search should have been
conducted at the location where the truck was parked, and thus police had
no authority to impound the truck in order to conduct a search; and (ii)
the search was limited only to looking inside the truck.
It is true that a consensual search allows a suspect to limit
or restrict the search as he or she chooses. Krise v. State, 746 N.E.2d
957, 964 (Ind. 2001). However, the scope of a consensual search is
measured by objective reasonableness and is determined by what a “typical
reasonable person would have understood by the exchange between the officer
and the suspect.” Id. (quoting Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991)).
Here, in addition to the verbal exchange between Kubsch and Detective Samp,
the “consent to search” that Kubsch signed provided in pertinent part:
I grant permission for … a search, [and] hereby authorize, consent and
allow Special Crimes to conduct a complete search of my motor vehicle
which is (located at) (described as) corner of Prism Valley, 1994 Geo
Tracker. The above mentioned person(s) and any others needed to
assist them are hereby authorized by me to take from my…motor vehicle
any merchandise, personal property, or chattels that may be involved
in the investigation they are conducting.
R. at 919 (emphasis added). It is clear that a “complete search” of
Kubsch’s truck would encompass considerably more than simply looking inside
the vehicle. Also, we agree with the trial court that Kubsch’s statement
“yes – over at the house” was not tantamount to saying, “you can search it
but only if you search it where it sits.” R. at 263 (emphasis in
original). Rather, it is apparent that Kubsch’s response was intended to
assist the police in locating the vehicle, rather than to restrict or limit
the scope or location of the search to be conducted. In searching Kubsch’s
truck, the police did not exceed the scope of the voluntary consent. We
conclude that the trial court did not err by admitting into evidence the
items seized as a result of the search.
III.
Hearsay
Kubsch next contends the trial court erred by allowing into evidence
the hearsay testimony of Dave Milewski and Diane Raisor.[6] Respectively,
Milewski and Raisor are the uncle and grandmother of murder victim Aaron
Milewski. Over Kubsch’s hearsay objection Milewski testified that several
weeks prior to his death, Aaron told him that he was “frightened” of
Kubsch. R. at 3278. Also over Kubsch’s objection Raisor testified that a
few weeks before his death, Aaron told her “Wayne still wants to kill me.”
R. at 4537.
Hearsay is a statement made out-of-court that is offered into
evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Ind. Evidence Rule
801(c); Craig v. State, 630 N.E.2d 207, 209 (Ind. 1994). It is clear that
the contested portions of both Milewski’s and Raisor’s testimony are
hearsay. Aaron made the statements out-of-court and the witnesses repeated
the statements at trial for the purpose of proving the matter asserted,
namely: that Aaron feared Kubsch and felt that Kubsch wanted to kill him.
Such hearsay is not admissible at trial unless it fits within some
exception to the hearsay rule.
The trial court admitted the witnesses’ hearsay testimony pursuant to
Indiana Evidence Rule 803(3), which provides:
The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the
declarant is available as a witness.
* * *
(3) A statement of the declarant’s then existing state of mind,
emotion, sensation, or physical condition (such as intent, plan,
motive, design, mental feeling, pain and bodily health), but not
including a statement of memory or belief to prove the fact remembered
or believed unless it related to the execution, revocation,
identification, or terms of declarant’s will.
In addition to the requirement that hearsay fall within an exception
to be admissible, the Indiana Rules of Evidence also mandate that only
relevant evidence is admissible. Evid. R. 402. Evidence is relevant where
it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less
probable than it would be without the evidence.” Evid. R. 401. A victim’s
state of mind is relevant where it has been put at issue by the defendant.
Jester v. State, 724 N.E.2d 235, 240 (Ind. 2000); Smith v. State, 721
N.E.2d 213, 218 (Ind. 1999). For example in Ford v. State, 704 N.E.2d 457
(Ind. 1998), the victim’s statements prior to her death concerning her
“unhappy” relationship with the defendant, and her fear that if she left
the defendant “he would kill her,” were admissible to controvert evidence
presented by the defendant showing the victim acted aggressively towards
him and provoked his actions. Id. at 459-60. Here, however, Kubsch did
not put Aaron’s state of mind at issue. Rather, his defense at trial was
that he was in Michigan picking up his son when the crimes were committed
and that Beth and Aaron were likely murdered by Kubsch’s lifelong friend
Brad Hardy. In fact, the contested hearsay testimony was introduced during
the State’s case in chief. We conclude therefore that it is not relevant
to any issue at trial. The trial court thus erred in allowing the
testimony into evidence.
IV.
Opinion Testimony
Kubsch next contends the trial court erroneously allowed into
evidence the opinion testimony of a homicide investigator. The facts are
these. Detective Steven E. Richmond was a detective sergeant with the
South Bend police department assigned to the Special Crimes Unit as a
homicide investigator. Detective Richmond was one of the investigators on
this case and testified at length at trial. A part of his testimony
concerned blood spatter evidence, to which no objection was made. At one
point during his testimony the detective testified that he observed duct
tape covering Beth Kubsch’s face. The following exchanged then occurred:
Q. [Prosecutor] In your experience as a homicide investigator with
your training, did that – the existence of that duct tape on this
victim’s face have any significance to you or the other investigators?
A. [Detective Richmond] Yes it did.
Q. [Prosecutor] In what way?
A. [Detective Richmond] During the training, an investigator is
taught to, you know, pick up on certain clues, behavioral traits that
we might find as far as evidence, something that happened in the
thing. Oftentimes if a victim is masked, so to speak, by his face is
covered, that’s sometimes used as a sign –
R. at 3779-80. At this point Kubsch objected on foundation grounds.
During a side-bar conference the trial court expressed skepticism on
whether the officer possessed expertise in the area on which he was about
to testify. The trial court observed, “[h]is expertise is blood spatter.
I don’t know that he’s been qualified as a psychologist as to how victims
are treated by taping.” R. at 3780. The State then proceeded to lay a
purported foundation for the officer’s testimony. Responding to a number
of questions posed by the State, Detective Richmond testified that he had
investigated a large number of homicide scenes, and attended numerous
homicide investigation seminars, some of which involved “conducting
investigations of the crime scene as far as association with suspect and
victim relationship, stranger homicide or killings . . . . ” R. at 3782.
When asked about the content of the seminars, Detective Richmond responded,
“[t]hey discuss previous cases, documented cases, proven investigative
techniques that other officers have used in the past.” R. at 3783.
Detective Richmond went on to say, “there are materials that were given to
read. I have library books on all the different varieties.” R. at 3783.
Over Kubsch’s objection the detective then testified:
A. [Detective Richmond] It’s been my training that oftentimes when
a victim’s face is covered, it’s done to disassociate the victim from
the suspect. It turns the victim from a person to an object.
Q. [Prosecutor] And in your experience and training, is that fact
more associated with cases where the killer knows or has a
relationship with the victim?
A. [Detective Richmond] Exactly.
R. at 3785. Kubsch contends the foregoing testimony should not have been
permitted because the State failed to lay a foundation demonstrating that
the proffered testimony was scientifically reliable.
Indiana Evidence Rule 702 provides:
(a) If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will
assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a
fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill,
experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of
an opinion or otherwise.
(b) Expert scientific testimony is admissible only if the court is
satisfied that the scientific principles upon which the expert
testimony rests are reliable.
Evid. R. 702. Under this rule, a witness may be qualified as an expert by
virtue of "knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.” Id. And
only one characteristic is necessary to qualify an individual as an expert.
Creasy v. Rusk, 730 N.E.2d 659, 669 (Ind. 2000). As such, a witness may
qualify as an expert on the basis of practical experience alone. Id. It
is within the trial court's sound discretion to decide whether a person
qualifies as an expert witness. Id. In this case, we have serious doubts
as to whether a police detective with experience investigating homicide
scenes and attending seminars exploring victim/suspect relationships
qualifies as an expert in an area involving rather complex behavioral and
social science issues. However, we decline to substitute our judgment for
that of the trial court on this matter of discretion. Nonetheless,
"[e]xpert scientific testimony is admissible only if the court is satisfied
that the scientific principles upon which the expert testimony rests are
reliable." West v. State, 755 N.E.2d 173, 180 (Ind. 2001) (quoting Evid.
R. 702(b)).
When determining whether scientific evidence is admissible under
702(b), we consider the factors discussed in Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). In that case the Supreme Court held
that for scientific knowledge to be admissible under Federal Evidence Rule
702, the trial court judge must determine that the evidence is based on,
among other things, scientifically valid methodology. Id. at 592-93. To
assist trial courts in making this determination, the Court outlined a non-
exclusive list of factors that may be considered: whether the theory or
technique can be and has been tested, whether the theory has been subjected
to peer review and publication, whether there is a known or potential error
rate, and whether the theory has been generally accepted within the
relevant field of study. Id. at 593-94.
This court has held that the concerns driving Daubert coincide with
the express requirement of Indiana Rule of Evidence 702(b) that the trial
court be satisfied of the reliability of the scientific principles
involved. Steward v. State, 652 N.E.2d 490, 498 (Ind. 1995). Thus,
although not binding upon the determination of the state evidentiary law
issues, the federal evidence law of Daubert and its progeny is helpful to
the bench and bar in applying Indiana Rule of Evidence 702(b). Id. Also,
the proponent of expert testimony bears the burden of establishing the
reliability of the scientific tests upon which the experts’ testimony is
based. See McGrew v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1289, 1290 (Ind. 1997).
Here, the State has not shown that the general subject of
victim/suspect relationships is based on reliable scientific methodology.
The State presented no evidence even suggesting that this subject can be or
has been tested, has been subjected to peer review and publication, or
whether there is a known or potential error rate. Further, testimony that
Detective Richmond received instruction on victim/suspect relationships and
possesses library books on this area of study is not sufficient to show
that it has been generally accepted within the study of social or
behavioral sciences. We have no doubt that the existence of certain
behavioral characteristics of either suspects or victims may provide
investigating officers with useful and important clues in solving or
preventing crimes. However, it is another matter to say that evidence
concerning a particular investigative technique is reliable enough to be
admitted at trial. The trial court erred by permitting Detective Richmond
to testify concerning the significance of duct tape covering Beth Kubsch’s
face because it was not proper expert testimony under Indiana Evidence Rule
702.
On appeal the State makes no claim that Detective Richmond was
testifying as an expert witness. Rather, according to the State, Detective
Richmond was testifying as a “skilled lay observer.” Br. of Appellee at
50. We first observe that the ground the State now asserts is not the
basis on which the trial court allowed the testimony. Instead, the trial
court specifically acknowledged that Detective Richmond was testifying as
an expert witness.[7] In any event the State still cannot prevail on this
issue.
Although a witness may not be qualified to offer expert testimony
under Indiana Evidence Rule 702, the witness may be qualified as a “skilled
witness” (sometimes referred to as a “skilled lay observer”), see Warren v.
State, 725 N.E.2d 828, 831 (Ind. 2000), under Indiana Evidence Rule 701. A
skilled witness is a person with “a degree of knowledge short of that
sufficient to be declared an expert under [Indiana Evidence] Rule 702, but
somewhat beyond that possessed by the ordinary jurors.” 13 Robert Lowell
Miller, Jr., Indiana Evidence § 701.105, at 318 (2d ed. 1995). Under
Indiana Evidence Rule 701, a skilled witness may provide an opinion or
inference that is “(a) rationally based on the perception of the witness
and (b) helpful to a clear understanding of the witness’s testimony or the
determination of a fact in issue.” Evid. R. 701.
“Perception” has been defined as “[t]he process, act, or faculty of
perceiving. . . . [i]nsight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving.”
The American Heritage College Dictionary 1014 (3d ed. 1993). In turn,
“perceive” has been defined as “[t]o become aware of directly through any
of the senses, esp. sight or hearing.” Id. at 1013. In this case
Detective Richmond’s opinion that when a victim’s face is covered it is
often done to disassociate the victim from the suspect and that it happens
more in cases where the victim and suspect know or have a relationship with
each other, was not rationally based upon his perceptions. There was
nothing that Detective Richmond either saw or heard at the scene of the
crime, or became aware of through his other senses, that supported the
basis for his opinion. Rather, the detective’s opinion was based on his
understanding of a phenomenon which the State in this case has not shown to
be scientifically reliable. In sum, his testimony did not qualify as
skilled witness testimony under Indiana Evidence Rule 701.
V.
Admission of Photographs
Kubsch next contends the trial court erroneously admitted several
photographs into evidence. However, other than complaining about the
number of times the photographs were displayed to the jury, and generally
asserting, “[t]he autopsy photographs were prejudicial,” Br. of Appellant
at 90, Kubsch does not tell us whether he objected to the admission of the
photographs, the grounds for the objection, or whether he is complaining
solely about autopsy photographs or other photographs. Our independent
examination of the record shows that of the twenty-three photographs
apparently at issue, some of which depicted the crime scene and others of
which depicted the autopsy examinations, fifteen were admitted into
evidence with no objection from Kubsch. See R. at 3364, 3366, 3375, 3752,
3997, 3998, 3999. Failure to object at trial to the admission of evidence
results in waiver of that issue on appeal. Woods v. State, 677 N.E.2d 499,
504 (Ind. 1997). For the remaining eight photographs, Kubsch objected to
two of them - which depicted the crime scene - on grounds that they were
cumulative. See R. at 3370, 3752. The admission of cumulative evidence
does not itself warrant a new trial. Duncan v. State, 735 N.E.2d 211, 213
(Ind. 2000). Rather, the appellant must show that unfair prejudice flowing
from the evidence outweighs its probative value. Id. Here, Kubsch has
made no such showing.
The six photographs left are autopsy photographs of Beth and Aaron.
Kubsch objected to their admission into evidence on grounds that they were
gruesome, cumulative, and served only to prejudice the jury. See R. at
3990, 3996, 4020, 4015, 4018. Photographs depicting the victim’s injuries
or demonstrating a witness’ testimony are generally relevant therefore
admissible and will not be rejected merely because they are gruesome or
cumulative. Wright v. State, 730 N.E.2d 713, 720 (Ind. 2000); Harrison v.
State, 699 N.E.2d 645, 647 (Ind. 1998). The photographs at issue establish
the cause of death and the manner in which the crime was committed. They
also show wounds to the victims at different angles. Although gruesome,
these photographs were not needlessly cumulative and were not introduced
solely for the purpose of inflaming the jurors’ emotions. This Court
reviews the trial court’s decision to admit photographic evidence for an
abuse of discretion. Cutter v. State, 725 N.E.2d 401, 406 (Ind. 2000). We
find no abuse here.
VI.
Opportunity to Present a Defense
Contending that the time of death of all three victims was critical to
his defense, Kubsch complains that the State never established the time of
death and that the trial court “barred” him from “presenting evidence that
the time of death could have been proven within a definite period.” Br. of
Appellant at 35. According to Kubsch, the trial court’s action denied him
a meaningful opportunity to present a defense. To support his claim,
Kubsch directs our attention to the testimony of Dr. Robert Tomec, the
pathologist who conducted the autopsies, and the testimony of Officer
Thomas Mammon, a crime scene investigator.
“Whether rooted directly in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment or in the Compulsory Process or Confrontation clauses of the
Sixth Amendment, the Constitution guarantees criminal defendants ‘a
meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.’” Crane v. Kentucky,
476 U.S. 683, 690 (1986) (citations omitted) (quotation omitted). As the
Supreme Court has also observed:
The right to offer the testimony of witnesses, and to compel their
attendance, if necessary, is in plain terms the right to present a
defense, the right to present the defendant’s version of the facts as
well as the prosecution’s to the jury so it may decide where the truth
lies. Just as an accused has the right to confront the prosecution’s
witnesses for the purpose of challenging their testimony, he has the
right to present his own witnesses to establish a defense. This right
is a fundamental element of due process of law.
Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 19 (1967).
A. Examination of the pathologist
During cross-examination, the pathologist affirmed that he did not
attempt to establish a time of death for the victims. The following
exchange then occurred:
Q. [Defense Counsel] What would be the things that you would look
at to determine time of death?
A. [Pathologist] There are a number of factors that can be examined
to try to determine a range cause of death – I’m sorry, a time of
death, and those include lividity and rigidity that we already
discussed as well as other factors like the temperature of the body.
* * *
Q. [Defense Counsel] Did you at all make an attempt to look at or
determine time of death?
A. [Pathologist] I recorded certain findings of rigor and lividity,
but other than that, I do not try to determine - - a time of death at
the time of the autopsy.
Q. [Defense Counsel] If you yourself were not present at the scene,
what information would be useful to you to determine time of death?
R. at 4038. At that point the State objected. After a side-bar conference
the trial court sustained the objection on grounds of materiality.
Specifically, the trial court declared:
I mean you’re asking him to answer a question [in] an ideal world, if
he had had this, and this, could he have made a determination. And
probably he could tell you what he could know if he had temperature,
if he had opacity of eyes … In an ideal world could he have
determined, yes, but so? No, there’s nothing in this evidence that we
can go on, you know, there’s nothing. It’s a non-question. It’s
immaterial. Okay?
R. at 4041.
Relevant evidence is, “evidence having any tendency to make the
existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the
action more probable or less probable than it would be without the
evidence.” Evid. R. 401. The two components of relevant evidence are
materiality and probative value. “If the evidence is offered to help prove
a proposition that is not a matter in issue, the evidence is immaterial.”
1 McCormick on Evidence § 185, at 637 (John W. Strong ed., 5th ed. 1999).
In the form posed by the defense, the question to the pathologist did
not appear to be probative of anything at all. The pathologist had already
testified that he had not made a time of death determination. In fact
during further cross-examination, the pathologist was even more explicit:
“I was not at the scene. That’s correct. And I do not - - have never gone
to the scene of a homicide so that I’m not in the practice of doing that
type of work [taking measurements needed to determine time of death].” R.
at 4041-42. Only in the context of the argument Kubsch now makes on
appeal, is it plausible that the contested testimony of the pathologist may
have been both relevant and material. In this appeal, Kubsch essentially
advances the argument that he wanted to demonstrate that the police were
deficient in gathering the necessary “time of death” evidence from the
crime scene. If the police had done so, the argument continues, then they
could have provided that information to the pathologist. In turn, it was
necessary to examine the pathologist on exactly what type of evidence could
have been gathered and thus may have assisted the pathologist in making a
time of death determination. However Kubsch made no such argument before
the trial court. Rather, he merely commented, “[w]ell, time of death is an
important question, Judge.” R. at 4040. Because the question is
important, does not necessarily mean that it is relevant or material.
In any event, limiting the cross-examination of the pathologist was
not a ban on Kubsch “presenting evidence that the time of death could have
been proven within a definite period.” Br. of Appellant at 35.[8] Trial
judges retain wide latitude to impose reasonable limits on the cross-
examination of witnesses based on concerns about, among others things,
interrogation that is only marginally relevant. Smith v. State, 721 N.E.2d
213, 219 (Ind. 1999). As we have indicated, the question asked of the
pathologist was not just marginally relevant. As posed, it did not appear
to be relevant at all. Lacking relevance, the question thus lacked
materiality. The trial court’s ruling on this issue was correct.
B. Examination of the crime scene investigator
During the direct examination of Thomas Mammon, a crime scene
investigator, the State established that when the officer arrived at the
scene at about 6:00 p.m. on September 18, 1998, he and other officers were
“waiting on a search warrant for the home.” R. at 3586. A warrant arrived
around 9:00 p.m. at which time Mammon and the other officers began
processing the scene. Defense counsel followed-up on this testimony during
cross-examination. At one point counsel asked the officer, “you’re aware
that you could have gotten the consent from a homeowner to search the
house?” R. at 3600. The State objected and after a side-bar conference
the trial court sustained the objection and admonished the jury as follows:
[A]s stated, the question would call for a conclusion from this
witness that would be simply conjecture, that if a homeowner were
present and if he were asked, that he might have consented to such a
search.
There’s nothing in this evidence to suggest that this witness knew
that the homeowner was there. He said he didn’t. And even if he did,
there is no evidence thus far to suggest that he was asked or that he
would have consented or would not have consented if he were asked.
And therefore to ask this witness that question is an improper
question. It calls for speculation.
R. at 3604. On appeal Kubsch does not contest the underlying bases for the
trial court’s ruling. Rather, contending that the response from the
officer was an important component of the defense’s time of death claim,
Kubsch insists that by sustaining the State’s objection the trial court
denied him the right to present a meaningful defense. To demonstrate the
significance of Officer Mammon’s testimony on this issue, Kubsch
essentially makes the following argument. At the time police officers
first arrived at the crime scene relevant evidence existed that could have
assisted the pathologist in determining the time of death. The argument
continues that because the officers waited for a search warrant, rather
than taking steps immediately to obtain a consent to search, valuable
information was lost. See generally Br. of Appellant at 37-40.
Regardless of Kubsch’s theory of defense, evidence to support the
theory must comply with applicable evidentiary rules. An answer to a
question of a witness that calls for speculation and conjecture is not
admissible. Because it is axiomatic that a ruling or a verdict should not
be based upon “evidence which is conjectural,” Lindsey v. State, 485 N.E.2d
102, 106 (Ind. 1985), “[t]o require a witness to answer hypothetical
questions based upon facts not established would invite speculation.” Id.
at 106-07. As such, an objection to such a question would be properly
sustained. See id. at 107. The trial court correctly ruled that “as
posed” Kubsch’s question to the officer was improper. Contrary to Kubsch’s
claim on appeal, he was not denied the right to advance his theory of
defense. Rather, he simply could not ask an improper question in doing so.
We find no error here.
Conclusion
The admission into evidence of portions of a videotape showing Kubsch
invoking his constitutional right to remain silent violated the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as articulated in Doyle v. Ohio, 426
U.S. 610 (1976). Because the error in admitting the unredacted videotape
was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, we are constrained to reverse
the judgment of the trial court and remand this cause for a new trial.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, SULLIVAN and BOEHM, JJ., concur.
-----------------------
[1] For his involvement in these crimes, Hardy was charged with
assisting a criminal and conspiracy to commit murder. R. at 4142, 4155.
[2] Specifically, Kubsch frames the issues as follows:
(1) whether admission of Kubsch’s entire videotaped interrogation
violated the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions; (2) whether search of
Kubsch’s car violated the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions; (3) whether
Kubsch’s interrogation was custodial and, if so, whether police
scrupulously honored his Miranda invocation; (4) whether bans on
defense evidence, argument and instruction require reversal; (5)
whether admission of victim’s hearsay statements violated evidence
rules and Confrontation Clauses; (6) whether reversal is required
because the court failed to inquire into potential conflicts, deprived
Kubsch of his right to presence and counsel, and failed to disqualify
the prosecutor; (7) whether expert testimony was erroneously admitted;
(8) whether exclusion for cause of a prospective juror based solely on
religion was unconstitutional; (9) whether reversal is mandated
because the prosecutor argued evidence not admitted at trial and used
silence as evidence of guilt; (10) whether judicial statements
deprived Kubsch of a fair trial; (11) whether the accomplice liability
instruction was erroneous; (12) whether the jury was organized to
return a verdict of death; (13) whether the court erroneously admitted
photographs; (14) whether the Court should enforce Lowrimore v. State,
(15) whether reversal is mandated because the court failed to consider
or submit to jurors Kubsch’s good prison adjustment; (16) whether the
penalty verdict forms were erroneous; (17) whether the court violated
Apprendi v. N.J., (18) whether remand is mandated because the
sentencing order is insufficient.
Br. of Appellant at 1-2.
[3] See discussion infra Section II.A.
[4] For example, Kubsch vigorously cross-examined the State’s witness
who testified that Kubsch’s cellular phone records placed him near his
house when he claimed to be in Michigan picking up his son. R. at 4335-52,
4358-61. Nail scrapings were taken from each victim, and the DNA recovered
was compared to Kubsch’s DNA. The DNA from the victims’ nail scrapings did
not match Kubsch’s DNA. R. at 3860. Furthermore, no fingerprints were
recovered from the knife or duct tape. As for the duct tape packaging
found in his vehicle, Kubsch contended that he often kept duct tape in his
vehicle for use at his rental properties. Kubsch also gave an explanation
why the September 18th bank receipt with Beth’s fingerprints on it was
found in his vehicle. R. at 5301-02. As for Penn’s trial testimony about
the conversation she overheard at the Mishawaka restaurant, Penn’s
boyfriend also testified at trial and disavowed her story. R. at 5111-18.
Furthermore, Penn received a $1,000 reward from Crimestoppers for providing
this information to the police. R. at 4426.
[5] The Indiana Constitution provides greater protection than
provided by federal law. See, e.g., United States v. Saadeh, 61 F.3d 510,
517 (7th Cir. 1995); United States v. Smith, 3 F.3d 1088, 1098 (7th Cir.
1993) (declaring that a consent to search is not a self-incriminating
statement, and therefore a request to search does not amount to
interrogation).
[6] Kubsch also contests the hearsay testimony of State’s witness
James Filbert. The record shows that during his presentation of the
evidence, Kubsch introduced testimony through Stanley Feathers implying
that Kubsch neither possessed nor had access to a handgun. See R. at 5164-
65. On rebuttal, the State called Filbert, a long time acquaintance of
Beth Kubsch. Over Kubsch’s objection Filbert testified Kubsch “had a gun
in the house” which he kept “in a closet in a box . . . [in] the bedroom.”
R. at 5228. Otherwise inadmissible evidence may become admissible where the
defendant “opens the door” to questioning on that evidence. Gilliam v.
State, 383 N.E.2d 297, 301 (Ind. 1978). Contrary to Kubsch’s claim, the
trial court properly admitted the testimony because Kubsch opened the door.
[7] The record shows that just before the State began to question
Detective Richmond on the significance of the duct tape, the trial court
admonished the jury in part as follows:
[N]ow - - - pardon me for interrupting. This witness is testifying
and has given certain answers about his training in certain fields.
When a witness does that, sometimes they are called a, quote, expert,
meaning they have certain training that most people may not have.
In such a case, a witness may be allowed to give that witness’ opinion
on the significance of some physical thing that the witness observed
or is aware of . . . You have to make your decisions about the
evidence and what it signifies. But experts are allowed to give you
their opinion and why they say it and what it’s based on as an assist
to you if you find it of assistance. That ultimately is up to you.
R. at 3784-85
[8] In fact the record shows that on redirect examination by the
State, the pathologist testified, “in a general sense … only a range of
time of death can be determined not an exact time of death.” R. at 4047.
In addition, the pathologist agreed with the question posed by the State,
“[t]here is no method known to man presently that you can determine the
exact time of a person’s death; is that correct.” R. at 4047.