ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael E. Caudill Steve Carter
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Yvonne M. Carter
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
In The
INDIANA SUPREME COURT
)
PETER CARTER, )
Defendant-Appellant, )
)
v. ) 49S00-0008-CR-507
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
Plaintiff-Appellee. )
)
________________________________________________
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Gary L. Miller, Judge
Cause No. 49G05-9904-CF-056997
________________________________________________
On Direct Appeal
April 22, 2002
DICKSON, Justice
The defendant, Peter Carter, was convicted of murder,[1] burglary as a
class A felony,[2] two counts of criminal confinement as class B
felonies,[3] and battery as a class C felony.[4] On appeal the defendant
claims insufficient evidence to support his convictions, erroneous
admission of evidence regarding a bite mark, erroneous admission of hearsay
evidence, and erroneous jury instruction. We affirm the defendant's
convictions.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
The defendant claims the evidence was insufficient to support his
convictions, arguing the evidence only shows his presence at the scene of
the crimes. In addressing a claim of insufficient evidence, an appellate
court must consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences
supporting the judgment, without weighing evidence or assessing witness
credibility, and determine therefrom whether a reasonable trier of fact
could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Marcum v.
State, 725 N.E.2d 852, 863 (Ind. 2000).
The evidence discloses that Delwin Williams was at Christopher Moss's
apartment with the defendant and Russell Lewis. Lewis began to hit
Williams in the face with a pistol while asking him about a previous
burglary. After telling Williams to cleanup, the trio made Williams lead
them to his alleged co-burglar, Marvin Maxwell (also known as "Cain").
This procession consisted of Lewis, holding a gun on Williams, on one side
and Moss on the other with the defendant directly behind Williams. Upon
finding the apartment where Cain was, the three men forced their way inside
and beat him. Three witnesses variously testified that they saw the
defendant strike Cain multiple times with his fist, a bottle, a handgun,
and a bike. The three men then dragged Cain back to Moss's apartment where
he was shot in the head. And at some point during the beating, the
defendant bit Cain on the shoulder leaving an impression.
The evidence was sufficient to show that the defendant was a
participant in the beating and confinement of Williams; the burglary of the
first apartment; and the beating, confinement, and killing of Cain.
Bite Mark Evidence
The defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing bite
mark evidence from a forensic odontologist to be admitted into evidence.
Dr. Edwin Parks testified that the bite mark on the victim was more likely
than not caused by the defendant. The defendant claims a proper foundation
of this evidence's reliability was not laid pursuant to Indiana Evidence
Rule 702.[5] "In determining reliability . . . there is no specific 'test'
or set of 'prongs' which must be considered in order to satisfy Indiana
Evidence Rule 702(b)." McGrew v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1289, 1292 (Ind. 1997).
It is well established that the trial court's determination regarding the
admissibility of expert testimony under Rule 702 is a matter within its
broad discretion, and will be reversed only for abuse of that discretion.
Sears Roebuck & Co. v. Manuilov, 742 N.E.2d 453, 459 (Ind. 2001); Cook v.
State, 734 N.E.2d 563, 570 (Ind. 2000); McGrew, 682 N.E.2d at 1292.
In 1977 this Court could find "no reason why [bite mark] evidence
should be rejected as unreliable . . . ." Niehaus v. State, 265 Ind. 655,
661, 359 N.E.2d 513, 516 (1977). The analysis of bite mark evidence was a
relatively new procedure in 1977, id., and the defendant does not argue
that it has become less reliable. He argues instead that Niehaus is not
controlling because it preceded Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509
U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993), in which the United
States Supreme Court construed Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Niehaus also preceded our adoption of the Indiana Rules of Procedure,
including Ind.Evid. Rule 702(a) and (b), which differs from Fed. R. Evid.
702, but coincidentally announced an analytical framework for Indiana
procedure akin to the federal analysis declared shortly thereafter in
Daubert. We noted in McGrew that:
[F]ederal case law interpreting the Federal Rules of Evidence is not
binding upon the determination of state evidentiary law. . . .
Contrary to the arguments made by the defendant, when analyzing
Indiana Evidence Rule 702(b)—the adoption of which preceded Daubert—we
find Daubert helpful, but not controlling.
Id. at 1290; see also Steward v. State, 652 N.E.2d 490, 498 (Ind. 1995).
The defendant also urges that Steward and McGrew were both decided
before Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 576 U.S. 137, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143
L.Ed.2d 238 (1999), and that Kuhmo Tire applied Daubert to all types of
expert testimony. He argues that state standards cannot drop below the
minimum standards set by the federal Constitution. We reject this argument
because Kuhmo Tire represented only an interpretation of federal evidence
law, specifically the construction and application of Rule 702 of the
Federal Rules of Evidence. The United States Supreme Court did not hold
that Rule 702 was a requirement of the Federal Constitution. Rule 702 of
the Federal Rules of Evidence is not a minimum constitutional requirement
applicable to the states. We acknowledge that the United States Supreme
Court unanimously held in Kumho Tire that a federal trial judge's gate
keeping obligation under Daubert applies not only to scientific evidence
but also to technical and other specialized knowledge. The issue before
us, however, is not whether to modify Indiana's procedural jurisprudence or
to replace the language of our Evidence Rule 702 with the different
language of its federal counterpart to embrace the rationale of the United
States Supreme Court in Kumho Tire. The defendant does not seek such
relief here, arguing instead without elaboration that Kumho Tire is binding
on Indiana state court practice. It is not.
We found no error in McGrew, which involved hair comparison analysis,
and noted:
Inherent in any reliability analysis is the understanding that, as the
scientific principles become more advanced and complex, the foundation
required to establish reliability will necessarily become more
advanced and complex as well. The converse is just as applicable . .
. .
Id. at 1292. Like McGrew, which involved hair comparison analysis, the
bite mark method of identification in Niehaus "[was] simply a matter of
comparison of items of physical evidence to determine if they are
reciprocal." Niehaus, 265 Ind. at 661, 359 N.E.2d at 516; cf. Jervis v.
State, 679 N.E.2d 875, 881 (Ind. 1997)(observations of a witness with
specialized knowledge, and the physical evidence related to it, are not
"scientific principles" governed by Ind. Evid. Rule 702(b)).
We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding
the bite mark evidence to be sufficiently reliable to allow its admission.
The defendant also argues that the probative value of the bite mark
evidence was outweighed by its danger of unfair prejudicial effect under
Indiana Rule of Evidence 403. The evidence of the bite mark was highly
probative to rebut the defendant's contention that he was not a participant
in the beating or murder of the victim but was merely present. While the
evidence is prejudicial toward the defendant in that it supports a finding
that he was an active participant, the evidence does not present a danger
of unfair prejudice. As we noted in Richmond v. State, 685 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.
1997), "all relevant evidence is 'inherently prejudicial' in a criminal
prosecution, so the inquiry boils down to a balance of probative value
against the likely unfair prejudicial impact the evidence may have on the
jury." Id. at 55-56. When determining likely unfair prejudicial impact,
"courts will look for the dangers that the jury will substantially
overestimate the value of the evidence or that the evidence will arouse or
inflame the passions or sympathies of the jury." Evans v. State, 643
N.E.2d 877, 880 (Ind. 1994). The defendant seems to claim that the jury
substantially overestimated the value of the bite mark evidence basing its
finding of guilt on the bite mark evidence alone. As seen by our
discussion above of the sufficiency of the evidence, the risk that the jury
overly relied on the bite mark evidence is miniscule. Such matters are
within the sound discretion of the trial court. The trial court clearly
did not err in finding the bite mark evidence admissible.
Hearsay
The defendant also contends the trial court erroneously admitted
hearsay over the defendant's objection. Challenging the admission of
testimony that one of his "companions was asking where is Cain," the
defendant argues that this "was being used to assert that [the defendant]
and others were looking for Cain . . . and wanted revenge for . . .
[Cain's] break-in at an apartment belonging to a relative of one of his
companions." Br. of Appellant at 16-17. The State responds that the
statement was "merely offered to show that the question was asked and to
show the witness's response to the question." Br. of Appellee at 7. The
following colloquy is the subject of the defendant's challenge:
[Prosecutor]: Now, are you asked anything specific about Cain . . .
?
[Witness]: Where was he, have I seen him.
[Prosecutor]: Okay, and had you actually seen Cain that day?
[Witness]: I had seen him earlier.
Record at 453.
Although uttered as a question, the grammatical form of the utterance
does not govern whether it fits the definition of hearsay. Powell v.
State, 714 N.E.2d 624, 627-28 (Ind. 1999). "An utterance that is in the
form of a question can in substance contain an assertion of a fact." Id.
"If a report of a question or command in effect transmits the questioner's
claimed observations, the need for cross-examination is as great as if the
witness reported a direct statement." Id. Hearsay is defined by Ind.Evid.
R. 801(c) as "a statement other than one made by the declarant while
testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth
of the matter asserted."
The declarant's response contained no assertion of fact offered to
prove the truth of the matter asserted. There were no claimed observations
or other facts asserted. The statement does not meet the definition of
hearsay. It was not error for the trial court to admit the testimony.
Jury Instruction
The defendant contends that the trial court erred in instructing the
jury regarding accomplice liability. Instructing the jury lies within the
sole discretion of the trial court, and considering the instructions as a
whole and in reference to each other, we will not reverse for an abuse of
that discretion unless the instructions as a whole mislead the jury as to
the law in the case. Edgecomb v. State, 673 N.E.2d 1185, 1196 (Ind. 1996).
The defendant objects to final instruction 15C:
A person is responsible for the actions of another person, when,
either before or during the commission of a crime, he knowingly aids,
induces, or causes the other person to commit a crime. To aid is to
knowingly support, help, or assist in the commission of a crime.
In order to be held responsible for the actions of another, he
need only have knowledge that he is helping in the commission of a
crime. He does not have to personally participate in the crime nor
does he have to be present when the crime is committed.
Proof of the defendant's failure to oppose the commission of a
crime, companionship with the person committing the offense, and
conduct before and after the offense may be considered in determining
whether aiding may be inferred.
Record at 182. Even though this instruction states that the defendant must
have "knowledge that he is helping in the commission of a crime," the
defendant contends that this instruction "improperly focus[ed] the jury's
attention upon [the defendant's] perceived acquiescence to the crimes being
committed by others." Br. for Appellant at 23. The jury must be
instructed that accomplice liability requires proof that the defendant
engaged in voluntary conduct in concert with his accomplice. Small v.
State, 531 N.E.2d 498, 499 (Ind. 1988). Final Instruction 15D made this
explicit:
The mere presence of a Defendant where a crime is being
committed, even coupled with knowledge by the Defendant that a crime
is being committed, or the mere acquiescence by a Defendant in the
criminal conduct of others, even with guilty knowledge, is not
sufficient to establish aiding, inducing, or causing a crime.
You must not convict the Defendant of aiding, inducing, or
causing an offense unless you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
Defendant knowingly or intentionally participated in some conduct of
an affirmative nature.
Record at 183. These two instructions were a correct statement of law and
did not mislead the jury. The trial court did not err in the instructions
it gave to the jury.
The defendant's convictions are affirmed.
SHEPARD, C.J., and SULLIVAN, BOEHM, and RUCKER, JJ., concur.
-----------------------
[1] Ind.Code § 35-42-1-1.
[2] Ind.Code § 35-43-2-1.
[3] Ind.Code § 35-42-3-3.
[4] Ind.Code § 35-42-2-1.
[5] Ind.Evidence Rule 702. Testimony by Experts:
(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.