Wendell E. Mardis v. State of Indiana ( 2012 )

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
WILLIAM S. FRANKEL, IV GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Wilkinson Goeller Modesitt Attorney General of Indiana
Wilkinson & Drummy, LLP
Terre Haute, Indiana GEORGE P. SHERMAN
Deputy Attorney General
FILED
Indianapolis, Indiana
May 17 2012, 9:38 am
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA CLERK
of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
WENDELL E. MARDIS, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 84A04-1109-CR-481
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE VIGO SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable David R. Bolk, Judge
Cause No. 84D03-1004-MR-1330
May 17, 2012
MEMORANDUM DECISION – NOT FOR PUBLICATION
RILEY, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant-Defendant, Wendell Mardis (Mardis), appeals his conviction for
voluntary manslaughter, a Class A felony, Ind. Code § 35-42-1-3(a)(1).
We affirm.
ISSUES
Mardis raises four issues on appeal, three of which we find dispositive and restate
as follows:
(1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by admitting autopsy photos of
the victim;
(2) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying Mardis’ motion for a
mistrial; and
(3) Whether Mardis’ sentence is appropriate in light of the nature of the offense
and his character.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In the early morning hours of April 11, 2010, Robert Rollins (Rollins) went out
with friends to the American Legion Post 340 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Tyrone Haywood
(Haywood) and Mardis, both of whom were related to Rollins, were at the American
Legion Post that night. Rollins talked to Haywood and found him to be in a good mood
and not intoxicated. Rollins also observed Mardis mingling about and dancing. As
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Haywood was leaving to get something to eat, he went over to tell Rollins. Rollins was
shaking hands with Haywood when Mardis forced himself between the two men.
Mardis then sat down next to Rollins and put his arm around him. Rollins got up
to leave. An argument ensued between Mardis and Haywood and they began fighting.
After an initial scuffle that left both men standing, though still facing each other, Mardis
backed a few feet away from Haywood. Mardis pulled a gun from his back pocket.
Haywood raised his hands up and asked if Mardis was going to shoot him. Mardis shot
Haywood in the abdomen. Haywood, still standing but bent over, was shot again by
Mardis and fell to the ground. Onlookers tried to help Haywood. Mardis told them not to
touch Haywood, but to “let the m***** f***** die.” (Transcript p. 514). Mardis headed
toward a store room and waited there until the police arrived.
The police arrived, confiscated Mardis’ gun, and arrested him. Mardis was taken
to the police station where he was questioned. Mardis told the interviewing officer that
Haywood hit him. Mardis described the surgeries to his back and said that he could not
fight Haywood. After Haywood hit him in the mouth, Mardis said that he reacted in
shock and shot Haywood.
On April 15, 2010, the State filed an Information against Mardis charging him
with murder, a Class A felony, I.C. § 35-42-1-1(1). From July 11 to July 15, 2011, a jury
trial was held. Prior to trial, Mardis admitted to killing Haywood but alleged that he did
so in self-defense. During trial, the State sought to introduce six photos of Haywood’s
autopsy. Mardis’ counsel objected on the grounds of unfair prejudice and lack of
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helpfulness to the jury to determine whether Mardis acted in self-defense. The trial court
admitted three out of the six autopsy photographs, ruling that the probative value of the
selected photographs outweighed their prejudicial value. Also during trial, a number of
jurors encountered disturbances involving spectators outside the court house. The trial
court interviewed each juror and found that the jurors would be able to render an
impartial verdict. Mardis nevertheless objected and moved for a mistrial which the trial
court denied.
On July 15, 2011, the jury found Mardis guilty of the lesser included offense of
voluntary manslaughter, a Class A felony, I.C. § 35-42-1-3. On August 10, 2011, the
trial court held a sentencing hearing. After hearing argument, the trial court sentenced
Mardis to thirty years at the Department of Correction.
Mardis now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Autopsy Photographs
Mardis first argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted
Haywood’s autopsy photographs at trial. The admission and exclusion of photographic
evidence falls within the trial court’s sound discretion and we review the admission of
said evidence for an abuse of discretion. Alsheik v. Guerrero, 956 N.E.2d 1115, 1128
(Ind. Ct. App. 2011), reh’g denied. Relevant photographic evidence is admissible unless
its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Id.Gory and revolting photographs may be admissible as long as they are relevant to some
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material issue or show scenes that a witness could describe orally. Id. Photographs, even
those gruesome in nature, are admissible if they act as interpretative aids for the jury and
have strong probative value. Id. The potential that passions may be aroused by the
gruesomeness of the photograph is not sufficient grounds for exclusion if the photograph
is material and relevant. Id.Further, autopsy photos often present a unique problem because the pathologist
has manipulated the corpse in some way during the autopsy. Therefore, autopsy
photographs are generally inadmissible if they show the body in an altered condition. Id.This is so because the photographs may impute to the accused the handiwork of the
pathologist and thereby render the defendant responsible in the minds of the jurors for the
cuts, incisions, and indignity of an autopsy. Custis v. State, 793 N.E.2d 1220, 1225 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied. However, there are situations where some alteration of the
body is necessary to demonstrate witness testimony. See id.The three photographs at issue consist of two autopsy photographs depicting
Haywood’s body on the examination table with a metal dowel rod inserted in the body
and one photograph of Haywood’s heart held outside of the body with a metal dowel rod
inserted. Mardis contends that these photographs were irrelevant to establish the cause of
death and to dispute his theory of self-defense, that the photographs were unhelpful to
assist the jury to understand Haywood’s stance during the shooting, and should also have
been excluded because their probative value was outweighed by unfair prejudice. The
State argues that photographs were relevant to challenge Mardis’ claim of self-defense by
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demonstrating the trajectory of bullets fired by Mardis. This fact would corroborate
witness testimony that Haywood bent over clutching his stomach after the first shot rather
than assuming an aggressive stance and moving toward Mardis.
Mardis first argues that since he did not contest the cause of Haywood’s death, the
photographs were irrelevant. However, Mardis raised the affirmative defense of self-
defense to the State’s charge of murder. As a result, the State had to disprove beyond a
reasonable doubt one of the elements of self-defense. See I.C. § 35-41-3-2(a); Carroll v.
State, 744 N.E.2d 432, 433 (Ind. 2001). We note that “some exhibits are inadmissible
because of their prejudicial nature or lack of relevance, but an adversary’s offer to
stipulate does not bear on admissibility.” Perigo v. State, 541 N.E.2d 936, 940 (Ind.
1989). By stipulating that he caused the injuries, Mardis is simply attempting to thwart
the State’s ability to contest his claim of self-defense. We therefore find this argument to
be unpersuasive.
Further, we agree with the State that the photographs were relevant and assisted
the jury. The coroner used the photographs to describe Haywood’s autopsy, including its
procedures and the results. More importantly, the coroner testified that the photographs
depicted the trajectory of the shots to Haywood’s abdomen and heart. The photographs
depicting the abdomen were relevant to show that Haywood was shot at an angle that
suggested he was leaning back rather than forward at the time of the shooting. This
stance would be probative of whether Haywood was the aggressor at the time of the first
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shot and was therefore relevant to dispute Mardis’ theory of self-defense. The same may
be said for the photograph of the heart with a dowel rod inserted.
Finally, the probative value of these photographs was not substantially outweighed
by any unfair prejudice. The graphic and gruesome character of the photographs is plain
to see. However, the photographs were not unfairly prejudicial simply because they
depicted the autopsy. The coroner testified in depth about the autopsy, how it was
performed, and that he inserted the rods to show the trajectory of the bullet.
Consequently, we find little risk that the jury imputed responsibility to Mardis for the
coroner’s alteration of Haywood’s body. Moreover, the jury was not so overcome with
passion that it unintelligently convicted Mardis. The jury found Mardis not guilty of
murder, but rather voluntary manslaughter, thereby demonstrating “that it carefully
applied the evidence to each count and objectively determined whether the State had
proven each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.” Stewart v. State, 945 N.E.2d 1277,
1290-191 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
We find therefore find that the autopsy photographs were relevant and their
probative value outweighed any potential prejudice to Mardis. Accordingly, the trial
court did not abuse its discretion by admitting these photographs into evidence at Mardis’
trial.
II. Mistrial
Mardis also appeals the denial of his motion for mistrial. We review the trial
court’s denial of a motion for mistrial for an abuse of discretion. Caruthers v. State, 926
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N.E.2d 1016, 1020 (Ind. 2010). The grant of a motion for mistrial is an extreme remedy
to be used when no other action may remedy the situation. Id. To prevail on appeal, the
defendant must show that he was placed in a position of grave peril to which he should
not have been subjected. Id. We measure the extent of grave peril by examining the
“probable persuasive effect” of the conduct on the jury. Id.In Caruthers, our supreme court reviewed trial court procedures to assess the
potential of prejudice resulting from “extrajudicial comments made to a juror.” Id. at
1021. Where the risk of prejudice is minimal, the trial court can proceed without further
inquiry; however, a finding of substantial risk requires the trial court to collectively
interrogate the jury to determine exposure to extrajudicial comments and interrogate the
exposed jurors individually. Id. While an appropriate response includes collectively
admonishing the jury, the trial court retains discretion to take those measures it finds to
be necessary and appropriate. See id.In response to spectator actions and comments made towards jurors outside the
court house, the trial court examined each juror in chambers with both counsel present.
One juror was followed part of the way home by an unidentified vehicle and told three
other jurors of the incident. The three jurors confirmed that the juror had told them of the
episode. In addition, the three jurors had observed court spectators obstructing jurors’
cars as they left the parking lot, shouting that Mardis was a murderer and holding up
Haywood’s wedding photograph outside of the court house. The trial court asked these
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four jurors whether they could remain impartial in light of the occurrences. Each replied
that they could.
Following questioning of the four jurors, the trial court went on the record and
citing Caruthers, announced that it would question the remaining jurors. Rather than
address the jury as a whole, the trial court stated that it would continue to question the
jurors individually in front of counsel. The remaining jurors mentioned that the jurors
discussed the parking lot occurrences, spectator shouting, and the wedding photograph
amongst themselves, but each affirmed that no one had directly communicated with them
about the case. Further, most affirmed that they did not directly witness spectator
comments or the wedding photograph. The remaining jurors were not explicitly asked if
they could remain impartial. In denying Mardis’ motion for a mistrial, the trial court
stated:
I mean, having had an opportunity to make inquiry of all the jurors and, and
not only, I think have their responses demonstrated that they believe they
can make a decision based upon, solely upon the evidence in the courtroom,
that they will not be influenced by any comments that they have heard
outside the courtroom, and not only having heard them but having seen
them, I think while they’ve answered these questions they remarkably all
strike me as very dedicated to the task at ha[n]d; they take their
responsibilities very seriously, and have not, have given no indication that
they’ve been influenced in any fashion by the events that occurred either
Tuesday or Wednesday, and any discussion – the discussion that was had
with respect to the Tuesday incident seemed to be limited to what was
heard and perhaps some security concerns that they had in terms of getting
to their car the next night. And, and no one gave any indication that they
had been properly or unduly influenced by that comment.
(Tr. pp. 1104-05).
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Mardis argues that efforts by spectators had the effect of intimidating and
influencing the jury such that he was placed in a position of great peril. The State argues
that the isolated comments on Mardis’ guilt or occurrences outside of court do not
constitute grave peril absent a showing of influence on jury through such comments or
actions. As no juror admitted being influenced during individual questioning, the State
concludes that no influence occurred.
We agree with the State. Mardis has not shown that the facts here demonstrate
that he was placed in a position of grave peril. “[J]urors need not be absolutely insulated
from all extraneous influences regarding the case and that such exposure, without a
showing of influence, will not require a new trial.” Caruthers, 926 N.E.2d at 1021.
Simply put, Mardis asks us to infer that because some spectators perpetrated such acts,
juror impartiality must have given way to intimidation. However, no juror reported direct
communication with any spectator. The four jurors stated that none of the events would
impair their ability to remain impartial. The remaining jurors indicated some security
concerns but none admitted any bias toward Mardis. In light of the trial court’s careful
questioning of each juror and their responses, “we cannot infer prejudice where none is
shown” and find no abuse of discretion by the trial court’s denial of Mardis’ the motion
for mistrial. Id. at 1022.
As a final matter, Mardis points to the trial court’s election not to admonish the
jurors to disregard the spectators. We note that Mardis did not request an admonishment.
As such, we find Mardis’ argument waived. Waiver notwithstanding, although
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admonishment is presumed sufficient to cure prejudice, “the failure to admonish does not
per se lead to a finding of abuse of discretion for failure to grant a mistrial.” Tacy v.
State, 452 N.E.2d 977, 982 (Ind. 1983), reh’g denied. In sum, Mardis has not
demonstrated that the comments and actions by spectators placed him in grave peril.
Accordingly, the trial court did not err by denying Mardis’ motion for a mistrial.1
III. Sentencing
Finally, Mardis disputes the appropriateness of his sentence in light of his
character and the nature of the offense. Our review of sentences falling within the
statutory range is for an abuse of the trial court’s discretion. Southward v. State, 957
N.E.2d 975, 979 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Under Indiana Appellate R. 7(B), we may review
the appropriateness of a sentence authorized by statute. Id. Following due consideration
of the trial court’s decision, App. R. 7(B) permits our revision of a sentence for
inappropriateness in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.
Id. It remains, however, the defendant’s burden to persuade us of the inappropriateness
of the sentence. Id.Mardis was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, a Class A felony, which carries
a range of twenty to fifty years and an advisory sentence of thirty years. See I.C. § 35-
1
Mardis also argues that the combined effect of the admission of autopsy photographs and spectator
activity involving jurors, even if harmless, constituted cumulative error requiring reversal. Mardis cites to
our supreme court’s opinion in Hubbell v. State, 754 N.E.2d 884, 895 (Ind. 2001), but otherwise fails to
present an argument on how the combined effect of these alleged errors constitutes cumulative error. We
therefore find his claim waived for lack of argument and in light of our determination that the trial court
did not commit error in either instance. See Morell v. State, 933 N.E.2d 484, 493 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
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50-2-4. The trial court sentenced Mardis to thirty years, the advisory sentence. Mardis
points to the circumstances that gave rise to the offense to argue that his sentence is
inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense. Underlying this matter is the
substantial history of violence between the Haywood and Mardis families - all of which
stems from the testimony of Mardis’ nephew at the trial of Haywood’s stepson more than
eight years ago. Tensions had reached such a point that Mardis, who had not been
involved previously, confided to a friend that the inter-family violence had escalated and
things were out of control. However, this atmosphere of violence does not overcome the
facts of the shooting. Even though Mardis’ back injuries arguably prevented him from
fighting Haywood, Mardis shot an unarmed Haywood twice and prevented onlookers
from administering assistance to Haywood. Accordingly, we cannot say that Mardis’
sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of his offense.
Mardis also cites to his character as a basis to revise his sentence. However, we
do not find his character to be a sufficient basis to revise his sentence. Although the trial
court found Mardis’ deeds for his community and family as well as his remorse for
Haywood’s death to be mitigating factors, it did not ascribe them great weight. Further,
we cannot ignore Mardis’ criminal history, which includes an act of domestic violence
and alcohol-related driving convictions, even though the trial court did not find these
criminal episodes to be significant. We also cannot ignore the fact that despite the long-
standing episodes of inter-family violence, no deaths apparently resulted until Mardis
took Haywood’s life. We therefore decline to disturb his sentence.
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CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
admitting photos of the victim’s autopsy or denying Mardis’ motion for a mistrial. We
further find that Mardis’ sentence is not inappropriate in light of his character and the
nature of the offense.
Affirmed.
NAJAM, J. and DARDEN, J. concur
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