People v. Richardson

SECOND DIVISION
April 20, 2010
No. 1-05-2042
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
) Cook County
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) 01 CR 6428
)
)
)
ANDRE RICHARDSON, ) Honorable
) Diane Cannon,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial, defendant Andre Richardson was convicted of the first
degree murder of his 11-month-old daughter and was sentenced to 40 years’
imprisonment. In People v. Richardson, 376 Ill. App. 3d 537 (2007), we reversed
defendant’s conviction on the basis that the trial court erred in denying his motion
to suppress where the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that
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defendant's eye injury was not inflicted in order to obtain a confession. The State was
granted leave to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. People v. Richardson, 226 Ill.
2d 627 (2008). Before our supreme court, the State argued that defendant’s inculpatory
statement was voluntary and not coerced. The supreme court agreed and reversed this
court’s decision, instructing this court to consider defendant’s remaining contentions.
People v. Richardson, 234 Ill. 2d 233 (2009).
Defendant claims: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) the trial
court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of
involuntary manslaughter; and (3) he was denied a fair trial when autopsy photographs
were published to the jury and sent to the jury room during deliberations. After
considering defendant’s remaining claims, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
FACTS
Defendant was tried for the murder of his 11-month-old daughter Diamond.
Diamond sustained over 61 injuries after being beaten, slapped and bitten by
defendant. A thorough recitation of the facts can be found in Richardson, 234 Ill. 2d
233. We will discuss only those facts relevant to the disposition of defendant’s
remaining claims.
ANALYSIS
Defendant argues he was denied his right to effective assistance of counsel
where counsel failed to offer expert testimony concerning his mental impairment during
the motion to suppress hearing. Defendant contends that if such evidence had been
offered, it would have shown that defendant’s Miranda waiver was invalid and that his
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confession was involuntary.
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must
satisfy the two prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 80 L.
Ed. 2d 674, 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). A defendant must show that (1) trial
counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) he
was prejudiced by the deficient performance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 80 L. Ed. 2d
at 693, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504, 525 (1984).
Under the first prong of the Strickland test, defendant must overcome a "strong
presumption that counsel's conduct falls within a wide range of reasonable professional
assistance; that is, defendant must overcome the presumption that under the
circumstances, the challenged action, 'might be considered sound trial strategy.' "
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 694-95, 104 S. Ct. at 2065, quoting Michel
v. Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101, 100 L. Ed. 83, 94, 76 S. Ct. 158, 164 (1955).
With respect to establishing prejudice,” ‘ “[i]t is not enough for the defendant to
show that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.
Virtually every act or omission of counsel would meet that test. * * * ” [Citation.] Rather,
a defendant is required to show that “there is a reasonable probability that, absent the
errors, the factfinder would have had a reasonable doubt respecting guilt.” ’ ” People v.
Negron, 297 Ill. App. 3d 519, 537 (1998), quoting People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 274
(1985), quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 695, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 697, 698, 104 S. Ct. at
2067, 2069.
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Where the defendant fails to prove prejudice, the reviewing court need not
determine whether counsel's performance constituted less than reasonable assistance.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 699, 104 S. Ct. at 2069; People v. Flores,
153 Ill. 2d 264, 284 (1992). The defendant bears the burden of overcoming a strong
presumption in favor of finding that counsel’s advocacy was effective. Albanese, 104 Ill.
2d at 525.
In this case, defense counsel filed a motion to suppress defendant’s statement
on two grounds. First, his confession was involuntary due to physical and psychological
coercion because he was beaten by the police. The second basis for suppression
alleged that defendant was unable to knowingly and voluntarily waive his Miranda rights.
Evidence was offered as to the first basis for suppression, but defense counsel offered
no evidence to support the claim that defendant was unable to waive his Miranda rights,
despite counsel’s repeated statements to the court that defendant was being evaluated
by an expert to determine his ability to waive such rights.
The record shows that counsel did request numerous continuances prior to the
hearing on the motion to suppress to obtain such an evaluation. However, at the
hearing, counsel made no mention of the evaluation. Defendant would like this court to
assume that: (1) defendant received a favorable evaluation but defense counsel failed
to use it; or (2) defense counsel did not obtain an evaluation.
Contrary to defendant’s suggestion, we cannot make such assumptions.
Whether an evaluation was in fact completed and what the results of that evaluation
might be are matters outside the record in this case. We do recognize that defendant’s
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mental capacity was raised during sentencing. A presentence investigation report
indicated that defendant’s most recent test scores showed that he was at the third grade
reading and math levels and that he was at a second grade spelling level. Furthermore,
in the report finding defendant fit for sentencing, psychologist Neu reported that
intellectual testing on defendant showed him to be in the “upper echelon of mild mental
retardation.” Nevertheless, neither of these evaluations specifically dealt with
defendant’s ability to waive his Miranda rights. Therefore, we cannot say that counsel
was ineffective for failing to offer expert testimony regarding defendant’s mental
impairment during the suppression hearing. A determination as to whether trial counsel
was ineffective as to this issue is a claim that would best be raised in a postconviction
petition. Where information not of record is critical to a defendant's claim, it must be
raised in a collateral proceeding. People v. Durgan, 346 Ill. App. 3d 1121, 1141-429
(2004); People v. Burns, 304 Ill. App. 3d 1, 11-12 (1999) (ineffective assistance of
counsel claims based on matters de hors the record are not proper on direct appeal).
Defendant next contends that the trial court erred when it refused to instruct the
jury on the lesser-included offense of involuntary manslaughter where the evidence
showed that he hit his daughter because she was misbehaving and he had no intention
of actually harming her.
Defendant testified at trial that he hit his daughter because he did not want her to
eat off the floor and because she would not listen to him. At the jury instruction
conference, defense counsel requested an involuntary manslaughter instruction,
arguing that defendant inflicted the injuries on Diamond not knowing that he would do
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great harm to her. The trial court denied the request, finding that there was no evidence
to support such an instruction. After deliberations began, the jury sent a note posing
two questions: (1) “Does the jury have the option of finding him guilty of a lesser
charge?” and (2) “What would be the minimum punishment?” Defense counsel again
requested that the court instruct the jury on the lesser offense of involuntary
manslaughter. The court denied defense counsel’s request. Defense counsel later
moved for a mistrial based on the court’s refusal to tender an involuntary manslaughter
instruction. The trial court denied defendant’s motion for a mistrial, stating that the 61
injuries Diamond sustained did not establish recklessness. The court also noted that
not one scintilla of evidence existed to demonstrate that defendant did anything but beat
Diamond again and again. The jury was instructed that it had the law that applied to the
case and it was to continue deliberating.
Involuntary manslaughter requires a less culpable mental state than first degree
murder. Under section 9-1(a)(2) of the Criminal Code of 1961, a defendant commits
first degree murder when he kills an individual without lawful justification and he knows
that his acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm. 720 ILCS 5/9-
1(a)(2) (West 2004). A defendant commits involuntary manslaughter, however, when
he performs acts that are likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another and he
performs these acts recklessly. 720 ILCS 5/9-3(a) (West 2004). Recklessness is
statutorily defined:
“A person is reckless or acts recklessly, when he consciously disregards a
substantial and unjustifiable risk that circumstances exist or that a result will
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follow, described by the statute defining the offense; and such disregard
constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable
person would exercise in the situation.” 720 ILCS 5/4-6 (West 2004).
Clearly, reckless conduct involves a lesser degree of risk than conduct that creates a
strong probability of death or great bodily harm. See People v. Davis, 35 Ill. 2d 55, 60
(1966).
An instruction on a lesser offense is justified when there is some evidence to
support the giving of the instruction. People v. Jones, 175 Ill. 2d 126, 132 (1997).
Where there is credible evidence to support reducing the crime of first degree murder to
involuntary manslaughter, an instruction should be given. People v. Foster, 119 Ill. 2d
69, 87 (1987). A circuit court’s failure to give the instruction, where the evidence
supports the instruction, is an abuse of discretion. Jones, 175 Ill. 2d at 132.
Defendant claims that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to warrant
instructions on involuntary manslaughter. According to defendant, there was sufficient
evidence to establish that defendant acted recklessly because the evidence showed
that defendant did not intend to kill Diamond and did not know that great bodily harm
would result from his actions. In support, defendant cites People v. Lefler, 38 Ill. 2d
216, 218 (1967), People v. Turner, 193 Ill. App. 3d 152, 153-55 (1990), and People v.
Brown, 83 Ill. App. 2d 411, 414-15 (1967).
In Lefler, the defendant’s infant daughter died with a skull fracture, extensive
brain injury and rib injuries. Lefler, 38 Ill. 2d at 218. The defendant admitted to shaking
and squeezing his daughter to get her to stop crying and could have broken her ribs in
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the process. Defendant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Lefler, 38 Ill. 2d at
222. In Turner, 193 Ill. App. 3d 152, the defendant was charged with the murder of her
two-year-old niece. Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter. The evidence at trial showed that the little girl had extensive injuries,
including facial and head injuries, fractured ribs, a fractured arm, a torn liver and
diaphragm, and numerous scars on her entire body. Turner, 193 Ill. App. 3d at 154-55.
After the defendant appealed, this court found that the evidence was sufficient to convict
defendant of involuntary manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt. Finally, in People v.
Brown, 83 Ill. App. 2d 411 (1967), the defendant was convicted of involuntary
manslaughter after his girlfriend’s three-year-old son died from multiple traumatic
impacts, as evidenced by large bruises over the victim’s body, in addition to other
injuries. Brown, 83 Ill. App. 2d at 414-15. The Brown court found that there was
sufficient circumstantial evidence to convict the defendant of involuntary manslaughter
beyond a reasonable doubt. Brown, 83 Ill. App. 2d at 415.
We find defendant’s reliance on Lefler, Turner and Brown to be misplaced. The
cases cited by defendant are not cases involving the question of whether a jury
instruction on involuntary manslaughter was improperly refused by the trial court.
Rather, Lefler, Turner and Brown are mere instances of the cases in which the evidence
supported a finding of involuntary manslaughter as a lesser offense of murder.
Although not dispositive, certain factors may suggest whether a defendant acted
recklessly and whether an involuntary manslaughter instruction is appropriate. These
factors include the disparity in size and strength between the defendant and the victim,
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the brutality and duration of the beating and severity of the injuries, and whether the
defendant used his bare fists or a weapon. People v. Eason, 326 Ill. App. 3d 197, 209
(2001). In addition, an involuntary manslaughter instruction is generally not warranted
where the nature of the killing, shown by either multiple wounds or the victim's
defenselessness, shows that defendant did not act recklessly. People v. Trotter, 178 Ill.
App. 3d 292, 298 (1988). Whether an involuntary manslaughter instruction is warranted
depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Defendant’s testimony that he did not intend to kill Diamond is insufficient to
warrant an involuntary manslaughter instruction in this case. By defendant’s own
account, he beat his 11-month-old daughter. Defendant hit Diamond’s hand, and the
front and back of her shoulder and bit her on the stomach when she tried to eat cereal
off of the floor. After Diamond finished eating, he pushed on her stomach to see how
far he could push it in. When she vomited, he “karate chopped” Diamond’s ribs and hit
her on the buttocks with a plastic hanger. Still not satisfied, defendant hit Diamond
about eight times with a belt. When Diamond vomited again after he had washed her
and changed her clothes, defendant “was real angry” and “smacked” her in the face.
He then placed Diamond in a corner and told her to face the wall. Diamond would not
stand still so defendant “spanked her on the pamper” about four times. Defendant then
placed Diamond against the wall and ordered her not to move. Diamond “started
getting sleepy” and fell back against the wall and hit her head. After Diamond fainted,
defendant shook her “pretty hard” and she hit her head on the window casement and
windowsill.
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There is not a scintilla of evidence to support a finding that defendant acted
recklessly rather than knowingly and intentionally. Diamond was a defenseless infant
who suffered 61 injuries at the hands of defendant. After reviewing the record in this
case, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in failing to give an
involuntary manslaughter instruction because the evidence did not warrant such an
instruction. Consequently, defendant’s claim fails.
Finally, defendant argues that he was denied a fair trial when 27 gruesome
autopsy photographs were published to the jury via an overhead projector during the
testimony of the medical examiner and then sent to the jury room during deliberations.
A total of 53 photographs post-mortem photographs were shown to the jury. Twenty-six
of these photographs depicted external views of Diamond’s injuries. These
photographs are not at issue here. Defendant’s argument concerns the 27 autopsy
photos that defendant claims merely show Diamond’s internal organs while she was
being autopsied.
Prior to trial, defense counsel objected to the State’s use of any autopsy
photographs that depicted Diamond’s internal injuries. The court responded that the
photographs were relevant to show intent because despite the repeated blows to
Diamond’s body, the external photographs did not show the cause of death. However,
the court reserved ruling on defendant’s motion until Dr. Cogan testified prior to
publication. Defendant renewed his testimony at the start of the medical examiner’s
testimony. The court overruled the objection, stating:
“The doctor said that they were intentionally inflicted wounds, injuries to
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which the objection was sustained. The pictures do speak for themselves.
Over the defense objection, although they are graphic to prove intent, they
will be allowed and the doctor can publish them to the jury over the defense
objection. Again, keeping in mind that the defense is that he did not intend to
kill the victim. And these photographs do point to something other than an
accidental injury or an injury that was anything, meant to cause anything
but death.” .
Photographs of a decedent may be admitted to prove the nature and extent of
injuries and the force needed to inflict them, the position, condition and location of the
body, the manner and cause of death, to corroborate a defendant’s confession, and to
aid in understanding the testimony of a pathologist or other witness. People v. Kitchen,
159 Ill. 2d 1, 34 (1994). While photographs may sometimes be cumulative of the
testimony of a witness, photographs may also aid the jury in understanding the
testimony. People v. Chapman, 194 Ill. 2d 186, 220 (2000). If photographs are
relevant to prove facts at issue, the photographs are admissible unless their nature is so
prejudicial and so likely to inflame the jury that their probative value is outweighed.
Kitchen, 159 Ill. 2d at 35. Even a photograph that is gruesome is admissible if it is
relevant to corroborate oral testimony or to show the condition of the crime scene.
People v. Armstrong, 183 Ill. 2d 130, 147 (1998). The decision to admit photographs
into evidence is a matter left to the sound discretion of the trial judge and will not be
disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Kitchen, 159 Ill. 2d at 34.
Defendant contends that the 27 autopsy photographs, showing Diamond’s
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internal injuries after the medical examiner had cut open her body and removed her
internal organs, were not only confusing and misleading, but had no probative value and
were extremely prejudicial.
Defendant contends that People v. Lefler, 38 Ill. 2d 216 (1967) is instructive. In
Lefler, defendant was tried and convicted of involuntary manslaughter after his infant
son died while in his care. An autopsy was performed on the infant. With respect to the
autopsy, the doctor testified that it revealed numerous hemorrhages along the vertebral
column near the junction of the ribs, fractures of several ribs, as well as a skull fracture
and extensive brain damage. The doctor testified that the rib injuries could have been
caused by a crushing type of injury and that the skull fracture and brain damage could
have been caused by a blunt force. Over the defendant’s objection, the trial court
allowed photographs from the autopsy to be published to the jury and projected on a
screen approximately 44 by 26 in size. One of the pictures showed the chest cavity after
the breast bone and a portion of the ribs and the lungs, heart and main blood vessels
had been removed. The other photographs showed the skull and portions of the brain
after an area of the skull had been removed. The Lefler court held that it was improper
for the photographs to be shown to the jury, holding:
“[T]he testimony was that the body of the deceased bore little superficial
evidence of injury and the gruesome nature of the pictures was caused almost
entirely by the autopsy procedure. We believe that the pictures had little
probative value in view of the detailed testimony by the physician and the fact
that the nature and extent of the injuries was not disputed. The pictures were of
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such a nature as to arouse strong emotions on the part of the jurors and we hold
that the court erred in permitting these photographs to be shown to the jury.”
Lefler, 38 Ill. 2d at 222.
We find Lefler distinguishable from the instant case. Diamond’s autopsy
photographs were relevant to illustrate Dr. Cogan’s testimony of the extent of the
victim's injuries, the manner of death and defendant’s intent. Unlike Lefler, the autopsy
photographs admitted in this case depicted Diamond’s injuries at the hands of
defendant. Dr. Cogan testified that Diamond had external injuries that consisted of
swelling, bite marks and bruising. However, it was the internal injuries that caused her
death. Dr. Cogan testified that photographs 27 through 34 depicted Diamond’s brain
just as he saw it upon examination and showed numerous hemorrhages at various
different locations inside her skull. Dr. Cogan testified that those hemorrhages were
inconsistent with a fall. Photographs 35 through 49 showed the blood found in
Diamond’s abdominal cavity and injuries caused to her heart, diaphragm, thymus, liver,
anterior chest wall, spine and ribs. With respect to each photograph, Dr. Cogan testified
regarding each hemorrhage to each organ, showing significant internal injury, indicative
of a large amount of force exerted on Diamond’s chest area. In addition, Diamond had
a bruise on the back of her heart and a tear in her liver which were consistent with blunt-
force trauma and at least one sharp blow to the anterior chest wall. Photograph 50
depicted a fresh hemorrhage to Diamond’s left forearm and photographs 52 and 53
depicted a hemorrhage to the buttocks, which could have been caused by someone
hitting Diamond with a plastic hanger. According to Dr. Cogan’s testimony, many of
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these autopsy photographs showed a correspondence between the visible, external
injuries and the otherwise concealed internal injuries. Furthermore, Dr. Cogan testified
that Diamond’s injuries were intentionally inflicted; they were not accidental.
We reject defendant’s argument that these photographs were unfairly prejudicial.
Although the photographs were graphic, they were relevant to show the location and
extent of the injuries, as well as their character and depth. In addition, the photographs
aided the jury in understanding Dr. Cogan’s testimony. Furthermore, the photographs
of the injuries, in conjunction with Dr. Cogan’s testimony, aided the jury in determining
defendant’s intent.
We also reject defendant’s argument that the photographs were confusing and
misleading. Dr. Cogan testified as to each photograph, explaining each injury.
We conclude the prejudicial effect of the photographs did not outweigh their
probative value and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the jury to view
them during deliberations.
Even if the admission of the photographs were deemed erroneous, their
admission is, at the very worst, harmless error. An erroneous evidentiary ruling by a trial
court requires reversal only where it can be said that the error played a substantial part
in the verdict. See People v. Edwards, 144 Ill. 2d 108, 170 (1991). The evidence of
defendant’s guilt in this case was overwhelming. Hence, no such error should be found
here. See People v. Driskel, 224 Ill. App. 3d 304 (1991).
Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
HALL and THEIS, J. J., concur.
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REPORTER OF DECISIONS - ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
ANDRE RICHARDSON,
Defendant-Appellant.
No. 1-05-2042
Appellate Court of Illinois
First District, Second Division
April 20, 2010
JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the opinion of the court.
THEIS and HALL, J.J., concur.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County.
The Honorable Diane Cannon, Judge Presiding.
For APPELLANT, Michael J. Pelletier, Deputy Appellate Defender of the State of Illinois
(Melissa C. Chiang, Assistant Appellate Defender, of counsel)
For APPELLEE, Richard A. Devine, State's Attorney of Cook County (James E.
Fitzgerald and Nancy Colletti, of counsel)
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