State Of Washington, Resp-cross App v. John Alan Whitaker, App-cross

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 75924-8-1
Respondent/ )
Cross-Appellant, ) DIVISION ONE
)
v. )
)
JOHN ALAN WHITAKER, ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant/ ) FILED: November 5, 2018
Cross-Respondent.)
)
SMITH, J. —John Whitaker appeals his conviction for aggravated first
degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the murder of
Rachel Burkheimer. He alleges numerous errors and constitutional violations,
none of which require reversal. We affirm.
FACTS
In 2004, a jury found John Whitaker guilty of aggravated first degree
murder and conspiracy to commit murder for his involvement in the death of
Rachel Burkheimer, which occurred in September 2002. This court affirmed his
conviction on appeal. See State v. Whitaker, 133 Wash. App. 199, 135 P.3d 923
(2006). But that conviction was reversed in 2013 when this court granted
Whitaker's personal restraint petition because his right to a public trial was
violated when six jurors were individually questioned in a closed courtroom
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during voir dire. In re Pers. Restraint of Whitaker, No. 61980-2-1(Wash. Ct. App.
June 17, 2013)(unpublished), http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/619802.pdf.
On remand in 2015, the State charged Whitaker with the same offenses.
As in Whitaker's first trial, the State presented evidence that Whitaker helped his
friend John Anderson and several others kidnap and kill Burkheimer, who was
Anderson's ex-girlfriend. Whitaker helped to bind, hide, and transport
Burkheimer. He helped to dig her grave, rob her, bury her, and destroy evidence
of her murder. Although Whitaker testified in his first trial, he did not testify on
retrial. With the exception of Whitaker's testimony, the evidence presented by
the State in the first trial was similar to that presented on retrial and is not
repeated here.
The jury found Whitaker guilty of premeditated first degree murder, with an
aggravating factor of kidnapping and a firearm enhancement, and conspiracy to
commit first degree murder. During the trial, Whitaker moved for a mistrial
several times, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, a violation of CrR 6.15, and a
violation of his right to a unanimous jury. After trial, Whitaker moved for a new
trial based on these issues and other newly identified issues. The trial court
denied his motion and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole on
the first degree murder charge (plus 60 months for the firearm enhancement) and
240 months on the conspiracy charge. Whitaker appeals.
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No. 75924-8-1/3
DURESS AS A DEFENSE TO AGGRAVATING FACTORS
Whitaker argues that the trial court erred when it refused to instruct the
jury that duress is a defense to the aggravating factors of robbery and
kidnapping. We disagree.
Jury instructions are sufficient if they permit each party to argue their
theory of the case, do not mislead the jury, and, when read as a whole, properly
inform the jury of the applicable law. Cox v. Spangler, 141 Wn.2d 431,442, 5
P.3d 1265, 22 P.3d 791 (2000). A trial court's decision whether to give a
particular instruction to the jury is a matter that we review for abuse of discretion.
Stilev v. Block, 130 Wash. 2d 486, 498, 925 P.2d 194 (1996). Refusal to give a
particular instruction is an abuse of discretion only if the decision was "manifestly
unreasonable, or [the court's] discretion was exercised on untenable grounds, or
for untenable reasons." Boeing Co. v. Harker-Lott, 93 Wash. App. 181, 186, 968
P.2d 14 (1998).
Under RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a), a defendant is guilty of first degree murder
when,"[w]ith a premeditated intent to cause the death of another person, he or
she causes the death of such person." If a defendant is charged with first degree
murder under RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a), the aggravating factors in RCW 10.95.020
can increase the penalty for that offense. State v. Kincaid, 103 Wash. 2d 304, 307,
692 P.2d 823(1985)("The statutory aggravating circumstances which, when
present, raise premeditated first degree murder to aggravated first degree -
murder punishable by mandatory life imprisonment or death, are 'aggravation of
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No. 75924-8-1/4
penalty' factors which enhance the penalty for the offense, and are not elements
of a crime as such."). According to RCW 10.95.020,
[a] person is guilty of aggravated first degree murder, a class A
felony, if he or she commits first degree murder as defined by RCW
9A.32.030(1)(a). . . and one or more of the following aggravating
circumstances exist:
(11) The murder was committed in the course of, in
furtherance of, or in immediate flight from one of the following
crimes:
(a) Robbery in the first or second degree;
(b) Rape in the first or second degree;
(c) Burglary in the first or second degree or residential
burglary;
(d) Kidnapping in the first degree; or
(e) Arson in the first degree[.]
Here, Whitaker was charged with first degree premeditated murder under
RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a). Whitaker acknowledges that duress is not a defense to
murder, but he argues that because RCW 9A.16.060 does not explicitly prohibit
the use of a duress defense for aggravating factors, duress can be applied
against the aggravating factors in RCW 10.95.020.
"The duress defense derives from the common law and is premised on
the notion that it is excusable for someone to break the law if he or she is
compelled to do so by threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury." State v.
Mannerina, 150 Wash. 2d 277, 281, 75 P.3d 961 (2003)(citing ROLLIN M. PERKINS &
RONALD N. BOYCE, CRIMINAL LAW 1059(3d ed. 1982)). "Faced with danger to his
or another's safety, the defendant is excused for choosing the lesser evil of
perpetrating a crime, unless the crime involves killing an innocent person, which
is never the lesser of two evils." State v. Harvill, 169 Wash. 2d 254, 262, 234 P.3d
1166 (2010). RCW 9A.16.060 defines duress and states that
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No. 75924-8-1/5
(1) In any prosecution for a crime, it is a defense that:
(a) The actor participated in the crime under compulsion by
another who by threat or use of force created an apprehension in
the mind of the actor that in case of refusal he or she or another
would be liable to immediate death or immediate grievous bodily
injury; and
(b) That such apprehension was reasonable upon the part of
the actor; and
(c) That the actor would not have participated in the crime
except for the duress involved.
(2) The defense of duress is not available if the crime
charged is murder, manslaughter, or homicide by abuse.
(3) The defense of duress is not available if the actor
intentionally or recklessly places himself or herself in a situation in
which it is probable that he or she will be subject to duress.
(4) The defense of duress is not established solely by a
showing that a married person acted on the command of his or her
spouse.
Statutory interpretation is an issue of law that we determine de novo. Mannerinq,
150 Wash. 2d at 282.
According to the plain language of the statute, duress may be a defense in
the "prosecution for a crime." RCW 9A.16.060(1)(emphasis added.) The statute
then goes on to explain the elements that must be met for duress to apply where
a defendant participated in "the crime." RCW 9A.16.060(1)(a), (c). Under the
plain language of the statute, the crime the defendant participated in, and for
which the defense can be applied, must be the same crime for which the
defendant is being prosecuted.
Here, Whitaker was prosecuted for first degree murder. He was not
prosecuted for kidnapping or robbery—those were only alleged as aggravating
factors to premeditated murder and do not establish a separate crime.
Therefore, under the plain language of the statute, the defense of duress cannot
be applied to those unprosecuted crimes alleged as aggravating factors. If the
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No. 75924-8-1/6
State charged Whitaker with kidnapping or robbery, he would have been entitled
to a duress defense on those prosecuted crimes. But because that was not the
case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Whitaker a duress
instruction on the aggravating factors of kidnapping and burglary.
Whitaker relies on two out-of-state cases, State v. Getsy, 84 Ohio St. 3d
180, 702 N.E.2d 866 (1998), and State v. Bockorny, 124 Or. App. 585, 863 P.2d
1296 (1993), but neither leads us to reversal. In Getsy, the Supreme Court of
Ohio considered whether duress could be a defense to felony murder, the
underlying felony, or the "capital specifications," which included an aggravating
factor of murder for hire. Getsy, 84 Ohio St. 3d at 198-99. The court held that
duress is not a defense to felony murder and that there was insufficient evidence
to support the use of the defense for the underlying felony or the capital
specifications. Id. at 199. It stated, "Arguably, the defense of duress could have
been asserted for the aggravating circumstance of murder for hire, but the
evidence presented by the state, if believed, indicated that Getsy was the only
one of the three who wanted the money." Id. The court did not explain why
duress is "arguably" a defense for an aggravating factor. Because
RCW 9A.16.060 indicates that the defense of duress must be applied to the
crime prosecuted, Getsy is not persuasive.
In Bockorny, the defendant was charged with aggravated murder under
Oregon Revised Statute(ORS) 163.115(1)(b), which is similar to first degree
felony murder in Washington. 124 Or. App. at 587. There, the issue was
whether duress was available as a defense to the crimes underlying the felony
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No. 75924-8-1/7
murder charge. Id. at 588. The court did not address the applicability of duress
to aggravating factors. As such, Bockorny is not persuasive.
Finally, Whitaker argues that there was sufficient evidence of duress
presented to provide a basis for a duress defense on the aggravating factors.
We agree that there was evidence that Anderson threatened and used force
against Whitaker and others as the events of Burkheimer's murder evolved. But
the analysis does not end there. Because duress is not a defense to first degree
murder, the trial court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on duress.
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Whitaker argues that the prosecutor committed reversible misconduct
when he told the jurors that duress is not a defense to murder and defined
duress for them, and again when he invited the jurors to imagine what
Burkheimer was thinking and feeling in the hours before her murder. We agree
that both statements constitute misconduct but hold that Whitaker waived any
claim of prosecutorial misconduct because he failed to object.
"To prevail on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant must
establish 'that the prosecutor's conduct was both improper and prejudicial in the
context of the entire record and the circumstances at trial." State v. Thorgerson,
172 Wash. 2d 438, 442, 258 P.3d 43(2011)(internal quotation marks omitted)
(quoting State v. Magers, 164 Wash. 2d 174, 191, 189 P.3d 126 (2008)). If the
defendant did not object, he is deemed to have waived any error, unless the
prosecutor's misconduct was so flagrant and ill intentioned that an instruction
could not have cured the resulting prejudice. State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741,
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No. 75924-8-1/8
760-61, 278 P.3d 653(2012)(citing State v. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 727, 940
P.2d 1239 (1997)). "Under this heightened standard, the defendant must show
that(1)'no curative instruction would have obviated any prejudicial effect on the
jury' and (2) the misconduct resulted in prejudice that 'had a substantial likelihood
of affecting the jury verdict." Id. at 761 (quoting Thomerson, 172 Wash. 2d at 455).
Where the defendant moves for a mistrial based on alleged prosecutorial
misconduct, we will give deference to the trial court's ruling on the matter.
Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at 719. "The trial court is in the best position to most
effectively determine if prosecutorial misconduct prejudiced a defendant's right to
a fair trial!" Id. (internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting State v. Luvene, 127
Wash. 2d 690, 701, 903 P.2d 960 (1995)).
Speculation as to the Victim's Thoughts and Feelings
Whitaker argues that prosecutorial misconduct occurred during closing
argument when the prosecutor asked the jury multiple times to imagine what
Burkheimer was thinking and feeling in the hours leading up to her death. We
agree but hold that the comments were not so flagrant and ill intentioned that
they could not have been cured by an instruction to the jury.
Statements that do no more than appeal to the passion or prejudice of the
jury are improper. State v. Pierce, 169 Wash. App. 533, 552, 280 P.3d 1158(2012)
(quoting State v. Gregory, 158 Wash. 2d 759, 808, 147 P.3d 1201 (2006), overruled
on other grounds kisy State v. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d 757, 336 P.3d 1134 (2014)). It is
reversible error for a prosecutor to urge a jury to decide a case based on
evidence outside the record. Id. at 553. Prosecutors often use matters outside
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No. 75924-8-1/9
the record to appeal to a jury's passion. Thus, these two rules are closely
related. Id.
In Pierce the defendant challenged three of the prosecutor's statements
as appealing to the jury's passion and prejudice and arguing facts outside the
evidence:(1)the prosecutor's first person narrative of what the defendant must
have been thinking leading up to the crimes,(2)the prosecutor's fabricated
description of the murders, and (3)the prosecutor's argument that the victims
could not have imagined they would be murdered in their own home. Id. at 553.
The defendant did not object to the last claimed error and had to show that the
error was so prejudicial it could not have been cured by an instruction. Id. The
Court of Appeals held that the argument was an improper appeal to passion and
prejudice and served no purpose but to appeal to the jury's sympathy. Id. at 555.
"That the Yarrs would never have expected the crime to occur was not relevant
to Pierce's guilt, nor were the prosecutor's assertions about the Yarrs' future
plans. Moreover, the argument invited the jury to imagine themselves in the
Yarrs' shoes, increasing the prejudice." Id. at 555. The court further held that
"[i]n the context of the entire argument," the defendant met his burden to show
that the error could not have been cured by an instruction to the jury:
Because the prosecutor focused on how shocking and unexpected
the crimes were and invited the jury to imagine themselves in the
position of being murdered in their own homes, in conjunction with
the prosecutor's other improper and highly inflammatory arguments
this argument engendered an incurable prejudice in the minds of
the jury.
Id. at 556. The court concluded that, taking all the improper arguments together,
there was more than a substantial likelihood that they affected the verdict. Id.
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No. 75924-8-1/10
During closing argument in this case, the prosecutor invited the jury to
imagine what Burkheimer was thinking and feeling:
And with all the pain that Rachel felt that night in the last hours of
her life, right there, amongst the emotions that she must have been
feeling, must have been the pain, knowing that these were not
strangers doing this to her; these were the people that she had
laughed with, the people she had eaten with, the people that she
had danced with, the people who had tickled her, played with her in
the hours before she's attacked. Imagine that.
Report of Proceedings(RP) at 2664(emphasis added).
Later, the prosecutor said, "Imagine what Rachel went through in the
hours that she is in that garage." Id. at 2673(emphasis added). He then
expanded on this argument:
Imagine what Rachel is going through all that time, in the
garage at that residence, hearing the voices of the people she
called friends, talking about her, talking about ransom, selling her
back to her family. Does your father love you? Does your family
love you? Will they pay money for you? She's nodding her head,
according to Tony Williams and Matt Durham.
At this point she must have believed her family would do
anything for her. She stays there, surrounded by stuffed animals,
bound, hands and feet behind her on the rug in between couches,
while her friends come in and out of that garage. What is she
thinking? When she hears Kevin Jihad come in and say that bitch
may have my DNA [(deoxyribonucleic acid)] under her nails, clean
out her nails, and John Anderson cleans underneath Rachel's nails.
What is she thinking?
What is she thinking when she hears him chamber a round,
Kevin Jihad, and says we should just end this right here. Pointing
the gun several feet away from her. Imagine the infliction of mental
anguish. She doesn't know whether that gun is going off at that
point. What is she thinking?
When Jeff Barth comes into that garage while she lays down
there, and I always asked the witnesses, if you will recall, was she
conscious? Could she hear? Did it appear to you that she could
hear what's going on?
When he waves his gun in front of him by his groin,
pretending it to be a penis, and is laughing, and walks over to
where she's lying on the ground, and pokes her in the buttocks
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No. 75924-8-1/11
while he says we should all stick her -- what is she thinking? What
is she feeling?
Id. at 2674-75(emphasis added). There are two additional times the prosecutor
asked aloud what Burkheimer was thinking at the time. Id. at 2675, 2679.
Later, the prosecutor speculated what Burkheimer was thinking. He states
that "[s]he is resigned to her fate. She knows she is going to die," and "she
knows she's going to die. At the hands of her friends." Id. at 2686. Again, he
explains,"She is resigned to her fate. With everything she has heard in the
garage, with everything that she has heard in the car, with begging Maurice
Rivas, her friend, to let her go, and she's not released, she knows she's going to
die." Id. at 2689. Whitaker did not object to any of these statements.
The prosecutor's invitation to the jury to imagine what Burkheimer was
thinking and telling them that she knew she was going to die are very similar to
the improper comments in Pierce. These statements were not relevant to the
elements of the crime in deciding Whitaker's guilt and only served to appeal to
the jury's sympathy by asking the jurors to put themselves in Burkheimer's
shoes. We agree with Whitaker that these statements constitute prosecutorial
misconduct.
We disagree with the State's assertion that the prosecutor's arguments
were not an appeal to the jurors' sympathy, but rather "an invitation for jurors to
draw their own reasonable inferences from the evidence." Br. of Resp't at 40.
Although each of the improper statements was related to testimony given in the
case, injecting Burkheimer's perspective was improper and irrelevant to
Whitaker's guilt. Contrary to the State's contention at oral argument,
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No. 75924-8-1/12
Burkheimer's thoughts were not relevant to Whitaker's intent or to the element of
extreme emotional distress for the aggravating factor of kidnapping. The
prosecutor should have limited his arguments to what the testifying witness
observed. It was unnecessary and inappropriate for him to extend the argument
to Burkheimer's thoughts. Additionally, to the extent that the arguments invited
the jurors to imagine Burkheimer's reactions to the crime as it was unfolding, they
were embellishments on the evidence presented at trial because neither
Burkheimer nor anyone else could testify to those thoughts. These arguments
were clearly improper and prejudicial.
Nonetheless, we conclude that Whitaker waived the error by failing to
object. Unlike statements in other reversible instances of prosecutorial
misconduct that invoked racial prejudice or presented altered versions of
admitted evidence, the statements here were not so flagrant and ill intentioned
that they could not have been cured with an objection. See State v. Be!garde,
110 Wash. 2d 504, 755 P.2d 174(1988)(reversible error where the prosecutor
stated that the defendant was associated with an organization of madmen that
kill indiscriminately); State v. Monday, 171 Wash. 2d 667, 257 P.3d 551 (2011)
(reversible error where the prosecutor imputed an "anti-snitch" code to black
witnesses only); In re Pers. Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wash. 2d 696, 286 P.3d
673(2012)(reversible error where the prosecutor altered the defendant's
booking photograph with the addition of phrases, such as "GUILTY'
superimposed three times in an "X" shape over defendant's face in red letters);
State v. Walker, 182 Wash. 2d 463, 341 P.3d 976(2015)(reversible error where the
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No. 75924-8-1/13
prosecutor presented PowerPoint slides showing admitted exhibits altered with
inflammatory text that expressed a personal opinion on defendant's guilt). Here,
reversal is not mandated by the case law.
Prosecutor's Statements on Duress
Whitaker also argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct during the
rebuttal portion of his closing argument when he told the jury that duress was not
a defense to murder. We agree but again hold that the comments were not so
flagrant and ill intentioned that they could not have been cured by an instruction.
In State v. Davenport, 100 Wn.2d 757,675 P.2d 1213(1984), the
Supreme Court held that a similar statement was prosecutorial misconduct.
There, the defendant was charged with second degree burglary. Id. at 758. The
State did not present direct evidence proving that the defendant had been inside
the burglarized residence and did not request an accomplice liability instruction.
Id. Defense counsel argued in closing that there was only evidence that the
defendant had received stolen property outside the residence and that this was
insufficient to prove that he was guilty of burglary. Id. at 758-59. In rebuttal, the
prosecutor stated, "[l}t doesn't make any difference actually who went into the
house... they are accomplices." Id. at 759(second alteration in original). The
court overruled the defendant's objection. Id.
After deliberating for over two hours, the jury sent a note to the trial judge,
requesting a definition of "accomplice" and asking whether the defendant had to
physically enter and remove the identified items. Id. The court directed the jury
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No. 75924-8-1/14
to "'rely on the law given in the Court's instructions to the jury." Id. The jury
found the defendant guilty. Id.
The Supreme Court concluded that the jury's question to the trial court
established "not only that during deliberations the jury was considering the
prosecutor's improper comment, but also, that the jury considered the statement
to be a proper statement of law." Id. at 764. Further, the trial court's response
could not fairly be called a curative instruction. Id. at 764. Because the jury was
influenced and possibly misled by the prosecutor's comment, the court was
unable to conclude that the trial was fair. Id.
Here, during Whitaker's closing argument, defense counsel explained his
theory of the case: that Whitaker did not form the intent necessary for the
conspiracy charge because he was not following a plan to kill Burkheimer.
Rather, Whitaker was afraid of Anderson and was reacting to Anderson rather
than participating in a preconceived plan. Whitaker did not explicitly argue that
he participated in Burkheimer's murder out of fear of Anderson. But, the
prosecutor then opened his rebuttal argument as follows:
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have
heard remarks from Counsel and argument on the fact that John
Whitaker and all these individuals were just afraid that night. They
were just afraid. They did all they did just because they were
afraid. They were scared that John Anderson would have done
something to them.
Being afraid is not a defense to the crime of murder in the
state of Washington. You can check that packet ofinstructions you
have from top to bottom. You won't see it there. Because in the
state of Washington duress is not a defense to murder. If it was,
Judge Krese, wearing the black robe, she's been doing this for
years, she would have given you that instruction. It is not a
defense. And rightfully so. Because why should one person place
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No. 75924-8-1/15
the value of a life more value than the life of another person? It's
not a defense.
I told you the evidence doesn't suggest that Whitaker was
afraid. Clearly not. Because he calls back to the house, and is
pissed, and he tells him, tells Anderson, you come clean up your
mess. That's not someone who's afraid. And when John Anderson
tells him to go strike Rachel, and he doesn't do that, he doesn't get
shot or anything. He tells him, I'm not doing it. That's not someone
who is afraid. The evidence doesn't support fear.
Maurice Rivas, he was someone who had disregarded
Diggy. Everything that you hear about John Anderson being this
individual who was volatile, extremely violent, crazy, he didn't just
become this on September 23rd; he was always this way. But then
who was his roommate? Who was his friend? Who was the
person that you heard testimony, if you saw him, you saw John
Anderson? It was Whitaker. So there's no fear, because even if
there was, it's not a defense to the crime of murder in the state of
Washington.
Id. at 2764-66 (emphasis added). Whitaker did not object.
Here, as in Davenport, the prosecutor's comment that duress is not a
defense to murder was improper and prejudicial for several reasons. First, the
prosecutor knew that the trial court had already refused to instruct the jury on
duress on the aggravating factors, as requested by Whitaker, and ignored that
fact and chose to bring up the legal theory anyway. Second, in closing, defense
counsel did not argue that Whitaker should be acquitted because he killed
Burkheimer out of fear of Anderson, as the prosecutor implied. Rather, he
argued that Whitaker did not form the intent necessary for the conspiracy charge
because he was acting out of fear of Anderson, not as part of a plan. The
prosecutor's mischaracterization of the defense argument at the beginning of his
rebuttal argument gave it greater emphasis. Finally, it is clear from the record
that the argument prejudiced Whitaker because, as in Davenport, the jury
submitted the following question:
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No. 75924-8-1/16
The prosecutor said that "being afraid or being under duress" is not
a defense in the state of WA. We need clarification on if that is
indeed the "Law" in WASH.
Clerk's Papers(CP)at 512. The trial court responded,"Please refer to the
instructions you have already received, in particular, Instruction No. 1." Id.
However, because Whitaker did not object to the improper argument, he
must show that it could not have been cured by an instruction to the jury. He
cannot do so. Whitaker raised this issue in his motion for a mistrial. The trial
court held that the comment was not so prejudicial that it could not have been
cured, explaining, "If the objection had been made, the court could have stricken
the comments and directed the jury to disregard them when the argument was
first made." Id. at 93. The jury's question to the trial court indicates that they
were looking for an instruction on this issue and an instruction could have cured
the prejudice. The court did not abuse its discretion by denying a mistrial on this
basis.
Whitaker argues that the misconduct could not have been cured because
it was clearly intentional rather than inadvertent given the experience of the
prosecutor. But even if it was intentional, it could have been cured had Whitaker
timely objected.
Even so, we admonish the prosecutor's intentional use of the improper
arguments described above. "In presenting a criminal case to the jury, it is
incumbent upon a public prosecutor, as a quasi-judicial officer, to seek a verdict
free of prejudice and based upon reason." State v. Charlton, 90 Wash. 2d 657, 664,
585 P.2d 142(1978). As our courts have stated many times, "[T]he prosecutor,
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No. 75924-8-1/17
in the interest of justice, must act impartially, and his trial behavior must be
worthy of the position he holds." Id. The arguments described above were
clearly improper based on well established case law. The State has a
responsibility to put a stop to such conduct and must "demand careful and
dignified conduct from its representatives in court." State v. Neidigh, 78 Wn.
App. 71, 79, 895 P.2d 423(1995).
VIOLATION OF CrR 6.15
Whitaker argues that the trial court violated CrR 6.15 when juror 2
communicated safety concerns to the bailiff and was separated from the other
jurors. We disagree.
Generally, the trial judge and the bailiff should not communicate with the
jury in the absence of the defendant. State v. Bourgeois, 133 Wash. 2d 389, 407,
945 P.2d 1120 (1997). "[I]mproper communication between the court and the
jury is an error of constitutional dimensions." Id. CrR 6.15(0(1) states that "[t]he
jury shall be instructed that any question it wishes to ask the court about the
instructions or evidence should be signed, dated and submitted in writing to the
bailiff." (Emphasis added.) RCW 4.44.300 also defines the scope of prohibited
communication between a bailiff and a jury during deliberations. This statute
provides that the bailiff shall not communicate with the jury during deliberations,
except to ask if they have reached a verdict. "[This does not preclude innocuous
or neutral statements" and "forbids only communications that could possibly
influence deliberations." State v. Yonker, 133 Wash. App. 627, 635-36, 137 P.3d
888 (2006). "Communications necessary for the proper care of the jury, such as
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No. 75924-8-1/18
lunch orders and other administrative matters, do not raise an inference of
impropriety because these communications are neutral and innocuous." Id. at
636 (citing State v. Johnson, 125 Wash. App. 443, 460, 105 P.3d 85 (2005); State
v. Forsyth, 13 Wash. App. 133, 137, 533 P.2d 847(1975)). Bailiff statements that
do not "define or explain an instruction" or "inform the jury on a point of law" are
not prejudicial. State v. Russell, 25 Wash. App. 933, 948, 611 P.2d 1320 (1980).
Improper and prejudicial communications between a bailiff and a jury include a
bailiffs inquiry as to how deliberations were proceeding and suggestions for
making the process run more smoothly,"comments about the effects of a failure
to agree and the impracticability of reconvening court to consider further
instructions," and statements that "hasten the jury's verdict." Johnson, 125 Wn.
App. at 461; State v. Christensen, 17 Wash. App. 922, 925, 567 P.2d 654 (1977);
State v. Crowell, 92 Wash. 2d 143, 148, 594 P.2d 905 (1979).
"This court applies an abuse of discretion standard in reviewing the trial
court's denial of a mistrial." State v. Rodriquez, 146 Wash. 2d 260, 269, 45 P.3d
541 (2002)(citing State v. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d 273, 284, 778 P.2d 1014 (1989)).
"A reviewing court will find abuse of discretion only when 'no reasonable judge
would have reached the same conclusion." Id. at 269 (internal quotation marks
omitted)(quoting Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d at 284). "A trial court's denial of a motion
for mistrial will only be overturned when there is a 'substantial likelihood' that the
error prompting the request for a mistrial affected the jury's verdict." Id. at 269-70
(internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting State v. Russell, 125 Wash. 2d 24, 85,
882 P.2d 747 (1994)).
18
No. 75924-8-1/19
Here, the trial court entered the following findings of fact on this issue:
26. On June 28, 2016, the jury buzzed the law clerk for help.
27. The bailiff/law clerk responded to the jury buzzer to ask what
they needed. There is no evidence that the bailiff/law clerk
asked any questions other than to ascertain why the juror had
buzzed and what his difficulty was.
28. Juror No. 2 said he needed to be excused and began leaving the jury
room, so the law clerk had him go to a separate conference room.
29. Contrary to the assertion by the defendant that the bailiff
separated Juror No. 2, the record supports the conclusion that
Juror No. 2 essentially separated himself and refused to rejoin
the jury.
30. The law clerk made no further effort to inquire about the
circumstances of the need to leave the jury room. He directed
Juror No. 2 not to tell him anything about the deliberations.
31. The law clerk provided no information about the case and no
advice to Juror No. 2.
32. Juror No. 2 persisted in trying to reveal details of the jury's
deliberations to the law clerk despite the court's instructions to
the jury not to discuss the case with anyone other than their
fellow jurors.
33. As soon as the bailiff ascertained the nature of Juror No. 2's
complaint, he immediately notified the court and counsel.
CP at 1730-31.
Although Whitaker challenges findings 29 through 33, they are supported
by substantial evidence. State v. P.E.T., 185 Wash. App. 891, 901, 344 P.3d 689
(2015)("We uphold findings of fact if they are supported by substantial evidence.
'Substantial evidence' is evidence sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational
person of the truth of the finding.")(citation omitted). According to the bailiffs
testimony, juror 2 summoned the bailiff during deliberations and stated that he
needed to be excused. The bailiff took juror 2 into a conference room so that he
"could have a discussion away from the other jurors so [he] could know what
[juror 2's] concern was." RP at 2825. The bailiff explained that juror 2
19
No. 75924-8-1/20
was concerned that the defendant would not get a fair trial. Also,
he said that he felt that everyone was ganging up on him, and that
the rest of the jury was very friendly and was having lunches and
exchanging phone numbers, and trying to -- he said something
about one of them trying to sell his electronic business or
something to other ones. And he seemed incredibly frustrated and
flustered, and said, "I can't do this anymore," you know. And that
was -- and that was sort of the tenor of it.
And whenever he would try to get into specifics about the
case I said, "Don't tell me about that, let me interrupt, let me talk to
the judge," and so then I had him stay there while I brought this to
the Court's attention.
Id. at 2825-26. The bailiff did not tell the juror to write a note that could be
relayed to the judge.
Whitaker moved for a mistrial, arguing that the bailiff's interactions with
juror 2 violated CrR 6.15(f)(1).1 This issue was also raised in his motion for a
new trial. The trial court held that a new trial was not necessary based on
CrR 6.15(f)(1) because "Juror No. 2's demand to be excused from the jury was
not a jury question regarding instructions or evidence." CP at 95.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Juror 2 did not express a
question about the instructions or the evidence in the case, and the bailiffs
response was not improper because it did not define or explain an instruction or
inform the jury on a point of law. The bailiff's response that juror 2 should not tell
him about deliberations'and that he would notify the court of juror 2's request to
be excused is more properly described as a communication "necessary for the
1 In its cross appeal, the State argues that Whitaker waived his right to
assert this issue because he asked the trial court to reserve ruling on his motion
for a mistrial until after the jury rendered its verdict. We choose to reach the
merits of Whitaker's claim and do not address the State's argument of waiver.
20
No. 75924-8-1/21
proper care of the jury. . .[that was] neutral and innocuous." Yonker, 133 Wn.
App. at 636 (citing Johnson, 125 Wash. App. at 460; Forsyth, 13 Wash. App. at 137).
Whitaker argues that it is impossible to know what went on between juror
2 and the bailiff. But there is testimony from the bailiff, which is included above,
and the only communication described in juror 2's declaration from the bailiff to
juror 2 was that the bailiff told juror 2 he could not give him legal advice. These
communications were not improper, and there is no evidence that they violated
CrR 6.15.
THE RIGHT TO BE PRESENT AND THE RIGHT TO AN OPEN TRIAL
Whitaker argues that the bailiff's communications with juror 2 also violated
his state and federal constitutional rights to be present and to an open and public
trial. We disagree.
Under the Sixth Amendment and article I, section 22 of the Washington
State Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to attend his trial. State v.
Rice, 110 Wash. 2d 577, 616, 757 P.2d 889(1988)(citing Snyder v. Mass., 291
U.S. 97, 105-08, 54 S. Ct. 330, 78 L. Ed. 674(1934), overruled in part on other
grounds sub nom. Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 84 S. Ct. 1489, 12 L. Ed. 2d 653
(1964)). This right entitles a defendant to be present at every stage of his trial
where his presence has a reasonably substantial relationship to the fullness of
his opportunity to defend himself. Id. (citing Snyder, 291 U.S. at 105-06).
Article I, section 22 also states that "[i]n criminal prosecutions the accused
shall have the right. . . to have a speedy public trial." The Sixth Amendment
includes a similar provision. State v. Tinh Trinh Lam, 161 Wash. App. 299, 303,
21
No. 75924-8-1/22
254 P.3d 891 (2011), review dismissed, 176 Wash. 2d 1031, 299 P.3d 20(2013).
"These provisions assure a fair trial, foster public understanding and trust in the
judicial system, and provide judges with the check of public scrutiny." Id. at 303
(citing State v. Duckett, 141 Wash. App. 797, 803, 173 P.3d 948 (2007)). "While
the public trial right is not absolute, Washington courts strictly guard it to assure
that proceedings occur outside the public courtroom in only the most unusual
circumstances." Id. (citing State v. Easterling, 157 Wash. 2d 167, 174-75, 137 P.3d
825 (2006); State v. Brightman, 155 Wash. 2d 506, 514-15, 122 P.3d 150 (2005); In
re Pers. Restraint of Orange, 152 Wash. 2d 795, 804-05, 100 P.3d 291 (2004);
State v. Bone-Club, 128 Wash. 2d 254, 258-59, 906 P.2d 325 (1995)). To protect
the defendant's right to a public trial, a trial court must apply and weigh five
factors before restricting public access to a portion of a criminal trial. Id. If the
record indicates a violation of a defendant's public trial right, prejudice is
presumed and the conviction should be reversed and remanded for a new trial.
Id. at 304 (citing Easterling, 157 Wash. 2d at 174).
In Lam, a juror expressed safety concerns to the bailiff. 161 Wash. App. at
302. This court held that the defendant's right to a public trial was violated when
the judge, defense counsel, and the prosecutor questioned the juror about these
concerns in chambers without conducting the proper analysis. Id. at 305. The
defendant did not allege a violation of the right to public trial based on the bailiffs
first contact with the juror.
Here, Whitaker moved for a new trial, arguing that both his right to an
open and public trial and his right to be present were violated by the bailiff's
22
No. 75924-8-1/23
interactions with juror 2. The trial court denied his motion, finding that "[t]here is
no reasonable way it could have been handled in open court initially," and unlike
Lam, no questioning of juror 2 occurred in closed session. CP at 97.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Here, unlike in Lam, the court
discussed juror 2's safety concerns in open court, in the presence of the
defendant. The only communication that occurred in private was juror 2's initial
contact with the bailiff. But these communications were not improper and the
bailiff notified the trial court without delay. Whitaker cites no authority under
which the bailiff was constitutionally required to take a different action when juror
2 requested to be excused and attempted to tell the bailiff what was occurring in
deliberations. Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wash. 2d 801, 809,
828 P.2d 549(1992)(argument not supported by citation to legal authority need
not be considered). Whitaker's constitutional rights were not violated.
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND A UNANIMOUS AND IMPARTIAL JURY
Whitaker argues that the trial court's dismissal of juror 2 was related to
that juror's views on the merits of the case and violated Whitaker's right to due
process and a unanimous and impartial jury. We disagree.
A discharge stemming from a juror's doubts about the sufficiency of the
evidence violates the right to a unanimous jury verdict because it enables the
State to obtain a conviction even though a member of the jury who began
deliberations thought that the State failed to prove its case. State v. Elmore, 155
Wash. 2d 758, 771, 123 P.3d 72(2005)(citing Sanders v. Lamarque, 357 F.3d 943,
945 (9th Cir. 2004)). "Dismissal of a holdout juror also risks violating the Sixth
23
No. 75924-8-1/24
Amendment right to an impartial jury." Id. at 772 (citing U.S. CONST. amend. VI;
see also WASH. CONST. art. 1, § 22). "[W]here a deliberating juror is accused of
refusing to follow the law, that juror cannot be dismissed when there is any
reasonable possibility that his or her views stem from an evaluation of the
sufficiency of the evidence." Id. at 778. "[O]nce the proper evidentiary standard
is applied, the trial court's evaluation of the facts is reviewable only for abuse of
discretion." Id.
In Elmore, two jurors accused juror 8 of refusing to follow the court's
instructions. Id. at 763. After interviewing the complaining jurors and conducting
a hearing with counsel about whether or not to dismiss juror 8, the trial court
agreed to interview juror 8. Id. at 763-64. Juror 8 explained his view "'that it
does not matter what[the instructions] says, it matters if we believe. . . the
witnesses are credible." Id. at 765 (quoting RP at 1183). On this basis, without
interviewing any other jurors, the trial court found that juror 8 "manifested
unfitness by reason of bias or prejudice with respect to the instructions on the law
as a whole in this matter" and disqualified him. Id. (quoting RP at 1185-86).
After juror 8 was replaced by an alternate juror and deliberations began anew,
the reconstituted jury found Elmore guilty. Id. at 766. On appeal, the Supreme
Court acknowledged that there was evidence that juror 8 was participating in
deliberations but disagreed with the other jurors about the witnesses' credibility.
Id. at 778-79. It then reversed the convictions, holding that
[w]here there is conflicting evidence as to the reasoning behind a
juror's position, the heightened standard requires the trial court to
err on the side of allowing the juror to continue to deliberate if there
24
No. 75924-8-1/25
is any reasonable possibility that the juror's views are based on the
sufficiency of the evidence.
Id. at 779. Reversal was necessary because the trial court did not apply this
heightened evidentiary standard before removing juror 8. Id. at 780.
Here, Whitaker first moved for a mistrial when juror 2 was segregated from
the other jurors, arguing that juror 2's segregation violated Whitaker's right to a
unanimous jury verdict because it indicated to the other jurors that something
was wrong with juror 2's point of view.2 He renewed this claim in his motion for a
new trial, after juror 2 was dismissed for medical reasons. The trial court denied
the motion for a new trial, stating that "Juror No. 2 was not excused because he
was a holdout juror but because he suffered a serious medical emergency that
rendered him unable to deliberate." CP at 98.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Unlike the juror in Elmore,juror
2 was not dismissed because he refused to follow the court's instructions. He
was dismissed because he suffered a heart attack and could not return.
Whitaker argues that juror 2 suffered a heart attack because of the stress
of being the defense holdout juror and, therefore, his dismissal for health reasons
was related to his views on the merits of the case. Juror 2's declaration stated
that he was threatened by members of the jury and began having chest pains
when "the pressure on me became too great." CP at 372-74. But there is no
2 In its cross appeal, the State also argued that Whitaker waived his right
to assert this issue by asking the trial court to reserve ruling on his motion for a
mistrial. Again, we choose to reach the merits of Whitaker's claim and do not
address the State's argument of waiver.
25
No. 75924-8-1/26
medical evidence in the record explaining the cause of juror 2's heart attack, and
regardless of any connection between the stress of jury duty and his medical
condition, the trial court's decision to excuse juror 2 was based on his medical
issues, not his views on the case. Therefore, reversal is not warranted.
Whitaker also argues that lap of these issues could have been avoided" if
the bailiff had originally "told the juror to put his request [to be excused] in writing
so the judge could take up the matter with the parties." Br. of Appellant at 37.
But it is unclear how keeping juror 2 in the jury room against his will could have
prevented his medical condition or his inability to serve based on that condition.
Therefore, this argument is not persuasive.
JUROR MISCONDUCT
Whitaker argues that he is entitled to a new trial because one of the jurors
decided Whitaker was guilty before deliberations and told other jurors "'I hope
they fry the fucking bastard." CP at 1733. We disagree.
The Washington State Constitution provides that "[t]he right of trial by jury
shall remain inviolate." WASH. CONST. art. I, § 21. "The right of trial by jury
means a trial by an unbiased and unprejudiced jury, free of disqualifying jury
misconduct." State v. Tic:Ian°, 63 Wash. App. 336, 341, 818 P.2d 1369 (1991). "A
trial court may grant a new trial based on juror misconduct when it affirmatively
appears that a substantial right of the defendant was materially affected." State
v. Tandecki, 120 Wash. App. 303, 310, 84 P.3d 1262(2004), aff'd, 153 Wash. 2d 842,
109 P.3d 398 (2005).
As a general rule, the trial courts have wide discretionary
powers in conducting a trial and dealing with irregularities which
26
No. 75924-8-1/27
arise. A mistrial should be granted only when... the defendant
has been so prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure
that defendant will be tried fairly.
State v. Gilcrist, 91 Wash. 2d 603, 612, 590 P.2d 809(1979)(citations omitted).
Only errors that may have affected the outcome of the trial are prejudicial. Id.
An allegation that a jury has deliberated prematurely, without more, does
not warrant a new trial. Tate v. Rommel, 3 Wash. App. 933, 937-38, 478 P.2d 242
(1970)("[T]he mere revealing of an opinion, as to the ultimate outcome of a trial
by an otherwise unbiased juror, before submission of the case to the jury, based
upon evidence properly received, while not to be condoned, does not, standing
alone, constitute such misconduct as to justify the granting of a new trial."). A
party must show that the communication prejudiced the outcome of the trial.
Tate, 3 Wn. App. at 938(emphasis omitted). Otherwise,
[i]f every verdict were subject to impeachment if the losing side
could obtain an affidavit indicating that in making up his or her
mind, the juror reached certain critical conclusions prior to
commencement of deliberations, disregarded some evidence,
misunderstood an instruction, misapplied the rules of law, or
completely misunderstood the testimony of one or more witnesses,
then a jury verdict would simply be the first round in an interminably
prolonged trial process.
State v. Hatlev, 41 Wash. App. 789, 794, 706 P.2d 1083(1985).
In Hatley, this court addressed whether a court may consider the point at
which jurors made up their minds about guilt or innocence. Id. at 793. There,
Hatley moved for a new trial after a juror's alleged misconduct came to light. Id.
at 792. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing. Id. At the hearing, the juror
admitted that he had talked to an acquaintance about the trial during the second
week of the three-week trial. Id. He denied stating an opinion about Hatley's
27
No. 75924-8-1/28
guilt to that acquaintance but admitted that he made up his mind before the jury
began to deliberate. Id. The trial court found that the juror made his final
decision about Hatley's guilt before the jury deliberated and that this misconduct
prejudiced Hatley's right to a fair trial. Id.
The Court of Appeals reversed, determining that the trial court improperly
considered the juror's testimony as well as that of the juror's acquaintance,
because the facts in the testimony were linked to the juror's motive, intent, or
belief. Id. at 794. Such evidence of jurors' mental processes, including their
expressed opinions and when they made up their minds, inheres in the verdict.
Id. at 793-94. Additionally, the court noted that even if the juror made up his
mind before deliberations began, this misconduct was not prejudicial. Id. at 794.
It reasoned that if a new trial were required every time a juror revealed his private
opinion during trial, it would open the door to widespread interrogation of jurors
after trial. Id. at 795 (quoting Tate, 3 Wash. App. at 937).
Here, Whitaker moved for a new trial, alleging juror misconduct. The trial
court held an evidentiary hearing and questioned the jurors. The court found that
after the testimony of the medical examiner, but before deliberations began, one
juror stated, "``I hope they fry the fucking bastard." CP at 1733. Seven of the
fourteen jurors testified that they did not hear the statement, three stated that
they heard a disparaging remark, and four testified that they heard the same or a
substantially similar comment. The trial court denied Whitaker's motion, finding
that there was no evidence that this statement prejudiced him.
28
No. 75924-8-1/29
The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Whitaker has not asserted that
the jurors relied on any evidence outside the record, and any evidence of when
the jury decided Whitaker's guilt inheres in the verdict and was properly not
considered by the trial court. Hatlev, 41 Wash. App. at 793-94. Therefore,
Whitaker's right to an impartial jury was not violated.
Whitaker argues that the juror's comment indicates a failure to follow the
trial court's instructions to keep an open mind, not be overcome by emotion, and
not consider punishment. Even so, evidence of when the juror made up his or
her mind or expressed his or her opinion to the rest of the jury is linked to that
juror's motive, intent, or belief, and it inheres in the verdict. Id.
Whitaker further argues that Hatley and Tate are distinguishable because
in those cases, the juror's comments of guilt were to someone outside of the jury
rather than to the jury itself and the statement at issue here was much more
inflammatory than the statements in those cases. Despite these factual
differences, the analysis is the same. The juror's statement in this case inheres
in the verdict, and Whitaker has not shown that the comment prejudiced him.
AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS
In this appeal, as in his last appeal, Whitaker argues that the autopsy
photos admitted during the medical examiner's testimony were more prejudicial
than probative and that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting them. We
disagree.
"Accurate photographic representations are admissible, even if gruesome,
if their probative value outweighs their prejudicial effect." Whitaker, 133 Wash.
29
No. 75924-8-1/30
App. at 227 (citing State v. Crenshaw, 98 Wash. 2d 789, 806,659 P.2d 488 (1983)).
"A bloody, brutal crime cannot be explained to a jury in a lily-white manner." Id.
(citing State v. Adams, 76 Wash. 2d 650, 656,458 P.2d 558 (1969), rev'd on other
grounds, 403 U.S. 947, 91 S. Ct. 2273, 29 L. Ed. 2d 855 (1971)). That said,
although the State may present "ample evidence" to prove every element of the
crime, it does not have free reign to introduce every piece of admissible evidence
when the cumulative effect of that evidence is inflammatory and unnecessary.
Id. (quoting Crenshaw, 98 Wn.2d at 807); see also State v. Sargent, 40 Wash. App.
340, 698 P.2d 598(1985)(Abuse of discretion to admit four autopsy photographs
when only one showed premeditation and testimonial evidence and diagrams
could have revealed the same information in a nonprejudicial manner.).
"The admission of autopsy photographs is in the sound discretion of the
trial court." Whitaker, 133 Wash. App. at 227 (citing State v. Lord, 117 Wash. 2d 829,
870, 822 P.2d 177 (1991), abrogated on other grounds la State v. Schierman,
Wn.2d , 415 P.3d 106 (2018)). "Photographs have probative value
where they are used to illustrate or explain the testimony of the pathologist
performing the autopsy." Id. (citing Lord 117 Wn.2d at 870). "Unless it is clear
from the record that the primary reason to admit gruesome photographs is to
inflame the jury's passion, appellate courts will uphold the decision of the trial
court." Id. "The law requires an exercise of restraint, not a preclusion simply
because other less inflammatory testimonial evidence is available." Id. (citing
State v. Stackhouse, 90 Wash. App. 344, 357, 957 P.2d 218 (1998)).
30
No. 75924-8-1/31
Here, the trial court admitted 15 autopsy photographs during the testimony
of the medical examiner. The medical examiner testified that around 100
photographs were taken during Burkheimer's autopsy and that the 15 selected
for trial showed the injuries to Burkheimer's body, what the medical examiner
looked at when he decided where the bullet exit and entry wounds were, and
how Burkheimer's injuries related to one another. His testimony explaining the
photographs and his conclusions about Burkheimer's injuries was straightforward
and not inflammatory.
During Whitaker's first appeal, he challenged the admission of the autopsy
photographs on substantially the same basis. This court held that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in admitting the photographs because although the
photographs were gruesome, it was reasonable to conclude that the "jurors
would better understand the doctor's testimony with photographs than they would
with diagrams." Id. at 229.
Whitaker argues that the issue is different in this appeal because he
agreed not to question the validity of the medical examiner's testimony and, in
fact, did not cross-examine the medical examiner. Even so, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in determining that the probative value of the photographs in
helping to illustrate the medical examiner's testimony outweighed their prejudicial
effect.
Whitaker also argues that the juror's comment after the medical
examiner's testimony that "I hope they fry the fucking bastard" illustrates that the
photos inflamed the jury. CP at 1733. There is no doubt that these photographs
31
No. 75924-8-1/32
are disturbing. But this was a brutal crime, and the record does not show that the
primary reason for admitting the photographs was to inflame the jury. Rather, it
establishes that the photographs were admitted to support the testimony of the
medical examiner. The State did not offer all 100 of the photographs but instead
selected 15 that best illustrated Burkheimer's injuries. Therefore, the trial court
did not abuse its discretion by admitting them.
TESTIMONY ON POSTARREST SILENCE
Whitaker argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the prosecutor
elicited testimony that Whitaker exercised his right to remain silent. We disagree.
"The State may not use a defendant's constitutionally permitted silence as
substantive evidence of guilt." State v. Romero, 113 Wash. App. 779, 787, 54 P.3d
1255(2002)(citing State v. Lewis, 130 Wash. 2d 700, 705, 927 P.2d 235 (1996);
State v. Easter, 130 Wash. 2d 228, 236, 922 P.2d 1285 (1996); State v. Curtis, 110
Wash. App. 6, 11-12, 37 P.3d 1274 (2002)). The right to silence is derived from the
Fifth Amendment and article 1, section 9 of the Washington State Constitution.
Id. at 786 (citing Easter, 130 Wash. 2d at 238). A defendant's constitutional right to
silence applies both pre- and postarrest. Id. (citing Easter, 130 Wn.2d at 243).
In the postarrest context, it is well settled that the State violates due process
where it comments on a defendant's exercise of his right to remain silent. Id. at
786-87 (citing Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 619, 96 S. Ct. 2240, 49 L. Ed. 2d 91
(1976); State v. Fricks, 91 Wash. 2d 391, 395-96, 588 P.2d 1328 (1979)). Thus, it is
constitutional error for a police witness to testify that a defendant refused to
speak to him and for the State to purposefully elicit testimony as to the
32
No. 75924-8-1/33
defendant's silence. Id. at 790 (citing Easter. 130 Wash. 2d at 236, 241; Curtis 110
Wash. App. at 13).
If the defendant's silence is the subject of a direct comment, a
constitutional error exists and the reviewing court must decide if the error was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.3 Id. (citing Easter, 130 Wn.2d at 241-42).
"'The State bears the burden of showing a constitutional error was harmless."
Id. at 794 (quoting Easter, 130 Wash. 2d at 242). A constitutional error is harmless
if the court is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that any reasonable jury
would have reached the same result absent the error, and if the untainted
evidence is so overwhelming it necessarily leads to a finding of guilt. Id. at 794-
95 (citing Easter, 130 Wash. 2d at 242; State v. Aumick, 126 Wash. 2d 422, 430, 894
P.2d 1325 (1995); State v. Whelchel, 115 Wash. 2d 708, 728, 801 P.2d 948 (1990)).
Where an error is not harmless, the defendant must have a new trial. Id. at 795
(citing Easter, 130 Wash. 2d at 242).
Here, Detective Brad Pince testified directly as to Whitaker's postarrest
silence:
Q. Prior to you having a conversation with [Whitaker], did you
advise him of his rights?
A. I did.
Q. Did you advise him of his rights from memory or from some
document?
A. From a card I carry with me in my pocket.
Q. Is that a card that you carry with you when you're working?
3 A different analysis applies if the comment is indirect, which is not
applicable here.
33
No. 75924-8-1/34
A. It is.
Q. Do you have it with you today?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you read in the record the rights you advised John
Whitaker of that day.
A. The rights that I read to him is, you have the right to remain
silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right at this time to talk to a lawyer and to have him
present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot
afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you
before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to
exercise these rights, not answer any questions, or make any
statements.
Q. Did John Whitaker waive those rights and speak with you that
day?
A. No.
Q. So at some point in time did you have a conversation with him
that day?
A. Brief one, yes.
RP at 2478-79(emphasis added). Defense counsel objected, the trial court
struck the answer, and defense counsel then moved for a mistrial. The
prosecutor explained that he elicited the testimony by mistake and that he
intended to elicit testimony about a statement Whitaker made to Detective Pince
at a different time. The trial court reserved ruling on the motion for a mistrial and
the testimony continued.4 Detective Pince then testified that Whitaker told him
4 In its cross appeal, the State argues that Whitaker waived his right to
assert this issue because he later asked the trial court to reserve ruling on his
motion for a mistrial until after the jury rendered its verdict. We choose to reach
the merits of Whitaker's claim and do not address the State's argument of waiver.
34
No. 75924-8-1/35
he made a statement to the FBI and that he was frustrated that Anderson "wasn't
stepping up and taking responsibility for this, and that he believed [Anderson]
was the one that was responsible." Id. at 2483. The State did not mention
Whitaker's assertion of his right to remain silent again.
,
Whitaker raised this issue in his motion for a new trial. The trial court
found that Detective Pince's testimony violated Whitaker's constitutional rights,
but that the prosecutor did not purposefully elicit the testimony and that the error
was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt:
Taking the record as a whole, including Mr. Whitaker's express
waiver of his rights during his lengthy interview with the FBI agents
who arrested him in California, and the evidence of his later
volunteered statements to Detective Pince, as well as the
overwhelming evidence of Mr. Whitaker's involvement in the crimes
charged, the court finds this testimony to be harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt.
CP at 92.
The trial court correctly held that Detective Pince's response violated
Whitaker's constitutional rights. The question is whether that violation was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We hold that, within the context of the
trial, it was.
Here, jury instruction 1 instructed that if evidence "was stricken from the
record, then you are not to consider it in reaching your verdict." CP at 481.
Detective Pince's testimony was immediately stricken from the record by the trial
court, and we presume that the jury followed the trial court's instructions and did
not consider it. State v. Lamar, 180 Wash. 2d 576, 586, 327 P.3d 46(2014)
("Juries are presumed to follow instructions absent evidence to the contrary.")
35
No. 75924-8-1/36
(quoting State v. Dye, 178 Wash. 2d 541, 556, 309 P.3d 1192 (2013)). Additionally,
immediately after the improper comment, Detective Pince testified that Whitaker
did talk to him, the State did not refer to the improper comment again, and as
argued by the State, there was a significant amount of evidence as to Whitaker's
guilt.
Whitaker argues that Detective Pince's testimony explaining the
statements of other participants in the crime, provided immediately before the
improper comment, unfairly juxtaposed the other participants' cooperation
against Whitaker's failure to cooperate. But immediately after the improper
comment, Detective Pince testified that Whitaker did talk to him. This
continuation of the testimony limits any prejudicial juxtaposition. In context, the
error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, and the trial court did not abuse
its discretion by denying Whitaker's motion for a new trial.
CUMULATIVE ERROR
Whitaker argues that even if the errors raised above do not separately
justify reversal, their cumulative effect does. We disagree.
The cumulative error doctrine applies when several trial errors occur
which, standing alone, may not be sufficient to justify reversal but when
combined may deny the defendant a fair trial. State v. Greiff, 141 Wash. 2d 910,
929, 10 P.3d 390 (2000). It does not apply where the errors are few and have
little or no effect on the outcome of the trial. Id.
Here, there were several errors, including the prosecutor's invitation for
the jury to imagine how Burkheimer was feeling and what she was thinking in the
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hours leading up to her death, the prosecutor's closing argument about duress,
and Detective Pince's comment on Whitaker's silence, none of which is
reversible on its own. But even when combined, we cannot find that these errors
denied Whitaker a fair trial. Therefore, reversal is not indicated.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS
In his statement of additional grounds, Whitaker argues that the State
withheld evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland. 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194,
10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963). We disagree.
To establish a Brady violation, a defendant must demonstrate that(1)the
evidence at issue is favorable to the accused,(2) the evidence was willfully or
inadvertently suppressed by the State, and (3) prejudice resulted. Strickler v.
Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82, 119 S. Ct. 1936, 144 L. Ed. 2d 286 (1999); State
v. Mullen, 171 Wash. 2d 881, 895, 259 P.3d 158(2011).
Here, Whitaker argues that the State violated Brady by withholding
criminal history information on the witnesses, handwritten notes from officers
working the case, and information on benefits given to Christian White, a
jailhouse witness. Because Whitaker fails to explain how the criminal history and
handwritten notes could have aided his defense or why it was favorable to him,
he cannot show a Brady violation. Additionally, because White did not testify,
Whitaker cannot show that the State's failure to share impeachment information
prejudiced him. Reversal is not required.
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For the reasons stated above, we affirm.
WE CONCUR:
••
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