Com. v. Davis

• Decision Date: 29 June 1978
• Citation: 479 Pa. 274,388 A.2d 324
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Benjamin Franklin DAVIS, Appellant.
• Court: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Page 324

388 A.2d 324

479 Pa. 274

COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Benjamin Franklin DAVIS, Appellant.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Argued May 26, 1977.

Decided June 29, 1978.

[479 Pa. 275] Glenn C. Vaughn, York, for appellant.

Donald L. Reihart, Dist. Atty., Sheryl Ann Dorney, Asst. Dist. Atty., for appellee.

Before EAGEN, C. J., and O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY, NIX and MANDERINO, JJ.

OPINION OF THE COURT

EAGEN, Chief Justice.

Benjamin Franklin Davis was convicted by a jury in York County of murder of the first degree. ¹ Proceedings were then conducted pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sentencing Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 1311 (Supp.1977-78), and the jury fixed the penalty at death. Post-verdict motions were later denied and sentence of death was imposed as the jury directed. This appeal followed.

During the trial and also during the hearing conducted under the Sentencing Code, Davis was permitted by the trial court to represent himself, ² although the public defender was directed by the court to stand by for Davis "to confer with." It is first urged that the court committed reversible error in permitting Davis to represent himself because: "1) the record does not affirmatively show Davis to have been literate, competent and understanding and to have been voluntarily exercising his free will in refusing the assistance of counsel; and 2) Davis was not made aware and warned of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation in this capital case."

In Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1976), the Court made it clear that a defendant in a state criminal trial has a constitutional right to represent himself if he voluntarily and intelligently elects to do so.

In relevant part the Court said this:

"The question before us now is whether a defendant in a state criminal trial has a constitutional right to proceed without counsel when he voluntarily and intelligently elects to do so. Stated another way, the question is whether a state may constitutionally hale a person into its criminal courts and there force a lawyer upon him, even when he insists that he wants to conduct his own defense. It is not an easy question, but we have concluded that a state may not constitutionally do so." (Emphasis added.) 422 U.S. at 807, 95 S.Ct. at 2527. ³

Thus, as to this assignment of error, the crucial question is: did Davis "voluntarily and intelligently" elect to represent himself? The trial court concluded he did and, in our view, the record clearly supports this conclusion. Pertinently, the record discloses this:

Silas "Babe" Feder was fatally shot while being robbed at a newsstand he operated in the City of York on April 19, 1975. Davis was taken into police custody in New York City for the crimes on May 31, and, after a hearing, was ordered extradited to Pennsylvania on August 22. He was arraigned before the Court of Common Pleas of York County on September 5. On September 8, the public defender entered an appearance on Davis' behalf and trial was listed for September 15.

On September 15, the case was called for trial. The Chief Public Defender, Attorney John H. Chronister, and Davis appeared before the court and the following ensued:

(MR. CHRONISTER:)

"Your Honor, in this case I was asked to talk with Mr. Davis and determine if I could be ready to proceed with trial in a week's notice. In my opinion I am not ready to proceed with trial at this time, however there are not this is not because the issues are so complex or difficult that I could not try it at this time, it is as a result of the fact that Mr. Davis had indicated to me that it is his preference that I not act as defense counsel in this sense, he wishes to have the case tried in a certain manner. He has given me instructions as to how he wishes to have the case tried. I feel what he says to be unexceptionable (sic) as a basis of handling the case. He has asked me not to present any defense, to sit idly by and let the conviction be obtained. I do not concur in this and I think he is wrong in doing it, and I have advised him of this. I have also informed him of course I can't force him to do what I want him to do, that he is the one who is on trial, and he is the one who has the final say in what we will do and won't do insofar as I am able to determine.

"I am sort of at a loss here, I really don't know what my obligations are insofar as when my client indicates he wants to proceed in one way, and I feel it wrong, whether I should follow his instructions, or handle it as I see fit.

"Mr. Davis indicates he does wish to go to trial and he is prepared to have all the cases against him tried today to get them over with, and that if I don't follow his instructions, he is quite prepared to continue himself, and see that his instructions are carried out that way. Does that fairly state the situation, Mr. Davis?

(MR. DAVIS:)

"Right."

The trial judge then proceeded to explain to Davis the nature and seriousness of the charges, and the possible punishments he faced in the event he were found guilty.

In answer to the court's question, "Do you understand that," Davis replied, "Yeah."

The trial judge then went on to advise Davis that he had the right to represent himself but he cautioned against it. The court explained how a lawyer could help in the questioning and selection of the jurors, the opening statement to the jury, the questioning of witnesses, the introduction of evidence, the final argument to the jury, as well as in other functions in the trial. After this explanation, which Davis indicated he understood, the trial judge said to Davis, "Maybe you can do these things by yourself, but I would say to you, Mr. Davis, a lawyer who is experienced can do them better."

The trial judge then elicited from Davis that he was nineteen-years-of-age, that he was from Newburgh, New York, and had an "eleventh grade education."

After Davis again said he wished to represent himself, the trial judge repeated he was exposing himself to a possible death sentence. To this Davis replied, "Yeah, you know, like let's get it over with."

Finally, the trial judge inquired, "Why do you want it this way?" Davis responded, "I'd rather not say."

The trial judge then ordered the trial to proceed, and directed the public defender to stand by and be "available for advice." The trial judge also advised Davis that if he had any questions or wanted to talk to "your attorney just ask for a brief recess and we will give it to you."

The trial judge also explained that a psychiatrist and a doctor were available if Davis wished to talk to them. Davis replied: "Let the record show I know what I am doing. Hey, there is nothing wrong with me mentally or physically, okay?"

Mr. Chronister then went on to say this to the Court:

"I have talked to Mr. Davis on several occasions. He seems to understand everything I tell him. He responds intelligently to the discussions that we have. His answers are appropriate. I see no indication of anything that would show that he doesn't know what he is doing as far as a psychiatric evaluation is concerned or anything like that. The only discussion I had with him about a psychiatrist was that if a First Degree Murder verdict should be returned, and we wanted to present mitigating testimony, that a psychiatrist might be of help at that time. He has indicated there is no mental problem, and he does not wish to be examined by one."

Finally, before proceeding with the voir dire of the jurors the trial judge inquired if Davis had "anything else to say," to which Davis answered, "No . . . let's get it over with."

The Commonwealth introduced the testimony of sixteen witnesses in support of the charges against Davis. This included one eyewitness who unequivocally identified Davis as the robber and killer of Feder, a witness who identified Davis as fleeing from the site of the newsstand immediately following the shooting of Feder, and the "girlfriend" of Davis to whom he had made post-facto statements indicating he committed the robbery. Davis cross-examined only four witnesses; three of these witnesses included the witness to the crimes, the doctor who performed the post-mortem on the victim, and a hospital technician who took a blood sample of the accused. His questioning was not extensive, although he did recall the doctor for further cross-examination after another witness had testified.

The Commonwealth also attempted to introduce testimony of witnesses to show Davis had a long-barreled .22 caliber pistol in his possession nineteen days prior to the shooting of Mr. Feder, and that this was the type of gun used in the Feder killing, but Davis' objection to this testimony was sustained by the court.

In addition, the Commonwealth attempted to introduce testimony to show Davis committed another robbery while armed with a long-barreled pistol "several blocks away" from the Feder newsstand just nine days before the Feder killing, but again the court excluded this testimony upon Davis' suggestion.

After the Commonwealth concluded its case, the trial judge excused the jury and proceeded to explain to Davis his rights to make an opening statement to the jury, to introduce his defense, and to submit a final argument to the jury.

After Davis indicated he would rest his case without making an opening statement or introducing any testimony, Mr. Chronister asked "for a few minutes to talk to Mr. Davis." This opportunity was given, and later at a conference in the court's chambers Davis went on to say, "Well, I've been arrested and I haven't yet been charged, because my name is not Benjamin Davis, and I have my military discharge that will state that my name is Franklin Davis and my social security number is not 196-46-3401, it's 096-46-3401."

After an extended discussion during which Davis verbally complained of the legality of his arrest and his extradition from New...