Steele v. State, 1 Div. 351

• Decision Date: 24 March 1987
• Docket Number: 1 Div. 351
• Citation: 512 So.2d 142
• Parties: Carrie L. STEELE v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Page 142

512 So.2d 142

Carrie L. STEELE v. STATE.

1 Div. 351.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

March 24, 1987.

Rehearing Denied May 12, 1987.

Certiorari Denied July 31, 1987

Alabama Supreme Court 86-1106.

T. Jefferson Deen III, Mobile, for appellant.

Don Siegelman, Atty. Gen., and J. Elizabeth Kellum, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

McMILLAN, Judge.

The appellant, Carrie L. Steele, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment in the state penitentiary. The appellant raises seven issues for review, but because one of these issues requires that the case be reversed and judgment rendered in her favor, only that issue will be discussed.

The appellant contends that she was convicted on the uncorroborated testimony of two accomplices. At the close of the State's case, the defense counsel made the following motion:

"Judge, we would move for a directed verdict of acquittal. My client is charged with murder, and there has been no showing that she in any way participated in the murder. The State has been going on the assumption that she was somehow involved in a conspiracy or a plan, and we would show that there's been no showing that she was involved. And the fact that their main witness said she said nothing at any point and mere presence would not be enough to convict, so we would move for a directed verdict."

A motion to exclude evidence which does not state the grounds on which the motion is based is properly overruled. Ward v. State, 376 So.2d 1112, 1116 (Ala.Cr.App.), cert. denied, 376 So.2d 1117 (Ala.1979); Gross v. State, 56 Ala.App. 387, 321 So.2d 727, cert. denied, 295 Ala. 403, 321 So.2d 729 (1975); Espey v. State, 270 Ala. 669, 120 So.2d 904 (1960).

"To preserve the issue for appeal, it is necessary for defendant to state his grounds upon moving to exclude evidence; however, it is not necessary to draw the trial court's attention to the particular defect. It is sufficient that the defendant state the ground that the prosecution has failed to make a prima facie case. Turner v. State, 266 Ala. 250, 96 So.2d 303 (1957); see also, R. Williams, Williams' Alabama Evidence § 308 (1967)."

Ex parte Maxwell, 439 So.2d 715, 717 (Ala.1983). Because the defense counsel's motion charged such grounds, the issue of whether the State presented sufficient corroborative evidence of the two accomplice-witnesses was preserved.

Generally, the testimony presented by the two accomplices was to the effect that the victim had been living with the appellant's niece, Karo Steele, for some time and that they had been involved in a number of fights. Following one such fight, Karo ran to the appellant's house where she spent the night. The following day, a group of family members and friends of Karo were assembled at the appellant's house. There were approximately 11 individuals involved: 7 "boys" and 4 adults. Karo then informed the group that she wanted them to kill Booker T. Williams, the victim. She stated that she wanted two of the individuals, Iris and Bull, to accompany her to the front of the house and kick in the door. She wanted the rest of the group to enter the residence from the back of the house. Thereafter, five of the boys, all carrying guns, entered the home and began shooting. Thereafter, everyone ran to the cars and quickly drove away.

It is clear that the two main prosecution witnesses, Kenneth Ray O'Bair and Lenova McCants, were accomplices as a matter of law.

"Section 12-21-222 provides that one cannot be convicted of a felony on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. For the corroboration requirement of this section to apply, however, 'it must clearly appear that the witness in question is an accomplice. Ross v. State, 74 Ala. 532 (1883); Lowery v. State, 38 Ala.App. 505, 88 So.2d 854 (1956).' Perry v. State, 368 So.2d 305, 309 (Ala.Crim.App.1978), reversed on other grounds, 368 So.2d 310 (Ala.1979). The defendant who alleges that a witness is an accomplice has the burden of so proving, unless the evidence presented by the prosecution shows without dispute that the witness is an accomplice. Jacks v. State, 364 So.2d 397, 403 (Ala.Crim.App.), cert. denied, 364 So.2d 406 (Ala.1978)."

Ex parte Bates, 461 So.2d 5, 6 (Ala.1984). "The question of law for the court resolves itself into one of undisputed evidence." Washington v. State, 401 So.2d 236, 239 (Ala.Cr.App.), cert. denied, 401 So.2d 241 (Ala.1981).

" 'The mere fact that a witness is indicted for the same crime as the defendant does not per se raise a presumption that he was an accomplice. Jacks [v. State, 364 So.2d 397 (Ala.Cr.App.), cert. denied, 364 So.2d 406 (Ala.1978).]' Washington v. State, 401 So.2d 236, 239 (Ala.Cr.App.1981), writ denied, Ex parte Washington, 401 So.2d 241 (1981). A witness may be an accomplice as a matter of law and his testimony must be corroborated if he admits knowledge of and participation in the offense. Peoples v. State, 418 So.2d 935, 938 (Ala.Cr.App.1982)."

Hodges v. State, 500 So.2d 1273 (Ala.Cr.App.1986). Both O'Bair and McCants testified for the State and admitted to shooting the victim. Both of these witnesses were already serving time for the murder.

"The test for determining the sufficiency of the corroborative evidence of the testimony of an accomplice is through a 'subtraction process'. Thompson v. State, 374 So.2d 388, 389 (Ala.1979), citing Kimmons v. State, 343 So.2d 542 (Ala.Cr.App.1977). The test is generally stated:

" '[F]irst, the evidence of the accomplice must be eliminated, and then, if upon examination of all other evidence, there is sufficient incriminating evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense, there is sufficient corroboration....'

Miller v. State, 290 Ala. 248, 250, 275 So.2d 675 (1973). (Emphasis added [in McCoy.] )

"This rule is codified in Alabama Code 1975, Section 12-21-222."

McCoy v. State, 397 So.2d 577, 585 (Ala.Cr.App.), cert. denied, 397 So.2d 589 (Ala.1981).

" 'The corroboration which is sufficient to support the accomplices' testimony must be of some fact tending to prove the guilt of the defendant.

" ' "... It must be of a substantive character, must be inconsistent with the innocence of the accused and must do more than raise a suspicion of guilt...."

Sorrell v. State, 249 Ala. 292, 31 So.2d 82, 83.' "

Ex parte Bell, 475 So.2d 609, 613 (Ala.1985). See also Booker v. State, 477 So.2d 1388, 1390 (Ala.Cr.App.1985). " '[E]vidence which merely raises a conjecture, surmise, speculation, or suspicion that accused is the guilty person is not ... sufficiently corroborative of the testimony of an accomplice to warrant a conviction.' 23 C.J.S. Criminal Law, Section 812(5)(b)." Staton v. State, 397 So.2d 227, 232 (Ala.Cr.App.1981).

In the case sub judice, after subtracting the testimony of the two accomplices we find that the State's remaining evidence consisted of the testimony of five witnesses. Dr. LeRoy Riddick testified that he was employed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and that he performed the autopsy on the victim. He determined that the victim was shot 34 times and that his death was caused by gunshot wounds. Lt. Frank Dees testified that he was a detective lieutenant with the Prichard Police Department and that he investigated at the scene of the offense, following the murder. He testified that he talked to some people at the scene of the offense, but that no one knew anything about the murder. He further testified that the appellant was not anywhere around while he did his investigation. Lt. Dees testified that he first arrested all of the juveniles and that, after talking to one of them, he arrested the other individuals who were also allegedly present; the appellant was among them. Lt. Dees also testified that he discovered guns which corresponded with shells and gunshot found at the scene of the offense. These guns were uncovered during the execution of search warrants on Lenova McCants's mother's home and the appellant's mother's home. Furthermore, a gun was found near the Eclipse Club and another was retrieved from one of the juveniles. On cross-examination, Lt....