Robert Anthony v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2001-KA-00580-COA
ROBERT ANTHONY
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF TRIAL COURT
JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH
APPEALED:
ATTORNEYS FOR
APPELLANT:
APPELLANT
APPELLEE
5/23/2001
HON. L. BRELAND HILBURN
HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
PHILLIP BROADHEAD
THOMAS M. FORTNER
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT
DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING
FILED:
CERTIORARI FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BY: JEAN SMITH VAUGHAN
ELEANOR JOHNSON PETERSON
CRIMINAL - FELONY
CONVICTION OF MURDER; SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE
AFFIRMED - 09/17/2002
10/16/2002
BEFORE SOUTHWICK, P.J., LEE AND MYERS, JJ.
SOUTHWICK, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. A circuit court jury found Robert Anthony guilty of murder. He was sentenced as an habitual offender.
On appeal, Anthony argues that his constitutional right to a speedy trial was abridged, that evidence was
erroneously admitted, and that the court should have directed a verdict for him or granted a new trial. We
find Anthony's arguments lack merit and affirm.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
¶2. On March 22, 1999, between 11:00 pm and midnight, Robert Anthony threatened to kill his girlfriend,
Brenda Harper, if she interfered with his tax refund check. He was quoted as saying "if I catch you going to
that mailbox, I am going to kill you." The next day, Harper was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. A
witness reported that between 5:00 and 5:45 p.m. he heard the gunshot and saw a woman's body being put
into a dark colored sport utility vehicle with wood grain panels by a "tall thin black man." Harper was later
discovered, dying but not yet dead, at the side of an abandoned house.
¶3. A few days later, Anthony was arrested for Harper's murder. An indictment was returned on October
12, 1999, but the trial was not held until May 21-23, 2001. The State's case against Anthony was largely
circumstantial. There was uncertainty about the make of the assailant's vehicle, though all witnesses agreed
that it was a dark colored sport utility vehicle with paneled sides. Investigators found traces of Harper's
blood in Anthony's Jeep, but could not establish how long it had been there. A tire track impression from
the scene where Harper was found did not match Anthony's vehicle. Safety glass consistent with broken
automobile windows was found on Harper at the hospital. Anthony had replaced two windows of his Jeep
within three days after the murder, and a witness from the repair shop noticed plastic sheeting on the seats.
¶4. Anthony was found guilty and his appeal has been deflected here.
DISCUSSION
1. Speedy Trial
¶5. Anthony challenges the court's denial of a motion to dismiss for failure to provide a speedy trial. Most
of Anthony's argument focuses on a claimed constitutional error. There is reference to the statutory
requirements as well, and thus we will discuss both kinds of claims.
¶6. These are the applicable dates.
03/28/99 Anthony arrested
10/12/99 Grand jury returns indictment
11/01/99 Capias executed
01/13/00 Motion for speedy trial
04/05/00 Motion for speedy trial
06/22/00 Continuance granted
11/15/00 Letter filed with clerk
02/05/01 Motion to dismiss (pro se)
02/08/01 Continuance granted
02/26/01 Motion to dismiss
04/10/01 Motion to dismiss for failure of speedy trial
05/21/01 Trial
A. Constitutional right to speedy trial
¶7. The United States Supreme Court has articulated considerations for judging whether the constitutional
right to a speedy trial has been denied. Four factors are to be examined in light of the totality of the
circumstances: (1) the length of the delay; (2) the reason for the delay; (3) the defendant's assertion of right;
and (4) the prejudice to the defendant. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530-32 (1972). We examine
each in turn.
(1) The length of the delay
¶8. Over two years passed between Anthony's arrest and his trial. A delay of more than eight months
between those events creates a presumption of prejudice and obligates the court to consider the other three
factors. Sharp v. State, 786 So. 2d 372, 380 (Miss. 2001).
¶9. We note that a long delay by itself does not create a denial of this constitutional right. Longer delays
have survived challenge. See, e.g., Smith v. State, 489 So. 2d 1389 (Miss. 1986) (7 years); Barker v.
Wingo (5 years); Hughey v. State, 512 So. 2d 4 (Miss. 1987)(33 months).
(2) The reason for the delay
¶10. Among the reasons for the delays were continuances for DNA testing, plea negotiations between the
parties, and agreed continuances. Neither party disputes that the time from arrest in March of 1999 through
the obtaining of results from DNA testing of blood samples which became available in August of 1999 was
tolled in favor of the State. Furthermore, plea negotiations were an important and lengthy contributor to the
delay. Anthony's involvement in the plea bargaining caused some delay. Finally, Anthony admitted to four
months of delays in continuances. "If the defendant is the cause of the delay, he cannot complain thereafter."
Reed v. State, 506 So. 2d 277, 281 (Miss. 1987). We find sufficient justifications for the delay as to
prevent this factor from weighing against the State. At worst it would be neutral.
(3) The defendant's assertion of right
¶11. The docket reflects that Anthony filed a motion for speedy trial in January and April 2000, and filed
motions to dismiss in April 2000, February 2001, and April 2001, the last being a few weeks before trial
began. In addition, Anthony mailed a letter to the court in November 2000, which from statements during
the sole transcribed hearing on motions appears also to have been a request for a speedy trial. There is only
one ruling in the record on any of these motions. That occurred on the first day of trial, and after a brief oral
argument a motion to dismiss for abridgment of speedy trial rights was denied. It is a party's duty to obtain
rulings on motions and to ensure the completeness of the record. Gayten v. State, 595 So. 2d 409, 413
(Miss. 1992).
¶12. Motions that request dismissal on speedy trial grounds as opposed to seeking the court's assistance in
requiring a trial have been found insufficient to constitute an assertion of the right under this Barker factor.
Perry v. State, 637 So. 2d 871, 875 (Miss. 1994). At least three of the motions sought dismissal and not
a trial.
¶13. We find no weight to this factor.
(4) The prejudice to the defendant
¶14. The right to a speedy trial affects these interests: (a) protect against oppressive pretrial incarceration;
(b) minimize anxiety and concern of the defendant; and (c) limit the possibility that the defense will be
impaired. Barker, 407 U.S. at 532. Incarceration alone is insufficient prejudice to warrant reversal. Birkley
v. State, 750 So. 2d 1245, 1252 (Miss. 1999).
¶15. The only relevant prejudice argued is a general impact on the defense resulting from potential memory
loss by witnesses. There is no specific allegation of a witness who was critical to the defense whose
memory failed or availability was lost. Anthony has failed to demonstrate any prejudice other than that
presumed under the first Barker factor.
¶16. After balancing the factors in the Barker analysis, we find that Anthony's constitutional right to a
speedy trial was not violated.
B. Statutory right to speedy trial
¶17. By statute and absent good cause, the State must bring a defendant to trial within 270 days of the
arraignment, excepting the period covered by continuances duly granted. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-17-1
(Rev. 2000). From arraignment to trial was 430 calendar days.
¶18. Anthony admitted to four months of delays based on proper continuances. This reduces the time from
430 days to 310 days. In addition, as plea negotiations broke down, the State properly set the case for the
first available trial date, May 21, 2001. An overcrowded docket may provide good cause for delay by the
State. Kinzey v. State, 498 So. 2d 814, 817 (Miss. 1986). Thus, the time period from Anthony's motion
to dismiss on February 26, 2001, to the date of trial was properly justified by the State, and reduces the
total by 84 days to 226 days, well within the 270 day limit. Consequently, we hold that there was no
violation of the statutory speedy trial right.
2. Admissibility of Prior Bad Acts
¶19. Anthony alleges error based on Rule of Evidence 404(b) and 403. During a hearing on pretrial
motions, Anthony attempted to exclude evidence that the day before Harper died, he had threatened to kill
her. The court did not rule at that time. "Well, threats made in conjunction with the March 23rd assault, of
course, I understand . . . . If it fits within the framework of being that close to the incident, then, I feel like it
does have relevance." Though he gave this initial reaction to the proposition, the trial judge did not rule on
the motion in limine. He wanted to have the benefit of evidence of the proximity of the threat to the victim's
death. When the witness who heard the threat later testified, that was the time to object and get a final
ruling. No objection was made.
¶20. Failure to object is normally a waiver of an appellate issue of admissibility of that evidence. Here,
evidence of a "bad act," i.e., the threat, that occurred prior to the crime being prosecuted was introduced.
That evidence may be relevant to show motive, opportunity, intent, or other relevant fact. M.R.E. 404(b).
Such evidence may be admitted unless its probative value is substantially outweighed by its prejudicial
effect. M.R.E. 403. There is caselaw suggesting that an on-the-record balancing is required; a court should
give an instruction informing jurors of the limited purpose of that evidence. McKee v. State 791 So. 2d
804, 810 (Miss. 2001).
¶21. We find no basis to reverse for failure of the trial judge to perform an on-the-record balancing or to
give a limiting instruction when the defense does not even object to the evidence. We acknowledge that this
was an important statement. There were no eyewitnesses to make a direct tie between Anthony and the
murder. The evidence was relevant to show a motive or an intent by Anthony for the crime. Had an
objection been made, quite possibly the trial judge would have found this to be proper Rule 404(b)
evidence. Certainly the evidence was inculpatory, but the prejudicial effect that Rule 403 forces a court to
weigh is only the unjustified harm to a party arising from evidence that might be given inappropriate weight
or could otherwise pervert the fact-finding.
¶22. That the person charged with murder had only hours earlier threatened to kill the victim is clearly
prejudicial to the defendant's chances for acquittal, but not prejudice in the sense of a skewing of the factfinding. We also find significant probative value to the statement in showing intent or motive. Thus, though
no objection was raised, admission of this evidence does not rise to fundamental error requiring plain error
analysis.
¶23. Furthermore, if acts are so interrelated as to be a continuing occurrence, evidence of the earlier act is
admissible to allow the jury to receive the complete story of the crime. Underwood v. State, 708 So. 2d
18, 32 (Miss. 1998). That Harper and Anthony had this confrontation one day and Harper was killed the
next is sufficiently close in time to be a continuing occurrence.
¶24. The admission of the evidence was not error.
3. Exclusion of Evidence under M.R.E. 403
¶25. Anthony's third assignment of error challenges the trial court's exclusion of evidence offered by the
defense. Anthony intended to show that the victim, Harper, had been assaulted in 1997 by an unidentified
individual driving a Ford Bronco. The vehicle is important because the eyewitness who watched someone
who resembled Anthony dispose of Harper's body initially told the police that the person was using a Ford
Bronco. As the witness developed his trial testimony however, he was less certain in identifying the make
and model but was sure of its dark color and paneled sides, a description which matched that of Anthony's
specific vehicle, which was a Jeep Cherokee.
¶26. The trial court excluded the evidence "under 403 relevancy, finding that the remoteness of the incident"
rendered it of limited probative value. Rule 403 also allows exclusion when evidence will confuse the issues
or mislead the jury. M.R.E. 403. Anthony argues that he is entitled to present any relevant evidence tending
to exonerate him. Brown v. State, 464 So. 2d 516, 520 (Miss. 1985). That is too broad a rule. "While the
accused enjoys wide latitude in the presentation of witnesses, it is within the discretion of the trial judge to
exclude proffered defense testimony, especially when it is collateral to the issues at hand." Davis v. State,
680 So. 2d 848, 850 (Miss. 1996). The defense admitted that the prior assault was a collateral matter. "It
is a completely separate case that clearly it was not [Anthony] who did it at that time . . . ."
¶27. The evidence if believed would have shown that in 1997 someone in a Ford Bronco had assaulted
Harper, while a witness to part of the 1999 crime thought that the vehicle then used was a Ford Bronco. It
is also evident that despite the make and model description, the 1999 witness also described a vehicle
similar in kind, color, and paneling as Anthony's Jeep. To be relevant, the evidence of an earlier assault
would have needed to create suspicion that whoever may have harmed Harper in 1997 and who drove a
certain vehicle, was still trying to harm Harper in 1999 and was also still driving the same vehicle. The
uncertainties in the 1999 witness's description of the Ford-Jeep were thoroughly explored by defense
counsel, and to that extent the defense received the benefit of creating doubt through this witness.
¶28. On the other hand, to examine the 1997 incident would have injected a matter of questionable
relevance. Two years had passed between the events; no evidence existed that someone in a Ford Bronco
continued to harass Harper in the intervening time. The latter fact isolates the earlier event and makes it less
probative of anything. We find no error in the trial judge's applying his judgment that the earlier event was
too distant in time and the potential connection to Harper's death too speculative. Jackson v. State, 784
So. 2d 180, 183 (Miss. 2001) (appellate court is only to determine if the trial court abused its discretion in
considering probative value and prejudicial effect).
4. Denial of motions for acquittal or for new trial
¶29. Anthony's final assignment of error is a challenge to the weight and sufficiency of the evidence. When a
jury returns a guilty verdict, we may enter an acquittal only if, taking all evidence and inferences in a light
most favorable to the prosecution, we are convinced that no reasonable, hypothetical juror would find guilt.
Tait v. State, 669 So. 2d 85, 88 (Miss. 1996). Here, viewing all evidence in favor of the State, we note
Anthony's threat to Harper on the night before she was killed that established motive or intent. Though one
witness identified a different make and model vehicle than Anthony drove as the one in which Harper had
been carried, the witness described a similar kind of vehicle and gave descriptions of certain features that
matched Anthony's Jeep. Investigators found Harper's blood inside Anthony's vehicle. The safety glass
found in Harper's clothes at the hospital was consistent with the account of Anthony's replacing broken
windows in his Jeep three days later. The plastic sheeting would have avoided bloodstains in the Jeep. The
State demonstrated that it was possible for Anthony's vehicle to have been present at the house at which
Harper was discovered without leaving impressionable tire tracks. Given this evidence, and applying the
appropriate inferences, we cannot hold it unreasonable for a jury to return a verdict against Anthony.
¶30. As to Anthony's motion for a new trial, we should affirm the denial unless the overwhelming weight of
the evidence renders the verdict an "unconscionable injustice." Groseclose v. State, 440 So. 2d 297, 300
(Miss. 1983). The evidence is not of that caliber, and the trial court was well within its discretion to deny
Anthony's motion.
¶31. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HINDS COUNTY OF CONVICTION
OF MURDER AND SENTENCE AS AN HABITUAL OFFENDER TO LIFE IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. ALL
COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE TAXED TO HINDS COUNTY.
McMILLIN, C.J., BRIDGES, THOMAS, LEE, IRVING, MYERS, CHANDLER AND
BRANTLEY, JJ., CONCUR. KING, P.J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.
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