Title: State v. Gegen
Citation: 147 N.W.2d 925
Docket Number: 40148
State: Minnesota
Issuer: Minnesota Supreme Court
Date: January 20, 1967

147 N.W.2d 925 (1967) STATE of Minnesota, Respondent, v. Thomas M. GEGEN, Appellant. No. 40148. Supreme Court of Minnesota. January 20, 1967. Patrick W. Hawkins, So. St. Paul, for appellant. Robert W. Mattson, Atty. Gen., St. Paul, Joseph P. Summers, City Atty., Gerald A. Alfveby, and Thomas M. Mooney, Asst. City Attys., St. Paul, for respondent. PER CURIAM. Defendant was charged with driving and having control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating beverage. The state called Police Officer Donald Irving Mars. On direct examination he was asked what he and defendant talked about while they were in the squad car on the way to the police station. He testified: *926 Defendant's counsel promptly moved for mistrial. The court denied the motion. It should have been granted.[1] It is hard for us to believe that the question was not asked deliberately and that the prosecutor did not know the answer he was going to get. If prosecutors and police officers persist in trying to inject into a trial indirectly matters which they know they cannot introduce directly the only solution is to let them try the case over. Reversed and new trial granted. PETERSON, J., not having been a member of this court at the time of the submission, took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. [1] See, City of Sioux Falls v. Johnson, 78 S.D. 272, 100 N.W.2d 750.