Opinion ID: 2516514
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony of June Kansap

Text: Bui contends that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing his girl friend, June Kansap, to testify, over his counsel's objections, that she heard what she believed was a gunshot at the Jackson Street house several hours before the shooting. Br. of Appellant at 37. The State responds that the trial court has broad discretion in admitting testimony at trial and that it did not abuse its discretion in allowing Kansap's testimony. At trial, Kansap testified that approximately four hours before the shooting occurred, Bui picked her up in his car in Bellevue and drove her to the house where some of the VBs lived. Kansap went on to say that about 30 minutes after their arrival at the house she heard what sounded like fighting between people in the back part of the house and then heard what she thought was THE SOUND OF THE GUN SHOT. 5 VRP at 31. She told the jury that Bui looked SCARED by what they had heard. 5 VRP at 32. She testified that Bui then took her home to Bellevue. During the deputy prosecutor's closing argument, he made the following comments about Kansap's testimony: WELL, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT [KANSAP'S] STATEMENT IS THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT LINH BUI KNOWS THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE GUNS IN THE HOUSE. AND IT'S CLEAR THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GUNS, KNOW THERE ARE GUNS IN THE HOUSE. THIS ISN'T A BIG SURPRISE THAT PEOPLE SUDDENLY JUMP OUT OF THESE CARS AND STARTED SHOOTING. 9 VRP at 31(emphasis added). Bui alleges that Kansap's testimony had no relevance on the issue of whether he had knowledge that he was facilitating the commission of an assault when he blocked the YOT car. He claims, additionally, that even if the testimony has some relevance on that issue, its prejudicial effect substantially outweighs any probative value it may have. We are satisfied that the trial court did not err in concluding that Kansap's testimony was relevant. [11] We reach that conclusion because if Kansap's testimony were believed by the jury, it would tend to make the existence of a fact, i.e., whether Bui knew that one of the VBs possessed a gun at the time of the assault, slightly more probable. See State v. Ferreira, 69 Wash.App. 465, 471, 850 P.2d 541 (1993) (noting that evidence showing that coparticipant had a gun earlier in the day made it reasonable to conclude he had it in his possession later in the day). Moreover, we do not see how the probative value of Kansap's testimony was outweighed by the danger that it would unfairly prejudice Bui. `[U]nfair prejudice' is that which is more likely to arouse an emotional response than a rational decision by the jury. State v. Gould, 58 Wash.App. 175, 183, 791 P.2d 569 (1990). Within its context, unfair prejudice means an undue tendency to suggest a decision on an improper basis commonly an emotional one. State v. Cameron, 100 Wash.2d 520, 529, 674 P.2d 650 (1983). Bui asserts that Kansap's testimony was highly inflammatory and allowed the State to make the unfair suggestion that Bui knew that someone in his group had a gun and intended to commit an assault. Br. of Appellant at 38-39. We reject this argument. Although Kansap's testimony may have been beneficial to the State's case, nothing in her testimony appears to have had the capacity to inflame the jury or numb its sense of reason or logic. We do not believe, therefore, that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Kansap to testify as to what she heard a few hours before the shooting occurred.