Opinion ID: 2075202
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Government Impeachment of Its Own Witness.

Text: Appellant contends that during the redirect examination of witness Witherspoon, the prosecution was erroneously permitted to impeach its own witness, over his objection, without a showing of surprise and without a cautionary instruction being given. On cross-examination, the witness had said that he had been unable to identify two suspects from photographs shown him by the police. On redirect, defense counsel objected to several questions concerning what the witness had stated earlier in this regard in a written statement to the police and was shown that portion of his statement which prompted him to change his testimony. Appellant's counsel contends that this ran contrary to the provisions of D.C.Code 1973, § 14-102, which requires a showing of surprise and when the witness is impeached, a cautionary instruction must be given to the jury advising them that the prior inconsistent statement is to be considered only in assessing the witness' credibility and is not substantive evidence. See Johnson v. United States, D.C.App., 387 A.2d 1084 (1978) (en banc). [9] However, the record reflects that the prosecutor merely was permitted to refresh the witness' recollection by showing him part of an earlier written statement he had made to police. The contents were not read to the jury nor was it introduced in evidence. We conclude that impeachment was not involved and a cautionary instruction would have served no purpose, as there was nothing to caution the jury about.