Opinion ID: 2170053
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: issues

Text: The owner of the burned apartment, Mr. Otano, testified in the State's case in chief that he had not given anybody permission to burn the building. On cross-examination, defense counsel was permitted to question him as to when he had purchased the building, how much he had paid for it and whether or not it was insured. Then, apparently to point the finger of suspicion at Mr. Otano, counsel asked the following questions, but the State's objection to each was sustained. How much was it insured for? How much did you collect from the insurance company for the building? Mr. Otano, do you own an interest in Otano's Auto Sales that was destroyed by fire earlier? Mr. Otano, do you own any other properties that were destroyed by fire? How many times in the last five years have you collected from insurance companies for fire loss, Mr. Otano? Defendant contends that the trial court excluded the evidence as irrelevant, which may or may not be correct. True, the State's stated grounds for the objections were that the questions were irrelevant, and the court did sustain the objections, but without stating the reasons for such rulings. The trial judge has broad discretion in controlling the order of proof, Diggs v. State, (1977) 266 Ind. 547, 551, 364 N.E.2d 1176, 1178, and cross-examination, Baldwin v. State, (1980) Ind., 411 N.E.2d 605, 608. In general, we hold to the rule that cross-examination must lie within the scope of the direct examination or it may be properly excluded. The questions were not within the scope of the direct examination of the witness, and we find no error in their having been excluded. If the defendant had evidence supporting a theory of defense that one other than himself had a motive for the crime and was a more likely suspect, the time for presentation was during the defense phase of the trial. We find no reversible error. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. GIVAN, C.J., and DeBRULER, HUNTER and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.