Opinion ID: 2075877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: evidence of earlier burglary

Text: Dawson was tried on thirteen counts of a fifteen-count indictment. Two counts of the indictment charged Dawson with Burglary in the Second Degree and Misdemeanor Theft at the Seeney home, a brief time before the murder of Madeline Kisner. Dawson entered a guilty plea to those charges prior to trial. The State offered evidence of the Seeney burglary, during the guilt/innocence phase of Dawson's trial. With that evidence, the State sought to establish that Dawson was in the Kenton area at the time Madeline Kisner was murdered. Dawson acknowledges that evidence establishing that he was within one-half mile of the Kisner home on the morning of Madeline Kisner's murder was relevant to the State's case. However, Dawson submits that the Superior Court erred in admitting evidence that he burglarized the Seeney residence, while he was in the Kenton area. In the Superior Court, Dawson argued that evidence of this other crime at the Seeney residence was inadmissible according to D.R.E. 404(b). Alternatively, Dawson argued that, if the evidence of the Seeney burglary was not precluded by D.R.E. 404(b), it was nevertheless inadmissible, because the probative value of that evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial nature. D.R.E. 403. The State argued that the evidence of this other crime was admissible as an integral part of the immediate context of the crimes for which Dawson was being tried, and, therefore, was not governed by Rule 404(b). United States v. Bass, 794 F.2d 1305, 1312 (8th Cir.1986). The Superior Court assumed, without deciding, that D.R.E. 404(b) was applicable to the State's request to introduce evidence of the Seeney burglary. The Superior Court articulated two reasons for its decision. First, it concluded that even if the State's position was correct, and evidence of the Seeney burglary was not within the scope of 404(b), Rule 403 nevertheless required the Court to determine if the probative value of the evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial nature. Second, the Superior Court decided to give Dawson the benefit of all protections afforded by the Delaware Uniform Rules of Evidence. After articulating the basis for its analysis, the Superior Court carefully applied the guidelines set forth by this Court in Getz v. State, Del.Supr., 538 A.2d 726 (1988). In doing so, the Superior Court stated, in part: The probative value of the evidence must be balanced against the danger of unfair prejudice. In the course of this case the defense has stated it does not dispute the Kisner burglary; thus, there is no danger here that the jury may unfairly infer the defendant committed the Kisner burglary merely because of the Seeney burglary. The Seeney burglary was a property crime that is not inflammatory in nature. The jury has already heard testimony relating to various thefts of automobiles which also were not inflammatory. I am satisfied that the precautionary instructions are likely to be effective in limiting the purpose for which the evidence may be used. I therefore conclude that the probative value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to the defendant. We find no abuse of discretion. The record supports the Superior Court's conclusion that the probative value of the evidence of the Seeney burglary was not outweighed by its prejudicial nature. The Superior Court's decision which permitted the State to introduce evidence of the other crimes by Dawson at the Seeney residence with an appropriate precautionary instruction to the jury, is affirmed. [21] Getz v. State, Del.Supr., 538 A.2d 726 (1988).