Opinion ID: 1708859
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: did the limited cross-examination of michael medders violate the appellant's rights pursuant to state law and the sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments to the united states constitution?

Text: During Medders' testimony, a discrepancy developed as to whether the robbery was actually planned on Sunday or Monday. In order to impeach Medders' testimony, counsel for the defendant attempted to get into evidence a statement which Medders had given to his attorney. At that point, Medders asserted his attorney-client privilege, in order to prevent introduction of the statement. Defense counsel then argued that the privilege had been waived, because Medders had given a statement to the police. The court allowed Medders to claim the privilege. On appeal, Stringer argues that this was error, because he was not allowed the opportunity to impeach Medders on his inconsistent statement. This assignment is without merit. The defense was attempting to impeach Medders on a collateral matter. In Williams v. State, 73 Miss. 820, 19 So. 826 (1896), this Court held that a witness may only be impeached on a statement which embodies A fact substantive in its nature and relevant to the issue made in the case. 73 Miss. at 824, 19 So. at 827. The question is whether Jimbo Stringer should have been allowed to prove that Medders had once said that the planning occurred on Sunday, rather than Monday, as part of his central case to prove his innocence. Clearly, the issue of whether the crime was planned on Sunday or Monday has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of Jimbo Stringer. Thus, the matter is collateral.