Opinion ID: 2222135
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: motions for mistrial and for new trial

Text: As his eighth and final assignment of error, Cook asserts that the many and varied evidentiary errors in this case combined with the deficient performance of defense counsel created an inherently defective trial. Brief for appellant at 62. Cook argues that because of these deficiencies, the district court erred in overruling his motions for mistrial and for new trial. Cook provides little argument beyond the above assertions and does not specify what errors required the granting of mistrial or new trial. The decision whether to grant a motion for mistrial is within the discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of an abuse of discretion. State v. Aguilar, 264 Neb. 899, 652 N.W.2d 894 (2002). Because we have found no merit in Cook's other assignments of error and the record on appeal does not allow us to determine whether Cook received ineffective assistance of counsel, we do not find that Cook has established that his trial was inherently defective. We therefore find no merit in Cook's final assignment of error and conclude that the district court did not err in overruling Cook's motions for mistrial and for new trial.