Opinion ID: 1163394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Cross-Examination on DCI Agent's Interrogation Manual

Text: In her second claim of error, Witt challenges the district court's denial of her cross-examination on DCI Special Investigator Callaghan's use of an interrogation manual, The Reid Technique of Specialized Interrogation Strategies. She contends Callaghan's use of the manual was relevant to the question of her confession's voluntariness. The district court permitted defense counsel to question Callaghan concerning the methods she employed in her interrogation of Witt. However, after Callaghan testified that she did not recall the techniques outlined in the manual and did not employ a particular interrogation technique when questioning Witt, the district court ruled that no foundation existed for further questioning concerning the manual. As we noted earlier, evidentiary rulings are committed to the district court's discretion and will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of that discretion. Trujillo, 880 P.2d at 580. Defense counsel failed to establish that Callaghan relied upon the interrogation manual in questioning Witt, and we thus cannot find unreasonable the district court's determination that no foundation existed for continued questioning on the manual.