Opinion ID: 2623122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Redacted Transcript.

Text: Counsel for both sides prepared a transcript of the videotaped interrogation which was played for the jury at trial. Defense counsel filed a motion in limine requesting that Holmes' prior criminal record, prior bad acts, personal history, and activity not directly related to this case be redacted from the videotape and transcript. In the preliminary hearing, the court set aside a portion of the hearing to talk about the redaction of the videotape, the transcript, and the motion in limine. At that time, the prosecutor informed the court that prior to the hearing, both prosecution and defense tediously went through the transcript to agree on what should be deleted. The prosecutor presented defense counsel with the full version of everything that's on the video, as well as what we have so far agreed to redact. Defense counsel responded: I've seen the videotape, and . . . I think we've probably hit 90 plus percent of it. And we certainly have hit the most actionable parts, and they're contained in what we had of the written transcript. But when I compared that to the video, I think we cleaned it up tremendously. And I think for [the prosecutor] and I to agree to what needs to be redacted, I don't think we have a problem there. And so I'll go through this tonight and just make sure, but, I mean, I'm comfortable with the effort that we have put forth. On the first day of trial, defense counsel told the judge that he went through the redacted transcript and requested that items or comments such as the purported sale of drugs or sale of drugs also be deleted. An off-the-record discussion was held by the court and counsel at the bench. At that time, both parties agreed on the sections to be edited. Prior to the viewing of the videotape during trial, the court asked defense counsel if there was any concern as to the transcript itself being admitted. Defense counsel objected to the jury having a copy of the transcript in case something had been left out because he had seen the videotape in its entirety but not the redacted copy of the videotape. The court decided that the jury could use the transcript only if the videotape was inaudible. However, once the videotape was played, the court determined that the jury needed to use the transcript to follow along with the videotape. Following the videotape being viewed, defense counsel stated to the court: Judge, if I may, I'd like to make a record of a conversation that we had back in your waiting area regarding the videotape that was played. Despite our best efforts, there were some parts of the tape that were not edited correctly as [the prosecutor] and I had agreed to. And I do not want to direct attention to it, but that was the reason why I objected to it being admitted without watching it. The Court informed us that [it] would not play the videotape or . . . give a copy of the transcript to the jury without playing [the videotape] in the courtroom if [the jury] requested that. . . . [I]t was my understanding in our conversation that we would have the opportunity to redact or edit any portion that would be presented to [the jury] so that it conformed with the Court's previous order. And, also, as a result of the videotape, we are requesting . . . the [K.S.A. 60-455] other crimes evidence PIK instruction. Both parties and the court agreed to issuing the K.S.A. 60-455 limiting jury instruction. The redacted transcript was not admitted as evidence, and the transcripts were collected from the jury members. Additionally, the redacted videotape was not allowed to go with the jury for its deliberations. Holmes contends that his due process rights were violated when the court knowingly allowed the jury to use the transcripts without proper redaction. He alleges the prosecutor told the court that the videotape transcripts had not been edited as agreed upon and the court still allowed the jury to use the transcripts. The State contends that a review of the record indicates that the transcript was sufficiently redacted and any potentially prejudicial material from the videotape was cured by issuing the jury instruction for prior other crimes evidence. When reviewing a constitutional challenge to the admission of evidence, the appellate court applies the federal constitutional rule. Under that rule, an error may not be held to be harmless unless the appellate court is willing to declare beyond a reasonable doubt that the error had little, if any, likelihood of having changed the result of the trial. [Citation omitted.] State v. Groschang, 272 Kan. 652, 671, 36 P.3d 231 (2001). The major problem in reviewing this issue is that Holmes has failed to include the videotape or the transcript in the record on appeal. Without these items, it is virtually impossible to fully assess Holmes' claims. The appellant has the burden of furnishing a record which affirmatively shows that prejudicial error occurred in the trial court. See State v. Decker, 275 Kan. 502, 507, 66 P.3d 915 (2003). Moreover, review of the evidence in the record does not support Holmes' position. During the preliminary hearing, defense counsel stated that the transcript was sufficient and at the beginning of trial, defense counsel amended portions that he viewed were incorrect in the transcript. Ultimately, both parties gave their best efforts to sufficiently edit the videotape and the transcript. Additionally, the parties agreed to remedy the portions not edited correctly with a K.S.A. 60-455 limiting instruction. The jury would have been exposed to the videotape with or without the transcript. Using the transcript would not have changed the result of the trial. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the jury to use the transcript to comprehend the redacted videotape. Holmes' due process rights were not violated.