Opinion ID: 2331252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony Regarding Specific Instances of Violent Conduct of Victim

Text: During the State's case-in-chief, Billy Lyles and Ricky Rogers testified that the victim, Jerry Markum, had a reputation for violence in the community. In appellant's case-in-chief, appellant proffered the testimony of Lisa Tate, Robert Sammy Roberts, Officer Todd Harris, and Officer Jim Robertson as a necessary part of his defense of self-defense. Each would have testified as to specific instances of violent conduct by Markum. The trial court prohibited the proffered evidence, although it allowed Roberts and Tate to testify that Markum had a reputation for violence in the community. In addition, appellant himself did testify about specific incidences of Markum's violent conduct, and further testified that he was scared to death of Markum. On appeal, appellant maintains that the trial court erred in not allowing the proffered testimony regarding Markum's specific instances of violent conduct. We disagree. This Court has held that trial courts are afforded wide discretion in evidentiary rulings. See Hawkins v. State, 348 Ark. 384, 72 S.W.3d 493 (2002). We will not reverse a trial court's ruling on the admission of evidence absent an abuse of discretion. Guydon v. State, 344 Ark. 251, 39 S.W.3d 767 (2001). This Court will, likewise, not reverse absent a showing of prejudice. Gaines v. State, 340 Ark. 99, 8 S.W.3d 547 (2000). Arkansas Rule of Evidence 405(b) (2002) states: In cases in which character or a trait of character of a person is an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense, proof may also be made of specific instances of his conduct. However, this Court has held that the decedent's character as an aggressive person is not an essential element of a defendant's self-defense claim in a first-degree murder case because one might plead self-defense after having killed the most gentle soul who ever lived. See McClellan v. State, 264 Ark. 223, 227, 570 S.W.2d 278, 280 (1978). Based on the above, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding testimony about specific instances of violent conduct by the victim. Appellant's defense was self-defense, and he was allowed to testify that he was afraid of the victim. Moreover, the incidents proffered to demonstrate violent conduct on the part of the victim would have amounted to cumulative testimony. As such, for these reasons and because the decedent's character is not an essential element of a self-defense for first-degree murder, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in this regard.