Opinion ID: 2222266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cross-Examination on Mental Condition

Text: The defendant next argues that the trial court erroneously refused to permit questioning of the State's witness Bruce Delphia, the defendant's accomplice, regarding Delphia's prior mental condition. Prior to commencement of trial, the defendant asserted that Delphia was an incompetent witness due to a prior history of treatment for a mental disorder. The trial court thereafter granted the State's oral motion in limine to prohibit the introduction of any evidence concerning Delphia's prior hospitalization or treatment for any emotional or mental conditions. Although not necessary, the trial court expressly qualified his ruling pending some evidence or further argument from the defendant. Notwithstanding the challenge to his mental competency as a witness, Delphia was permitted to testify. While acknowledging that competency is a question only for the court, the defendant argues that credibility is an issue for jury determination, and he asserts that he should have been entitled to fully cross-examine Delphia regarding his prior mental condition. During the defense cross-examination of Delphia, however, we find no attempts by defense counsel to ask questions or otherwise present evidence regarding any history of prior mental problems. A motion in limine is not a final ruling on the admissibility of evidence, but rather serves to prevent the display of prejudicial material to the jury until the trial court has the opportunity to make an evidentiary ruling within the trial context. Greene v. State (1987), Ind., 515 N.E.2d 1376; Hutcherson v. State (1987), Ind., 507 N.E.2d 969. While the final evidentiary ruling is appealable, a ruling on a motion in limine usually preserves nothing for appeal. Greene. See also Washburn v. State (1986), Ind., 499 N.E.2d 264, 267. To preserve error, a party must, during trial but out of the hearing of the jury, propose the questions or offer the evidence believed to be prohibited by the order in limine and obtain a final evidentiary ruling. Rohrkaste v. City of Terre Haute (1984), Ind. App., 470 N.E.2d 738, 741. Failure to offer the excluded material constitutes waiver of the issue. Id. In the present case, defense counsel's cross-examination of Delphia did not include any attempt to ask any questions regarding prior hospitalization and treatment. Defense counsel's trial strategy appeared to be acquiescence to the limits imposed by the granting of the motion. At one point during a discussion with the trial judge regarding the scope of the motion in limine, defense counsel claimed his line of questioning was within the limitations of the motion in limine and that he was not trying to delve into Delphia's past psychiatric history. The record also contains defense counsel's request for time during trial to instruct his witnesses to make no reference to Delphia's psychiatric care, because [t]here's still a motion in limine in this matter. Under these circumstances, the defendant cannot now allege that his cross-examination of Delphia was improperly limited.