Opinion ID: 2355139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony on Methamphetamine Use

Text: The next claim is that the state should not have been permitted to elicit testimony that Sanchez may have been using methamphetamine at the time of the crime. One of the hostage negotiators gave this testimony. The state justified the testimony because otherwise the jury would not have an alternative explanation for the inference Sanchez was seeking that he was mentally ill. Trial courts have broad discretion to admit or exclude evidence at trial. A reviewing court will reverse only upon a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Chaney, 967 S.W.2d 47, 55 (Mo. banc 1998). In this case, the state limited the testimony to stating that Sanchez's behavior was consistent with drug use. The witness explained that this fact affected his method of negotiating. He also testified that he had no idea whether Sanchez was on drugs. In this case the testimony was admissible as a part of the sequence of events surrounding the crime in order to paint for the jury a complete and coherent picture of the offense. State v. Harris, 870 S.W.2d 798, 810 (Mo. banc 1994). The testimony also rebutted Sanchez's inference that he was mentally ill. The trial court's ruling is not clearly against the logic of the circumstances then before the court and is not so arbitrary and unreasonable as to shock the sense of justice and indicate a lack of careful consideration.