Opinion ID: 2582616
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: videotape interview of garrett

Text: Deal argues that the trial court erred in refusing to admit Garrett's videotaped interview. At trial, Deal's defense was that Garrett killed Phalp without his knowledge or assistance and then forced him to help dispose of her body. Johnston testified that he interviewed Deal on January 11, 1999. Johnston testified that Deal told him that he and Garrett were driving around on August 2 and saw Phalp on 87th Street in Lenexa. Phalp went to Hillsdale Lake with Deal and Garrett. The three of them smoked marijuana and drank beer. Deal told Johnston that Phalp and Garrett wanted to be alone and left together. After about 45 minutes, Garrett returned and told Deal that Phalp was dead and insisted that Deal help get rid of the body. In addition to Johnston's testimony, Deal offered the videotaped statement, given by Garrett on August 6, 1998, to the K.B.I. The purpose of admitting the videotape, according to Deal, was to show the state of mind and thought process of Garrett. The State objected to the videotaped statement on the grounds that it constituted hearsay. The State further advised the court of its intention to prosecute Garrett. Garrett invoked his Fifth Amendment right and was, therefore, not available for cross-examination. The trial court sustained the State's objection. On appeal, Deal specifically argues that he hoped to show the jury that Garrett was lying about his whereabouts on the night of August 2. The State argues that Deal failed to preserve this issue for appeal, as Deal failed to make a proffer of the videotaped testimony as required by K.S.A. 60-405. In attempting to admit the videotaped testimony, the following took place: [COUNSEL FOR DEAL]: It's my understanding that the State's objection to this videotape being played in its entirety is becausethis is Defendant's Exhibit 2. It's the videotaped statement of Shaun Garrett. It's approximately the same length as Todd Deal's. We believe that it should be admissible to show his state of mind and his thought process. He's not available to testify in this matter. That's something we're aware of. We're trying to get his statement in through his videotape. THE COURT: I take it that this is a statement made by Garrett to the KBI? [COUNSEL FOR DEAL]: Yes, sir, on the same day that Todd Deal's statement was taken. [PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, it's clear that this is hearsay. This is a statement of a party who is not present and will not be present or available to testify. There's no hearsay exception I can find or Mr. Moriarty has indicated that exists that would allow the playing of this videotape under these circumstances. The State objects to the playing of any portion of that videotape. THE COURT: Your reply, Counsel? [COUNSEL FOR DEAL]: I won't say anything additional. THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection. It will not be admitted. It will be made part of the record. K.S.A. 60-405 sets forth the rules regarding the erroneous exclusion of evidence and states: A verdict or finding shall not be set aside, nor shall the judgment or decision based thereon be reversed, by reason of the erroneous exclusion of evidence unless it appears of record that the proponent of the evidence either made known the substance of the evidence in a form and by a method approved by the judge, or indicated the substance of the expected evidence by questions indicating the desired answers. Failure to make a proffer of excluded evidence precludes appellate review. See Enlow v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 249 Kan. 732, 741, 822 P.2d 617 (1991) (argument that evidence was improperly excluded will not be considered for the first time on appeal where no proffer was made pursuant to K.S.A. 60-405); Marshall v. Mayflower Transit, Inc., 249 Kan. 620, 623, 822 P.2d 591 (1991) (in order to preserve the issue for appeal, proffer must contain the substance of the excluded testimony); Kearney v. Kansas Public Service Co., 233 Kan. 492, 499, 665 P.2d 757 (1983) (no reversible error where no proffer was made of excluded evidence pursuant to K.S.A. 60-405); Querry v. Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc., 217 Kan. 104, 111-12, 535 P.2d 928 (1975) (consideration of excluded evidence is beyond review of the appellate court where no proffer is made to trial court); State v. Nix, 215 Kan. 880, 884, 529 P.2d 147 (1974) (refusing to consider whether there was error in excluding evidence where there was no proffer made); Salem v. Salem, 214 Kan. 828, 831-32, 522 P.2d 336 (1974) (argument that evidence was not considered by court could not be considered on appeal because a proper proffer was not made to trial court). Deal made no proffer regarding the substance of the videotaped interview with Garrett. Deal did state the purpose of the proposed testimony but did not divulge the substance of the testimony as required by K.S.A. 60-405. On appeal, he argues that the testimony would have shown that Garrett lied about his whereabouts on the night Phalp died. This argument was not made before the trial court. The purpose of making a proffer to the trial court is to allow it to make an evidentiary decision based on the substance of the testimony. On appeal, we then have the opportunity, if it is argued by a party, to consider whether the trial court's decision was an abuse of discretion. Without a proffer, however, this court cannot consider whether evidence was improperly excluded because there is no basis to consider whether the trial court abused its discretion.