Opinion ID: 2372644
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the Court Abuse Its Discretion When It Permitted a Defense Witness to be Escorted into the Courtroom by Marshals?

Text: The defense called Steven Wilson (Wilson) as a witness in order to establish bias on the part of Christina toward defendant. It is undisputed that Wilson had an extensive criminal record dating back more than a decade, including escape and crimes of violence. The attorney for defendant asked that Mr. Wilson be allowed to enter the courtroom without an escort of state marshals. The trial justice did not accede to this request and suggested that in view of the witness's extensive criminal record his current incarceration would not cause any additional adverse inferences to be drawn by the jury. There is no indication that the witness was dressed in prison garb or that he was handcuffed or restrained in any way. In support of his argument defendant cites State v. Correra, R.I., 430 A.2d 1251 (1981). In that case one of the defense witnesses was escorted to the witness stand in handcuffs. In passing upon a claim of prejudice, we drew a distinction between handcuffing a prisoner or witness and requiring a defendant to stand trial while dressed in prison garb, a practice condemned by the Supreme Court of the United States in Estelle v. Williams, 425 U.S. 501, 96 S.Ct. 1691, 48 L.Ed.2d 126 (1976). In that connection we observed: Understandably, handcuffing must be treated somewhat differently from prison garb because the former provides courtroom security while the latter does not. The trial justice does have a duty, when necessary, to prevent escape, to minimize danger to those attending the trial, and to maintain order in the courtroom as well. State v. Correra, R.I., 430 A.2d at 1256. We are of the opinion that it was well within the discretion of the trial justice to have this prisoner-witness escorted into the courtroom and guarded while there by state marshals. The state did refer to the witness's criminal record in cross-examination. Any additional effect upon his credibility by the presence of marshals would inevitably be minimal and would certainly not outweigh the need for security of the prisoner and the maintenance of order in the courtroom. It must be borne in mind that a trial for first-degree sexual assault is a highly emotional and tension-fraught proceeding. The presence of a defendant accused of a violent crime (who was not escorted into the courtroom by marshals) combined with a witness possessing an extensive criminal record creates a security risk that the trial justice may well recognize and guard against. We are of the opinion that he did not abuse his discretion in this instance.