Opinion ID: 1500007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Witness Subpoenas

Text: The appellant's counsel petitioned the court for subpoenas to obtain the presence of the three adults who had been living with the appellant and the victim. The appellant's counsel filed with the petition his affidavit stating that the witnesses were at a certain address in Hannibal, Missouri, some 600 miles away, and that they had been in the house where the rape was alleged to have occurred at the time it was alleged to have occurred. The state did not dispute these facts, but argued the appellant had not demonstrated the witnesses had material testimony to offer. In argument on the motion it became clear that counsel for the appellant had not spoken with the three witnesses as to whom the subpoenas were sought. The court offered to give the appellant a continuance so he could complete his investigation. The appellant's counsel apparently was unable to speak to the witnesses, as nothing further appears on the record. The court ultimately denied the motion. The appellant had no absolute right to the subpoenas or to have the witnesses appear at government expense. Whether to honor such a request is within the discretion of the trial court. Perry v. State, 277 Ark. 357, 642 S.W.2d 865 (1982); Wright v. State, 267 Ark. 264, 590 S.W.2d 15 (1979); Mackey v. State, 279 Ark. 307, 651 S.W.2d 82 (1983). Given counsel's inability to produce any evidence as to what these witnesses might or might not be able to say, we find no abuse of discretion.