Opinion ID: 790829
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Weems's Testimony Concerning Her Conversation With Dixon

Text: 17 The United States also argues that the district court abused its discretion in excluding, pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 403, Weems's testimony about her conversation with Dixon. As stated, the United States offered Weems's testimony solely for Dixon's reaction—i.e., the loss of color in his face—to Weems's revelation that Duke told her that Dixon made incriminating statements about the extortion attempt. Rule 403 authorizes the exclusion of relevant evidence when, among other things, its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Fed.R.Evid. 403. In our opinion, the probative value of Dixon's alleged reaction is slight, given that the loss of color in his face could have been due to any number of factors other than guilt. The danger of unfair prejudice, by contrast, is significant. A jury would likely go beyond Dixon's reaction—which was the only basis offered for the admissibility of Weems's testimony—and consider the substantive content of Dixon's alleged statements to Duke; this would be particularly unfair given that, as the United States admits, Duke will not be called as a government witness because he now has no recollection that Dixon ever made any incriminating statements to him. Therefore, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding Weems's testimony concerning her conversation with Dixon.