Opinion ID: 183244
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Out-of Turn Rebuttal Evidence

Text: During its case in chief, the government indicated that it intended to introduce a letter that was (1) attached to De La Cruz Suarez’s pretrial motion and 4 (2) purportedly written by Diana Azcui Fabelo, one of the passengers in De La Cruz Suarez’s boat. The government intended to present Fabelo’s testimony that she did not write the letter. Defense counsel objected to the letter, stating, “I don’t know the legal basis by which it’s admissible.” The district court confirmed that De La Cruz Suarez intended to play the four videotaped depositions at trial to support his defense that he merely rescued the stranded aliens. The district court overruled De La Cruz Suarez’s objection, concluding that the letter was proper rebuttal evidence. After resting, the government asked to call Fabelo, its rebuttal witness, out of turn. Defense counsel indicated that he had no objection and preferred to have the rebuttal witness testify first rather than break up the videotaped deposition testimony. Consequently, the district court granted the government’s request. Passenger Fabelo then testified that, on March 12, 2008, as part of her plan to enter the United States, she went to a beach in Matanzas, Cuba. Fabelo and other people boarded a white boat with two motors. The boat proceeded out to sea until it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard. The government showed Fabelo a letter, which she denied writing. Fabelo said that the letter was not in her handwriting and misspelled her last name. When the government moved to admit the letter, De La Cruz Suarez 5 objected, citing a lack of foundation “in addition to the grounds elicited before.” After the district court confirmed that De La Cruz Suarez had filed the letter with his pre-trial motion, defense counsel conceded that “it would be admissible” to determine whether Fabelo wrote it, but maintained that the letter’s contents were irrelevant. The district court responded that “the contents are very relevant,” and admitted the letter. Fabelo then testified that the letter did not accurately report the events that transpired on March 12, 2008 and that De La Cruz Suarez did not rescue her at sea.