Opinion ID: 1230162
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: pot in sink

Text: Finally, Duncan claims that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance when he failed to object to Liwaru's testimony that a pot found in Bennett's home belonged to her and Duncan. During her testimony, Liwaru was asked by the State to examine exhibit 53, a photograph depicting Bennett's kitchen. Liwaru was asked if she recognized anything in the photograph. Liwaru replied that she recognized the pot in the sink and further testified that the pot belonged to her and Duncan. Duncan argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to this testimony under rule 403 and Neb. Evid. R. 602 and 901, Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 27-602 and 27-901 (Reissue 1995). Rule 403 provides that relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Liwaru testified that she and Duncan would occasionally use their pots to get water from the side of Bennett's house. Liwaru also testified that she had never entered Bennett's kitchen and did not give Bennett the pot. Thus, Liwaru's testimony had probative value because it placed Duncan at Bennett's home. For the same reason, the testimony was prejudicial to Duncan. However, the fact that evidence is prejudicial is not enough to require exclusion, because most, if not all, of the evidence a party offers is calculated to be prejudicial to the opposing party. It is only the evidence that has a tendency to suggest a decision on an improper basis that is unfairly prejudicial under rule 403. State v. Long, 264 Neb. 85, 645 N.W.2d 553 (2002). Any rule 403 objection Duncan's trial counsel might have made would have been overruled by the court. Therefore, Duncan cannot show that his trial counsel's performance in this respect was deficient.