Opinion ID: 2304181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Szostkowski's Trial Testimony

Text: At trial, Szostkowski testified for the State that, in the summer of 2006, Hignutt had asked him to work on Hignutt's daughter's burgundy Maxima. Szostkowski explained that he wrote on the back of the repair order for Hogan's black Maxima the list of services performed on and parts installed in Hignutt's burgundy Maxima. Szostkowski also testified about a later encounter with Hignutt in February or March of 2007 during which Hignutt offered Szostkowski a job with Hignutt's new employer and Szostkowski declined the offer. The prosecutor asked Szostkowski, [W]hat were your goals at that point in time in your life? Szostkowski answered that he was engaged to be married, raising his two 15-year-old brothers and working to support his fiancée and brothers. The defense objected. The trial judge responded, I know it's not directly relevant but I'm overruling the objection because it just is background that we normally permit with any witness to describe a little bit about their life, and permitted Szostkowski's response. The defense also requested a cautionary instruction as to Szostkowski's testimony. The trial judge responded that she would not give a special curative instruction other than the normal instructions given at the close of the case that the jury should not take into account any sympathy or bias elicited when considering the testimony of the witnesses (`sympathy' instruction).