Opinion ID: 2052374
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Prosecution's Failure to Correct Allegedly False Testimony

Text: On cross-examination, TQ testified that, on the night of the murders, when the police officers came to investigate, the officers already knew about the July 18, 1992, car ramming and shooting incident. Specifically, TQ stated that the police already knew about it, because they had police reports on it. According to defendant, the testimony of Chicago Forensic Investigator John Butler and Chicago Police Detective James Brennan show that TQ's testimony was incorrect. Investigator Butler testified regarding his processing of the crime scene. Investigator Butler stated that he discovered the bodies of the victims, and that he later learned their identities. Detective Brennan likewise testified regarding his processing of the crime scene and about his questioning of TQ on the night of the murders. Detective Brennan stated that he learned of the July 18, 1992, incident at that time. Defendant argues that the testimony of the two officers contradicts TQ's testimony that the officers already knew of the July 18, 1992, incident. According to defendant, the prosecution's failure to correct TQ's false testimony violated defendant's due process right to a fair trial. Defendant's argument is without merit. Neither the testimony of Investigator Butler nor the testimony of Detective Brennan supports defendant's contention that TQ's testimony was false. The fact that Investigator Butler later learned the identity of the victims is not relevant. Nothing in Investigator Butler's testimony reveals that he had any contact with TQ. Thus, TQ's testimony has nothing to do with Investigator Butler's testimony. Further, Officer Brennan explained in his testimony that TQ told him about the July 18, 1992, episode during the initial investigation. The fact that Detective Brennan was not personally aware of the episode when he arrived at the crime scene on the night of the murders is of no consequence. The record reflects that the Chicago police responded to the scene of the July 18, 1992, episode, and that a police report was filled out when the police arrived at the scene. TQ's generalized statement during her testimony that the police already knew about this does not support defendant's argument that the prosecutor failed to correct false testimony. We therefore reject defendant's argument that he was denied a fair trial when the prosecution did not correct this testimony.