Opinion ID: 1060156
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony of Sonja Moore

Text: After testifying for the Commonwealth, forensic witness Sonja Moore overheard Clagett's lawyers discussing a factual misstatement she had made in her testimony. Afterwards she reported her error to the Commonwealth's Attorney, who recalled Moore to the stand so that she might correct her testimony. Clagett objected to the trial court's permitting Moore to be recalled. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the Commonwealth to recall this witness to correct or explain prior testimony. See Quintana, 224 Va. at 142, 295 S.E.2d at 650 (sustaining introduction of evidence in rebuttal phase of case more appropriately introduced as part of case-in-chief); Hargraves v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 604, 608, 248 S.E.2d 814, 817 (1978)(permitting Commonwealth to reopen case after it rested and court heard defendant's motion to strike Commonwealth's evidence). Clagett further asserted that the basis for Moore's knowledge of the error impinged upon the attorney-client privilege. Assuming, without deciding, that the communication was one which would be entitled to protection, the privilege is waived where the communication takes place under circumstances such that persons outside the privilege can overhear what is said. See Cook v. Hayden, 183 Va. 203, 224, 31 S.E.2d 625, 633-34 (1944). Nothing in the record indicates that Moore overheard the attorneys' conversation intentionally or surreptitiously. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in permitting Moore to be recalled to the stand.