Opinion ID: 505548
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admissibility of Azure's Prior Sworn Testimony

Text: 23 Finally, Azure challenges the district court's admission of excerpts of his prior sworn testimony at the first trial. Azure chose not to take the stand during his second trial, and he contends the government's use of testimony from his first trial effectively negated his privilege against self-incrimination. Defendant also argues his prior sworn testimony was not proper rebuttal, and the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the government to reopen its case-in-chief. We cannot agree. 24 Defendant called Bill Bercier to testify in his defense at his second trial. Bercier lived with Azure and was home the evening of December 8th. He testified that he did not see or hear Wendy until 9:00 a.m. on the morning of December 9th, although he agreed Wendy asked him not to tell Azure she was leaving. After defendant rested, the government introduced testimony by Azure in which he admitted that he took Wendy home with him on the night of December 8th, while the rest of the children remained at Mary Lou Caine's house. 25 This was proper rebuttal testimony. The function of rebuttal is to explain, repel, counteract or disprove evidence of the adverse party. United States v. Luschen, 614 F.2d 1164, 1170 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 939, 100 S.Ct. 2161, 64 L.Ed.2d 793 (1980). Bercier's testimony implied Wendy was not home on the night of the 8th. Azure's testimony counteracted this suggestion. We find no error in the district court's admission of Azure's prior testimony in this case. See United States v. Arthur, 602 F.2d 660, 663 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 992, 100 S.Ct. 524, 62 L.Ed.2d 422 (1979).