Opinion ID: 2106543
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Disclosure Of Kidd's Statement.

Text: [6] Tucker contends that he was denied due process because the state failed to provide defense counsel with a statement that Phillip Kidd gave to the police. The state has a duty to disclose statements that negate the guilt of the defendant, even though the material only affects the credibility of a witness. Nelson v. State, 59 Wis.2d 474, 481, 208 N.W.2d 410 (1973); Loveday v. State, 74 Wis.2d 503, 516, 247 N.W.2d 116 (1976). [7] The state argues that it was not required to provide a copy of Mr. Kidd's statement because the district attorney maintained an open file policy and the defense had access to the statement. Access to the file by the defense is not the controlling factor. The prosecution has an affirmative duty in some situations to provide exculpatory material, even if the defense does not request it. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 96 S. Ct. 2392, 49 L. Ed.2d 342 (1976), sec. 971.24 (1), Stats. 1975. [6] [8] The court in Agurs made clear that not every failure to disclose will result in a new trial. Prosecution nondisclosure may be an issue in three separate situations. First, the prosecution's case may rest on perjured testimony that the prosecution knew or should have known was perjured. The conviction in such a case must be set aside . . . if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury. Agurs at 427 U.S. 103. Second, the state also has a duty to disclose information for which there has been a specific request. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed.2d 215 (1963). But, where no request or only a general request for exculpatory information has been made, the failure to disclose is reversible error only where the evidence is so material that it . . . result[s] in the denial of the defendant's right to a fair trial. Agurs at 427 U. S. 108. The proper standard of materiality must reflect our overriding concern with the justice of the finding of guilt. Such a finding is permissible only if supported by evidence establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It necessarily follows that if the omitted evidence creates a reasonable doubt that did not otherwise exist, constitutional error has been committed. This means that the omission must be evaluated in the context of the entire record. If there is no reasonable doubt about guilt whether or not the additional evidence is considered, there is no justification for a new trial. On the other hand, if the verdict is already of questionable validity, additional evidence of relatively minor importance might be sufficient to create a reasonable doubt. Augurs at 427 U.S. 112, 113. [7] [9] This case falls within the last category of exculpatory material discussed in Agurs because no demand for Brady material was made. Based on Agurs, the disclosure of Kidd's statement would not have created a reasonable doubt where one did not otherwise exist. Kidd's statement is not in the record. What is in the record suggests that the statement would have had little effect. Defense counsel had taken a previous statement from Kidd that supported Tucker's alibi. Kidd admitted giving that statement, but refused to sign it and claimed at trial that the previous statement was false. The best possible facts for the defense would be that Kidd's statement to the police was signed by him and identical to the statement that he gave to defense counsel, but refused to sign. Kidd was cross-examined at trial on the unsigned statement, but claimed that it was false. Any additional statement made to the police by Kidd would only be a corroboration of the statement which Kidd admitted making, but the truth of which he denied before the jury. By the Court. Judgment of conviction and order affirmed.