Opinion ID: 2183692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: defendant's motion to compel more specific discovery

Text: Prior to trial, counsel for defendant filed a motion to compel more specific discovery. In essence, defendant sought to compel the state to specify which documents it intended to introduce at trial. The state had provided defendant with copies of the large volume of documents the state intended to introduce at trial. In addition the state provided defendant with schedules detailing defendant's individual acts of embezzlement prepared by its expert, Clifford Coutcher (Coutcher). Also the state invited defendant and his counsel to inspect and copy documents contained in a number of boxes stored in two rooms set aside by the state for this purpose. Although the boxes were labeled with the description of their contents, the state further offered to assist counsel for the defense and defendant by providing guidance from its investigative team. The state argued in response to the motion to specify documents that defendant and his counsel had declined the invitation to peruse these documents at length and had only visited the rooms on one or two occasions. The trial justice declined to require the state to specify the documents it intended to use at trial and relied upon the wording of Rule 16(a) of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure that requires the attorney for the state to permit defendant to inspect    copy or photograph any of the following items within the possession, custody, or control of the state    (4) all books, papers, documents, photographs    or copies thereof. In furnishing the material pursuant to this rule and offering defendant and his counsel the opportunity to inspect and copy documents long prior to trial, the state fulfilled its obligation. Unlike the situation in State v. Coelho, 454 A.2d 241 (R.I. 1982), and State v. Verlaque, 465 A.2d 207 (R.I. 1983), the state in this instance was not tardy or belated in providing this information and opportunity to defendant but did so in September 1992, well in advance of the trial, which began on March 22, 1993. In denying the motion to compel further discovery, the trial justice did not err and relied upon the plain requirements of Rule 16(a)(4).