Opinion ID: 549496
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Brooks' Statement

Text: 24 As noted in the foregoing section, the district court admitted into evidence the tape recording of the conversation between Lynwood Ridley and Appellant Brooks which occurred outside the Chattanooga restaurant. During this conversation, Appellant Brooks made a statement to Ridley expressing his belief that it was justifiable to murder individuals who were cooperating with police. Appellants assert that the district court erred in admitting this statement, arguing its prejudicial impact outweighed its probative value. 25 During the pre-trial stage, the district court made a preliminary ruling to exclude this statement; however, the court left open the possibility to reconsider its ruling and permit the government to introduce the statement if it became relevant. During the course of the trial, Appellants raised a surprise defense. They asserted they were not guilty because they were secretly working in an undercover capacity on their own to attempt to apprehend a drug dealer. Essentially, Appellants claimed they were doing undercover work on Ridley. 26 Rule 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence permits the district court to exclude even relevant evidence where the danger of unfair prejudice substantially outweighs its probative value. Fed.R.Evid. 403; see also U.S. v. Pollard, 778 F.2d 1177 (6th Cir.1985); U.S. v. Hans, 684 F.2d 343 (6th Cir.1982). 27 Viewed in the light most favorable to its proponent the government, the evidence in question appears highly probative to disprove Appellants' asserted defense. If Brooks believed Ridley was a snitch, then his statement concerning the murder of snitches makes it less likely that he was actually working undercover. 28 Appellants argue to the contrary, that the statement is wholly consistent with their defense. That is, if Brooks was attempting to perpetrate a sting on Ridley, then his statement was merely an effort to assure Ridley that he, himself, was not a snitch. However, Appellants' argument proves too much. By showing the statement to be consistent with their defense, Appellants undermine any likelihood that they suffered any unfair prejudice by its admission. Consequently, we find no error in the district judge's decision to admit the statement. 29