Opinion ID: 206205
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: First State Trial

Text: The State of Iowa (state) charged Garrison with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Caswell and Emerson. The case proceeded to trial in November 2003. Garrison moved in limine to suppress evidence showing Garrison used, shared, or sold Oxycontin, arguing such evidence was speculation, improper opinion evidence and highly prejudicial. The state argued the evidence was necessary in order to establish motive and that Martin and Garrison had a prior relationship, which was probative as to why Garrison confided in Martin. The trial court agreed with the prosecutor and allowed the evidence. During direct examination, however, Martin testified he knew Garrison through other people and had not known Garrison personally until they were in jail together. Garrison moved for a mistrial, alleging the prosecutor knew or was negligent or intentionally misrepresented what [Martin] was going to testify to in order to get the Oxycontin evidence before the jury. The district court denied Garrison's motion for a mistrial but issued a limiting instruction to the jury. Garrison appealed. Finding the trial court abused its discretion in not declaring a mistrial because the references to Oxycontin were irrelevant and presumptively prejudicial, the Iowa Court of Appeals reversed Garrison's convictions and remanded for a new trial. See State v. Garrison ( Garrison I ), No. 04-0141, 2006 WL 138280, at ,  (Iowa Ct.App. Jan. 19, 2006) (unpub. table disp.).