Opinion ID: 1935010
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The admission into evidence of testimony of Monette Reagan

Text: The Defendant also urges that the Trial Justice erred when he admitted into evidence Monette Reagan's testimony concerning a talk between her and Northup on one of her visits to the jail. Mrs. Reagan stated that on an August Sunday prior to the Defendant's escape from jail Northup asked her to meet him at midnight Saturday with an automobile. He stated that he was getting out and would like to see her. The Defendant objected at trial and still claims that the above statements are irrelevant and therefore inadmissible. Relying on the standard for relevancy previously mentioned above, we find no merit in his contention. The admitted evidence has probative value in establishing that Northup intended to break out of jail late on a forthcoming Saturday night, that he sought the company of a woman for that occasion, and that he wished the use of a car. While Mrs. Reagan did not meet Northup, other evidence suggests that Mrs. Gough may have driven her car to meet the Defendant on the Saturday night he escaped from jail. All of this is relevant in establishing that Northup could have been the murderer of Mrs. Gough. Again, there was no abuse of discretion.