Opinion ID: 1909621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Protection of Younger Sister

Text: A witness was present while the victim's mother spoke to the victim over the telephone. During the phone conversation, the witness heard the victim's mother ask the victim to drop the assault charge. After the mother hung up, the witness asked her what the victim's response had been. According to the witness, the mother told her the victim had said that she had to continue prosecuting the case to protect her younger sister. Defendant moved to strike this testimony; the motion was denied. Defendant maintains he was unfairly prejudiced by the statement about the victim's desire to protect her younger sister because it could have prompted the jury to convict him, not for the crime charged, but to prevent the commission of a future crime. While this testimony may have had some unfair prejudicial impact, it must be considered in the context of the entire proceedings. The statement was unsolicited and unanticipated. The statement was one sentence uttered at the end of over four days of testimony. The younger daughter, who was supposedly being protected, had testified to the effect that she loved her father and had expressed no concern for her safety. The testimony was not mentioned in the State's closing argument. Granting the motion and giving a limiting instruction would only have highlighted the evidence. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's motion to strike the testimony. Affirmed.