Opinion ID: 897076
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Unfairly Prejudicial Evidence

Text: [¶ 13] Bell argues even if foundation was properly laid, and even if the evidence was relevant, the address book and business card still should have been excluded on the basis of unfair prejudice. [¶ 14] Under Rule 403, N.D.R.Ev., Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.... The trial court has broad discretion to control the introduction of evidence at trial, and this Court's review is limited to deciding if that discretion was abused. State v. Zimmerman, 524 N.W.2d 111, 115 (N.D.1994). A trial court's power to exclude relevant evidence should be exercised sparingly. Id. at 115. As we explained in State v. Randall, 2002 ND 16, ¶ 15, 639 N.W.2d 439: In determining whether to exclude evidence under Rule 403, courts should give the evidence its maximum reasonable probative force and its minimum reasonable prejudicial value. See [ Zimmerman, 524 N.W.2d at 114-15] (quoting 1 Jack B. Weinstein and Margaret A. Berger, Weinstein's Evidence ¶ 403[03], pp. 403-49, 403-51 (1994)). Generally, any doubt about the existence of unfair prejudice, confusion of issues, misleading, undue delay, or waste of time, should be resolved in favor of admitting the evidence, taking necessary precautions by way of contemporaneous instructions to the jury followed by additional admonition in the charge. Id. Therefore, the burden is on the objecting party to show that relevant evidence should be excluded under Rule 403. See Kociemba v. G.D. Searle & Co., 683 F.Supp. 1579, 1581 (D.Minn.1988). [¶ 15] At trial, the officers testified as to the meaning of the calculations on the address book and business card. Bell was given an opportunity to cross-examine the officers regarding their testimony. Bell offered the testimony of Kirvida, who explained the address book and business card contained calculations regarding the purchase of the house and other household bills. The jury was entitled to give the officers' testimony and Kirvida's conflicting testimony the weight the jury deemed appropriate. We conclude Bell has failed to show how the introduction of the address book and business card were unfairly prejudicial. The address book and the business card were probative of Bell's involvement with drug trafficking and their admission was not unfairly prejudicial to him. [¶ 16] Based on our review of the record, we conclude adequate foundation was laid for the officers' testimony, the evidence was relevant, and Bell was not unfairly prejudiced. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the address book and business card into evidence.