Opinion ID: 2514669
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Kassebeer's Motions For Mistrial

Text: During the trial, Kassebeer made three motions for a mistrial on the grounds that prosecution witnesses had violated the circuit court's order in limine not to discuss Kassebeer's prior acts of violence against the complainant. The first motion was made in response to Hashimoto-Matautia's testimony on redirect that [Kassebeer] kept saying, ['O]h, what, your other boyfriend did that to you, huh? Oh, what, you leave me because I hit you, and you go to somebody else who hit you?['] Kassebeer promptly objected to the testimony and moved for a mistrial. The circuit court declined to grant a mistrial, but struck the testimony from the record and instructed the jury that, [w]hen the [c]ourt strikes an answer, you are to disregard it and not consider it in any way in your deliberations of this case. Next, on direct examination, the complainant was asked why, at the time of the incidents, she had not filed the paperwork for her divorce. The complainant responded, Because he was trying to say he would change, he wouldn't hit me anymore[.] Kassebeer again objected and again requested a mistrial. The circuit court declined to grant a mistrial, struck the answer from the record, and again instructed the jury not to consider the response in its deliberations. Moments later, still on direct examination, the complainant stated that Kassebeer had accused her of having another boyfriend to abuse me. Kassebeer again moved for a mistrial, which was again denied by the circuit court. The circuit court struck the complainant's answer from the record, and again admonished the jury to disregard the answer and not to consider it in its deliberations. Following a brief recess, the circuit court gave a further instruction to the jury: Ladies and gentlemen, the [c]ourt had struck certain testimony by this witness prior to the recess. I want to remind you that you're not here to decide whether the defendant was a good husband or a bad husband. You're here to decide whether the [s]tate has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crimes that he is charged with, and you are to do this dispassionately. That is, without passion, or objectively. After resting his case, Kassebeer renewed his motion for a mistrial. The circuit court again denied the motion.