Opinion ID: 562406
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Refreshing of Watts' Recollection

Text: 27 Whether to allow a witness' recollection to be refreshed is an evidentiary decision entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court. See Bankers Trust Co. v. Publicker Industries, Inc., 641 F.2d 1361, 1363 (2d Cir.1981) (witness' use of the chronology to prompt memory was in the broad discretion of the trial court to allow). 28 Here, the government used the Western Union record of the transfer of funds from Stokes to Salema to refresh Raquel Watts' recollection of the fact that Salema had called Stokes on the day before the money transfer and asked her to send him money. The only objection made to the use of the money transfer records at the time was that it was not a proper writing or record with which to refresh Watts' memory. The court, in its discretion, allowed the government to proceed. There was nothing to show any abuse of discretion. Even if the method by which the exhibit was used to refresh Watts' recollection was flawed, no objection to foundation or form of the question was raised at the time, and such objection is waived. United States v. Mebane, 839 F.2d 230, 232 (4th Cir.1988). 29 Finally, any abuse of discretion in allowing the government to refresh Watts' recollection is harmless. The wire transfer record itself was entered into evidence. The jury could infer from the mere fact of the delivery of the check to Stokes and the subsequent wire transfer of $5000 from Stokes to Salema--all of which was established by documentary and other evidence--that Salema caused the interstate transport of stolen property.